I would like to respond to remarks, rumors and untruths regarding my campaign for the 74th District state representative seat. I made my intentions to run known when I filed with the ethics commission in November 2005. Neither Tony George nor Steve Webb filed committees until spring of 2006. The assertion that I entered the race and thus split the black vote is not accurate, despite Elbert Walton’s allegations. How could I split a race in which I was first to enter?
I do not believe that because Steve Webb decided to run again after I filed that it was my responsibility to back down because he had ran before or because, as he put it, “he is the man.”
With regard to me being thrown in the race by state Rep. Ted Hoskins, that is another outright lie. Because of the hot-button school voucher issue, Walton chose to throw Hoskins’ name into the discussion because he has been unable to find a way to discredit me. By insinuating that I support vouchers – although I have publicly stated that I do not and also received the NEA endorsement – he succeeded in throwing a red herring out to divert attention from the reality of the situation.
Ingrid Owens
Via email