Dear Editor: On March 1 after attending a Board of Elections meeting, I was confronted with a question by the Second Vice President of the Rockdale Democratic Party Mr. Fred Witt. He asked me if I had supported JanNice Van Ness in last year's election. Although I knew he already knew the answer to his own question, I told him that I did. In fact, I went on to volunteer that I had also supported Roy Middlebrooks over Richard Oden.

Mr. Witt began to tell me exactly why this question in reference to JanNice Van Ness had surfaced. He said that I (Brian L. Jenkins) would have a difficult time getting qualified by the Rockdale County Democratic Party as a result of that support. My response to that comment was my loyalty is, and always will be, to the county's interest and never to any political party.

Mr. Witt ended the conversation by saying, "If the party doesn't qualify you, then you won't be able to challenge Richard Oden in the Democratic Primary for chairman of Rockdale County next year." I told Mr. Witt that I am a citizen who holds no current political office, does not sit on any boards in the county and am free to support whomever I choose. Mr. Witt's comments were further echoed by Mr. Lew Belcher after attending a meeting on May 17 in which Richard Oden and Oz Nezbit tried to use taxpayer's money to build a $300,000 dog park.

As a result of these two gentlemen confronting me with the same argument at different times, I am now more than convinced that the Rockdale Democratic Party will be acting as a "quasi re-elect Richard Oden Campaign Committee." These political shenanigans will only lead to the destruction of the Rockdale Democratic Party. This shows that the party's claim to be inclusive is inconsistent. It is most unfortunate that the Rockdale Democratic Party doesn't embrace differing opinions.

I am a proud Blue Dog Democrat and will never allow anyone to define me. I define myself. I don't support lower taxes and smaller government just because it sounds good; I support lower taxes and smaller government because it is good. Therefore, I have to run against Richard Oden and the Rockdale Democratic Party in order to win. And win I will.

Brian L. Jenkins
Rockdale County