Dear Editor,

On April 14, you published a letter from the Rev. Russ Fincham, the self appointed leader of the Richmond County Tea Party, attacking Mr. Richard Hudson, Republican candidate for Congress. I believe this letter to be an orchestrated attack from the Vernon Robinson campaign. Mr. Robinson is also a Republican candidate for the 8th district and do to the fact he is trailing in the race has resorted to spreading many half truths and distortions against his opponents which he published in a mailer that went out a couple weeks ago to the residents of Richmond County. In Rev. Fincham’s letter, he repeats these same distortions verbatim. For example, Rev. Fincham’s letter restated an attack by Mr. Robinson that a picture of Mr. Hudson hunting with former Congressman Robin Hayes was somehow an attempt to fool the people of Richmond County into believing Richard is pro gun rights. However, I first met Mr. Hudson this past fall and discovered that we both are avid deer hunters. We spoke at length about our passion for the sport and of our many triumphs and near misses.

As a devoted Richmond County Republican, I have had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Robinson and Rev. Fincham about issues concerning Richmond County and I am convinced that neither of these gentlemen has any idea of what is important to the citizens of our county nor the 8th District. Therefore, I believe Rev. Fincham and Mr. Robinson’s attacks to be typical political mudslinging.

I am a firm believer in Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment, which states “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican” and with this in mind I have quietly sat in several meetings where Mr. Robinson unfairly trashed his opponents in total disregards for the professionalism and integrity befitting a United States Congressman. After reading Rev. Fincham’s attack on Mr. Hudson, I could not stay quiet any longer.

I am voting for Richard Hudson for Congress and I strongly encourage all my fellow Richmond County citizens to do the same.

Thank you.

Chris Maples

Richmond County Republican

Rockingham