Reply to Heiberg's Letter

A letter printed in the 10-2-14 Columbia Basin Herald by Rick Heiberg was given the title of "Setting the Record Straight". Not so fast!

Heiberg, a previous one term mayor of Coulee City, implies previous letters were "Opinions based upon hearsay, rumors, or gossip" and were written by people who were not even there. Wrong.

The only recent letters on that topic were written by Kevin Moore and myself. Both of us were duly elected precinct committee officers (PCO) of the Grant County GOP. We were elected by county citizens to represent them.

Tom Dent, current candidate for 13th District state representative, had 9 years in his leadership role as Grant County Chairman. He re-wrote the party's by-laws to give himself total control of the Grant County GOP.

At a party meeting on his private property, myself, Kevin Moore, and a dozen other PCOs that were there, were barred from entry as Dent called the sheriff and threatened us with trespass.

Yes, Mr. Heiberg, we are all too familiar with executive sessions and executive decisions. My letter in the 9-4-14 CBH did not dispute his power to hold executive sessions. I was trying to inform the voters of the unethical abuses that took place that night and that led to the replacement of Tom Dent at the first opportunity the elected representatives of Grant County Republicans had.

I challenge Mr Heiberg or Mr Dent to a public forum to truly set the record straight regarding the events of that meeting. Now the good Old Boys are trying to get that type of leadership elected to represent the same people Tom Dent refused to even meet with.

As a one term mayor of Coulee City, Mr. Heiberg learned the hard way about not knowing the rules that hold elected officials responsible. Unlike Tom Dent, Mr Heiberg did not get to write the rules himself. I am sorry to see that it appears Mr Heiberg is OK with what took place throughout the entire year.

Jon G. Smith

Moses Lake