Here is the full text of the letter Bobby Sigman handed to The Covington News Thursday:
"Unfortunately your full column story about my withdrawal from the Covington mayor's race was a bit premature. When I thought it was best for me to withdraw, my supporters came forward in huge numbers to convince me to remain in the race. No candidate for the office of mayor of the city of Covington has officially resigned according to current city of Covington records.
It was heartwarming to see this type of following and so my decision is to remain a candidate for mayor.
The most interesting stories I've heard in recent days dealt with former reports to law enforcement over the years, some even including videos of candidates taking other candidates signs, only to have law enforcement respond with, ‘We don't think this type of thing is important enough to warrant spending our time on.'
I suppose anyone can see with the amount of time and effort that was put into this recent issues by local law enforcement points out how politically motivated these actions were.
First, I have stated under my administration, Police Chief Stacey Cotton would not be appointed to the city manager's job when Mr. (Steve) Horton leaves next year. I am intent upon hiring a firm to search nationwide to find the best possible experienced candidate for that job.
The great thing about The United States of America is the right of the people to gather the facts and make the final decisions, both in a court of law and at the ballot box.
I wish to thank all my loyal supporters who know that I really am ‘The Peoples' Candidate.'
We are reminded of Mark Twain's statement, ‘Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.' This remark being made by Twain after his obituary was erroneously published in The New York Journal.
I am certain many of your readers would hope this accurate story concerning my campaign gets the same amount of front page coverage as your mistaken unverified story which you printed in haste without getting any facts or quotes from officials with the city who would have told you, ‘No, Mr. Sigman has not withdrawn.'"
Bobby Sigman reversed course Thursday and decided to remain in the Covington mayoral race, two days after announcing he was dropping out of the race.
He hand-delivered a letter to The News Thursday.
"When I thought it was best for me to withdraw, my supporters came forward in huge numbers to convince me to remain in the race. No candidate for the office of mayor of the city of Covington has officially resigned according to current city of Covington records," Sigman wrote.
In order officially to drop out of a race, a candidate must file a notarized affidavit of withdrawal, which Sigman never did, according to the Newton County Board of Elections.
Sigman continued to protest the events surrounding his Oct. 12 arrest for allegedly paying a man to steal the campaign signs of Sigman’s opponent Ronnie Johnston. Sigman was charged with three misdemeanors: making false statements within a political subdivision, theft by taking and criminal trespass.
The Covington Police Department released video to the media Tuesday showing Sigman greeting a man, letting him into his car and then proceeding to talk to the man about picking up signs that are still standing. Sigman and the man then pick up a stack of Johnston signs located in a field and load them into the trunk of Sigman’s car. Sigman proceeds to tell the man not to get caught.
"Don’t get caught, you do, you sure don’t tell them I done it now," Sigman says in the undercover video.
Finally, Sigman is shown handing the man a $50 bill.
In his letter, Sigman suggested that previous cases of sign thefts have not been prosecuted.
"The most interesting stories I've heard in recent days dealt with former reports to law enforcement over the years, some even including videos of candidates taking other candidates signs, only to have law enforcement respond with, 'We don't think this type of thing is important enough to warrant spending our time on,’" Sigman wrote.
"I suppose anyone can see with the amount of time and effort that was put into this recent issue by local law enforcement points out how politically motivated these actions were.
"First, I have stated under my administration, Police Chief Stacey Cotton would not be appointed to the city manager's job when Mr. (Steve) Horton leaves next year. I am intent upon hiring a firm to search nationwide to find the best possible experienced candidate for the job."
Cotton offered a short response Thursday: "I'll let the investigation speak to for itself. I stand by the officers and the job they did," he said.
Johnston, Sigman and write-in candidate Rev. Tim Walden are the three candidates for Covington mayor. Early voting is currently underway at the board of elections, 1113 Usher St. NW, and the election will take place Nov. 8.
