Dear Editor: I am a relative newcomer to Newton County, and am fascinated by local politics as exhibited by recent events reported by The Covington News. I read with interest the letter last Friday, which states the writer’s opinion that the News is biased in the 5th District Commissioner’s race. I had not been given that impression, and thought the Editor’s note explained the situation satisfactorily.

 I have personally been perplexed by the Secretary of State’s assertion that she does not have jurisdiction over county commission races. Does she only have jurisdiction over statewide offices, such as Public Service Commissioner? Didn’t she recently rule on a residency dispute in a Clayton County Board of Education race? Wasn’t her ruling that the residency issue was determined by homestead exemption? I really would like to know what transpired between the Clayton County ruling and the Newton County non-ruling. I wonder if any pressures were brought to bear in this case.

 Also, I would like to ask if the writer would consider the fact that the publisher of The Covington News is a neighbor of Randy Vinson’s campaign manager is as relevant as the fact that Tim Fleming is supported by Hubert White to the extent that Mr. White is hosting a fundraiser for him, and Congressman John Linder is supposed to attend.

Stella Johnson
Covington

The News confirmed with Linder’s office that the congressman was invited by Fleming to a fundraiser held in Newton County last week, but that Linder was unable to attend because he was in Washington, D.C., voting on the economic bailout.