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27 OCT 04: UN-ED-ITED

It was only a matter of time, I guess. The boldest e-mail yet in the fall campaign reached us the other day. Eduardo Diaz writes about the Marshal's race:

MR. Suddeth is on of the biggest liers in Columbus, not because he lied about his service record. But he lies about hiring spanish speaking officers because he promised me a job in his office.To make things worse he lied to my wife by saying " your husband is going to be my next deputy marshal." These empty promises went on for 6 months until my wife and I saw him getting out of his unmarked city patrol car.He walked into Chef Lee's went straight the bar and fixed himself a large mixed drink.Then I approched Suddeth, he didn't want to speak to me since I caught him in so many lies.I then looked in the face and walked away.There has been four other hispanic officers who had applied and they also got empty promises.Suddeth had a hispanic working for him when he first got into office.The officer had to resign due to marital problems which affected his job, ever since then he will not hire any spanish speaking deputies.I guess he doesn't like us. Suddeth had a African American working for him who got involved in a little scam at the city barn in 1999, and the deputy doesn't work there anymore. Ever since then Suddeth refuses to hire African Americans, now a White officer got into trouble by being unprofessional. So now he's not going to hire blacks,Whites,and Hispanics. Is he going to hire Koreans? NO! the Korean population in Columbus knows how he is. So the only thing he can do is step down before Gregory Countryman really takes a bite out of his Nasty,Stinkin,Dirty,Lying ASS.
Thank You

And we thank YOU, Mr. Diaz. That's what we like about political campaigns -- a lack of name-calling.

Eduardo Diaz claims Marshal Ken Suddeth is excluding deputies from almost all ethnic communities. But there's one group he may have overlooked. Assuming the Marshal can get a mixed drink at Chef Lee's, maybe he's hiring Chinese-American
deputies.

Obviously Eduardo Diaz's complaint called for a reply - and it came Tuesday night from the Marshal himself. In an exclusive interview with your blog, Ken Suddeth recognized Diaz's name as soon as I mentioned it. After 12 years as Marshal, either that means you're very good - or you're under investigation.

Marshal Ken Suddeth confirmed Eduardo Diaz once applied to be a deputy. But he said when a background check was conducted, Diaz turned out to be "atrocious." That's the sort of "A grade" no worker wants to have....

Marshal Suddeth went on to describe Eduardo Diaz's mental health as "very questionable." He recalled a trip to Albany a few years ago, when an aide told him Diaz had threatened to burn down the Marshal's house. Maybe Diaz had a change of plans, and dreamed of becoming a firefighter.

So what about that trip to Chef Lee's? The Marshal says Eduardo Diaz claims to have a videotape of him "staggering" - but Diaz never has produced it. The thought that Columbus has paparazzi such as this is staggering enough....

Was that a mixed drink Ken Suddeth was drinking? "I doubt I even stagger," the Marshal told me - saying at places such as the V.F.W. lodge he never drinks more than Sprite. So much for suspects using the "over-caffeinated officer" defense.

Ken Suddeth was ready to answer Eduardo Diaz's complaints, apparently because Diaz wrote the Ledger-Enquirer as well. I missed that letter in Sunday's paper - because I stopped at the Quizno's Subs coupons.

Marshal Suddeth warned Eduardo Diaz he "should be very careful," because he's making statements which are close to slander. There's nothing like a big damage award in court to get your mind off public safety pay issues.

But enough about Eduardo Diaz personally - what about the bigger issue of minorities and the Marshal's office? Ken Suddeth says at one point, 62.7% of his staff were either female or minority employees. Perhaps that was when Republican Party officials told him to stop acting so much like a Democrat.

Marshal Ken Suddeth estimates about half his current staff consists of females and minority group members. The number would be higher, but Greg Countryman decided to run against him this fall....

The Marshal admitted to me he's felt pressure to hire Hispanic deputies, especially from Columbus Councilor Mimi Woodson. We have yet to learn if Woodson has felt pressure to recruit Asian-American candidates to run for Council.

Ken Suddeth says anyone can apply to work with the Marshal's office, no matter what their background. But he notes "they have to be qualified" to be hired. If the applicants aren't qualified - well, new restaurants are opening around Columbus Park Crossing all the time.

Ken Suddeth told me he's had three main goals as Marshal - to improve education, training, and staff pay. He said education and training are better, but he admitted he's failed with the pay issue. Yet for some reason, the Marshal skipped
that final sales tax forum at the Government Center Tuesday night....

I found Marshal Suddeth at a different Government Center event - the annual candlelight vigil to remember domestic violence victims. Thankfully, no deaths of battered women have been reported in Muscogee County in the last 12 months. Politically-divided couples may be yelling at each other right now, but nothing more.

Two police officers chatted at the Government Center Tuesday night about the domestic violence vigil. One of them said, "They ought to have one for battered men. We get just as many calls about them." For instance, after the wife finds the
hidden porn pictures on her husband's computer....

Anyone who thinks downtown Columbus is dead after 5:00 p.m. should have been at the Government Center Tuesday night. Between the sales tax forum and the domestic violence vigil, about 150 people were on hand. And at least the domestic violence group had the money to offer refreshments afterward.

But I digress: Ken Suddeth says he's tried as Marshal to move Muscogee County away from what he calls "fifties and sixties law enforcement." I'm not sure if that's a subtle endorsement of a candidate in the Sheriff's race or not....

Marshal Ken Suddeth says he'll keep campaigning on the issues up to Election Day, and not engage in what he calls "mudslinging." When your opponent has a last name like Countryman, he may be thankful for any mud he can sling around.

COMING THIS WEEK: Who was that woman who limped out of my car?....

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