December 8, 2017

Following is a link to an article by the Milton Herald that asserts that Laura Bentley’s defeat of incumbent Council Member Bill Lusk hinged on money.

Campaign War Chests Prove The Difference in Milton

This assertion is categorically wrong, as the Herald analysis focuses on campaign contributions, not campaign spending.  Yes, Ms. Bentley raised more money.  However, Mr. Lusk spent more money and that is what matters.  Based on the last campaign finance reports (from November 1st), Ms. Bentley had spent $13,812 and Mr. Lusk had spent $22,867–a huge gap of over $9,000.  Spending advantage:  BILL LUSK.  And remember that the final campaign finance reports will be submitted on December 31–a fact omitted by the Milton Herald.  I suspect we will see an even bigger gap in campaign spending based on the final finance reports.

This spending gap makes Ms. Bentley’s victory that much more impressive.  She walloped an 11-year incumbent who also outspent her.  Contrast this fact with the Milton Herald‘s assertion that Ms. Bentley effectively bought the election.

Of course, the Milton Herald article (like many others in the past) had me seeing RED.  Once I calmed down, I fired off the below letter to Hatcher Hurd, Executive Editor the Milton Herald.  Note that I mention that, despite her heroic efforts to advocate for citizens, Ms. Bentley has been largely ignored by the Milton Herald.  However, I would bring your attention to the following article just published by an on-line newspaper, North Fulton Neighbor:

Bentley aims to be a voice for the residents as newly elected councilwoman in Milton

This is the kind of story the Milton Herald should have written, but instead opted to write a story that dismisses Ms. Bentley and her victory as an example of the influence of money in politics.

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Mr. Hurd:

I have long been concerned about superficial and biased reporting in the Milton Herald.  An article in the most recent edition of the Milton Herald further validated my concerns.  The headline of the article read “Campaign War Chests Prove the Difference in Milton.”  Really?  That is the Milton Herald’s explanation for Laura Bentley’s historic blowout victory (over 71% of the vote) over an entrenched 11-year incumbent?  Interestingly, even your own article refutes this explanation.  The article clearly states that Mr. Lusk significantly outspent Ms. Bentley.  Your article asserts that Ms. Bentley’s spending was 65% less than Mr. Lusk’s.  So using the “facts” from your own article, it seems the headline should have stated “Insurgent Achieves Historic Election Blowout Despite Being Outspent By Entrenched Incumbent.”  And when the final campaign finance reports are released on December 31, I think you will see an even more lopsided campaign ledger.

It is obvious, except to the Milton Herald, that what matters are campaign expenditures, not campaign contributions.  The Milton Herald’s conclusion that Ms. Bentley’s electoral win was the result of campaign contributions is reckless, reprehensible, and just plain false.

It does not surprise me that the Milton Herald lacks understanding of why Ms. Bentley won the election.  For the last 2 years, you have overlooked (intentionally, I believe) the citizens’ revolution that unfolded here in Milton.  Citizens were fed up with reckless development, poor governance (at the Council level), the influence of Special Interests, and arrogant/self-serving politicians.  They desperately wanted change.  Ms. Bentley represented that change.

As you know, for over 2 years, Ms. Bentley has attended nearly every City Council meeting.  She has also attended many dozens of other city government meetings.  She has spoken at countless  meetings.  Ms. Bentley has worked closely with various citizens groups to achieve justice in land-use matters.  Laura became a clear and unequivocal voice for citizens.  And she led citizens in achieving a number of important victories at Council.  She did this in relative anonymity . . . she is a humble servant for our community.  You will not find a citizen that cares more for our community than Laura Bentley.  I believe she was deserving of regular coverage from the Herald, but rather she was largely ignored by you.

Furthermore, Laura worked hard to win her council seat.  She bootstrapped her campaign with a personal loan.  She worked tirelessly for 4 solid months.  She held 30 meet-and-greets.  She knocked on thousands of doors all over Milton.  She ran an exceptionally smart and clean campaign.  Laura Bentley won because she connected with citizens and worked hard.  And those of us who witnessed her hard work and passion are not going to let you get away with your false assertion that Bentley essentially bought the election.  That claim is patently false and insulting to not only Ms. Bentley, but to the citizens of Milton . . . your readers

Mr. Hurd, as the executive editor of the Milton Herald, the buck stops with you.  You owe Ms. Bentley an apology.  Furthermore, you should retract your false story and replace it with a factual and substantive account of Ms. Bentley’s election win.  That would be the honorable and right thing to do.

Mr. Hurd, I believe a fair, honest, and objective press is important to good governance in Milton.  I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with you or anyone else at the Milton Herald to honestly discuss your coverage of Milton’s politics and government.  Like Ms. Bentley, I have worked nearly full-time advocating for Milton’s citizens.  This includes attending nearly every City Council meeting for 2 years and speaking dozens of times before Council and other city government entities.  I believe I have an informed perspective on Milton’s politics and government that might be instructive and beneficial to you and others at the Milton Herald.