3 JUL 08: CAN YOU FEEL THE HEAT?

It was a little warmer in Columbus Wednesday, with a high of 89 degrees F. But that's not the heat I'm talking about. With less than two weeks left before the Georgia Primary, the clamor of accusations is rising. And if all this finger-pointing doesn't settle down soon, we might have to call in some bouncers from nightclubs on Broadway.

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: "What does this have to do with me?" That's how State Senator Ed Harbison responded Wednesday night, after your blog read to him much of the following e-mail....

Dear Richard,

Good afternoon.

I had a meeting with Ms. Ethalyn Kirby yesterday and have been authorized by her to share with you the details of that meeting.

First of all, in the wake of her appearance on network television news earlier in June [13 Jun] to discuss her Complaint against Senator Harbison, her vehicle was vandalized while she and her 93 year old mother slept at 5 AM on the morning of June 30, 2008. The windows were shattered and scratches were made up and down the length of her vehicle. No other vandalism occurred in her neighborhood that evening and criminal activity of that kind is rare in her area. Mrs. Kirby is now afraid to speak to the media regarding her complaint against Senator Harbison.

Directly prior to the attack on June 30, 2008, a representative of Senator Harbison's campaign had left this note..... which references a prior agreement to place a yard sign in Mrs. Kirby's yard. Obviously, Mrs. Kirby never agreed to have a sign placed in her yard and called the number asking for her name to be taken off their list directly prior to this attack.

Similar notes are being distributed throughout the city to people who have never spoken to Senator Harbison or his campaign staff for placement of campaign signs. Of course, placing signs on private property without permission is criminal trespass under Georgia law.

I will be distributing photographs of the damage to Mrs. Kirby's vehicle later this week.

Regards,

Josh McKoon

Mrs. Kirby's damaged vehicle apparently was NOT in her driveway, when we drove by her home Wednesday night. The only vehicle we spotted there was a seemingly spotless four-by-four - which just happened to have a bumper sticker endorsing Senator Ed Harbison's primary opponent.

I can believe Josh McKoon when he says criminal activity in Ethalyn Kirby's neighborhood is rare. For one thing, her home street is very hard to find - tucked away between Fort Benning Road and Interstate 185. The closest sign of potential trouble is a "no loitering" sign down the street at Zeke's Bar-B-Q. But then again, that restaurant wasn't open - so did a street gang shut it down?

We called Columbus Police Wednesday, but could NOT receive confirmation of the reported vandalism against Ethalyn Kirby's car. The officer handling that case had left for the day - but no, he did NOT make a return trip to our apartment complex to look for more drug evidence.

So police can't confirm anything. And the damaged car admittedly could be in a repair shop. But what about these notes reportedly being spread around Columbus, with Ed Harbison's picture on them? They say, "I stopped by to chat...." They say nothing about bringing steak knives - for a barbecue or otherwise.

So we called Ed Harbison Wednesday night to get his side of all this - and he knew nothing about any of it. He was saddened by what happened to Ethalyn Kirby's car, but noted vandalism is a "common" crime in Columbus. I think that means Harbison will vote Yes on that one-percent sales tax....

State Senator Ed Harbison was baffled that we even called him about this e-mail. He knew nothing of the vandalism, and seemed to know nothing about the flyers being spread with his picture on them. So perhaps some campaign supporters are out of control - and they're especially dangerous, because they can read maps.

But when we named the person who sent the e-mail, Ed Harbison quickly drew a conclusion. You see, Josh McKoon is the Muscogee County Republican chairman. "I will not comment, and will not respond," the Democratic incumbent told me - but then added: "I don't expect anything else from that quarter." And with inflation the way it is, a quarter doesn't have much value anymore.

What we have here could be a game of "guilt by association." Trouble happens to an accuser of a politician - therefore the politician is presumed responsible and guilty, even if some overzealous supporters caused the problem without his consent. I can't wait to see the YouTube videos of Ed Harbison and Reginald Pugh's pastors.

But this act of vandalism reminded me of what someone wrote about a recent Big Blog Question - that some Columbus Council member was intimidating "the family of an activist." Why a councilor would hide behind Ed Harbison's picture to do this, I don't quite understand....

The activist facing these threats is NOT Bert Coker. He told me so Wednesday night -- but he added Muscogee County Marshal Greg Countryman advised him earlier in the day to "watch my back." Coker's cowboy hats do look big enough to hide a concealed-carry pistol.

Bert Coker added the marshal did NOT give his advice in an official capacity, but "as a friend." Coker said Greg Countryman suggested he "watch my P's and Q's," because slip-ups could be used against him. That doesn't sound like a matter of life and death - but a matter of good joke material for a blogger.

