To the Editor:
I read with great amusement the articles in the Tryon Daily Bulletin regarding the brouhaha created by Renee “The Voice of the Democratic Party”, McDermott and her stooges. Especially her No. one stooge Ray “I was thrown out of the meeting”, Gasperson. The Democratic Party is so excessively partisan and so over-the-top that it has become a laughing matter.
I agree, $178,590 is a lot of money. However, that is the salary plus benefits that the previously Democratic controlled Polk County Board of Commissioners decided to pay Ryan Whitson.
The presently elected Commissioners inherited both Mr. Whitson and his salary.
The presently elected Polk County Commissioners are prohibited by regulations and laws from discussing personnel issues in a public forum. I would have to believe that Ms. McDermott is fully aware of these limitations through her client/attorney relationships and has actually interfaced with these buy-outs in her previous employment(s) as an attorney.
Knowing that the present Commissioners have their hands tied and cannot openly express what has happened, leaves Ms. McDermott and her mouth piece followers an open door to say and do anything, to make the situation even more volatile.
Since the present Polk County Commissioners are not permitted to discuss the issue, perhaps there is another way. The past and present employees and/or pending employees and volunteers that were to be part of Mr. Whitson’s department(s) are protected from discrimination, retaliation and other forms of intimidation. Perhaps some of them have an opinion.
Why not ask them?

– Ben Fortner, Green Creek