To the Editor:

Although straight tickets are an easier way of voting in major elections, we have decided to vote for the people running for offices rather than a party. &bsp;

In federal and state politics it probably is more true that the party that is elected dictates the moves of the elected officials but this should not happen on any level.&bsp; It is a concern that corporations and individuals are lawfully allowed to donate to campaigns from out of our state for elections within our state. &bsp;

When it comes down to politics within our own county it is dissappointing that elected county commissioners have chosen to publicly put down other elected officials. &bsp;

We are proud to say that we will vote for Tommy Melton, Warren Watson and Tom Pack for county commissioner in the upcoming county election.&bsp; Of the current commissioners, only Melton, Watson, and Renee McDermott have bothered to answer our emails to all the commissioners concerning the state annexation reform law thus expressing their interest and support of the people who elected them.&bsp; It does not matter to us what party these individuals belong to.&bsp; We believe that these people have shown that they still listen to their constiuency after they have been elected.&bsp; We certainly hated to see the dirty laundry of a county commission that has been aired on the public forum simply because one person, Warren Watson. dutifully gave his personal reason for becoming unaffiliated with any party which he needed to do in requesting support as an unaffiliated candidate for commissioner.

The other responses from commissioners concerning his choice of words in doing this were unbecoming of a county government which in our minds trumps any party whatsoever.&bsp; We encourage others to learn about the visions of these three individuals Tommy Melton, Warren Watson and Tom Pack and help give our county government true representation of the county people.&bsp; We thank the Tryon Daily Bulletin for allowing us to share our views.

Ted and Julie Perkins