Back where we started, the State Senate rematch between Ed Harbison and Reginald Pugh hasn't gained a lot of attention compared with 2006. I think that's because the one-percent city sales tax question has dominated the political discussion. Neither Senate candidate has donated to the Yes side - so I suppose their campaign offices subscribe to private security systems.

As for the sales tax question, "Yes for Public Safety" staged a media event Wednesday - announcing the members of its steering committee. For some reason, most of the names weren't posted on the group's web site in the first place. But I guess people are more likely to vote for a campaign treasurer they know, than an incoming police officer they don't.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Now for another election exclusive! A mysterious candidate for Sheriff comes forward today - apparently after reading about himself here:

Some of you bloggers are wondering who I am and why I'm running as write-in candidate for Muscogee County Sheriff. I will try to displace any rumors and myths your bloggers may have created about me. First thing is my name is not Mike it's Mark; secondly my name or phone number will never ever appear in any phone book, the reason is security for my family, police officers never post their numbers in any phone book. Thirdly MR. Bert Coker couldn't even get his campaign off the ground he only had eighty eight voters in his bid for Mayor, which does not sound like a successful campaign to me. I have a large majority of Columbus voters that are extremely interested in putting me into office. Fourthly The reason I'm running as write-in candidate is I was serving annual duty as a National Guard Soldier in which have been committed to for the past thirty one years so I missed the cutoff date for registration, someone has to keep this country free. Now if your bloggers have questions concerning my self or my qualifications contact me directly.... but don't start any rumors in less you have your facts straight. I will be glad to send anyone a brochure if they want some additional information and true facts about me.

Our apologies first for misstating Mark LaJoye's name, when we broke the news of his campaign 10 June. We also slipped for a few days with Bert Coker in the 2006 mayor's race - and you can see how many votes that cost him.

If people want a brochure from Mark LaJoye, e-mail us and we'll pass your request along. Based on the e-mail address he used to contact us, LaJoye works for Omega Training Group on Moon Road - which is involved in a number of defense-related programs. Most of them are so complex that Omega is well named, because they're "Greek to me."

Many people will appreciate Mark LaJoye's commitment to serve in the Georgia National Guard. But will voters want to elect a sheriff who might be on duty overseas for a year at a time? Remember what happened to Phenix City Manager Bubba Roberts - who went on National Guard duty, and almost found his office abolished.

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BLOG UPDATE: It's now three days since the Metro Narcotics Task Force bust next door to our home. The four people who were taken into custody have NOT returned. But a small group of women gathered in the apartment complex courtyard Wednesday afternoon - with several shouting, and one ready to attack another. I rated it on Maury Povich Show level, one notch short of Jerry Springer.

The shouting was loud and overlapping - and it happened as I left for an evening engagement, so I'm not sure what it involved. But one woman talked about meeting somebody at a gas station. So maybe it was merely a dispute about whose turn it was to drive the car-pool.

A man several doors away from me stepped into the courtyard, and physically restrained a woman in green who was ready to start a fight. That took some courage on his part - but he's about 30 pounds heavier than I am, and has the bulk to back it up.

We'll see if anything else comes of this - and now let's come to some short conclusions about Wednesday's news:

+ The Opelika-Auburn News reported the attorney for accused murderer Courtney Lockhart wants a change of venue. He argues a fair trial is impossible anywhere in Alabama. If Nancy Grace has anything to say about it, Lockhart's trial will have to be in Mexico - where hardly anyone understands English.

+ Aflac announced it will keep using The Growing Room for child care, but it wants the children kept in smaller groups. That will allow all the youngsters to be entertained, the next time a teacher pulls someone around by the ear.

+ Phenix City Catholic priest Thomas Wiese called for the opening of locked swimming pools by next Tuesday. And he did it by showing off an outlandish pair of bright striped swim trunks. It may be time for Wiese to change the cable channel from Eternal Word to the Style Network.

+ Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin declared it "Tomato Sandwich Day," to show the state's produce is safe from salmonella. But c'mon - he could have had some sliced Vidalia onions available for extra flavor.

+ Pioneer and Northern split the district Little League softball titles. Maybe the fans of those programs finally are happy now. After all, no one's sent us a ripped Pioneer uniform all season.

+ Several more champions were crowned at the Olympic shooting trials on Fort Benning. They included the winners in "men's prone" and "women's prone." I suppose those events could be combined - but I'm a single guy, so I really know nothing about that....

+ Instant Message to American Eye Care on Veterans Parkway: Have you no shame? I mean, offering "back to school" specials before Independence Day. Why not offer a special next June, for the CRCT re-testing?

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