Dear Editor and fellow Ector County citizens,
Have you ever been afraid to speak up about something you thought wasn’t right?
Many people in our County tell me stories of retaliation for speaking up about the “wrong” person or issue.
I’m told this gets you bullied, intimidated, worried about your personal safety, and/or being reported to various agencies so that you will be harassed.
These stories were hard for me to believe in the beginning. Honestly it sounded like sour grapes that people around for a long time could not let go of.
However, when I started learning and sharing things about our local utility that was operating without integrity and in a lawless fashion, I faced similar threats.
My husband was told he better tell me to shut up and stop posting the things I was uncovering. He was told people ‘who aren’t happy” with what I was sharing would start calling me that same day.
I did not stop posting, and things escalated. Our home window was even shot. By whom? No idea, but I got calls from people I knew and others I didn’t that had read my posts on social media. They said that I should always carry a gun. When I asked why, because this sounded outrageous to me, I was told stories going back to the 1980’s and that Odessa was a very dangerous place at that time. People were murdered, some bodies were found, some were found burned, and some were never found.
There was mention of the Odessa Business Mafia, which I had never heard of.
Did this scare me? Well sure, wouldn’t it scare anyone who doesn’t operate in that kind of world or with that kind of values and morals?
However, after discussion and prayer with my family, we decided that intimidation would not deter me from doing what is right and just. We will not go back to those times.
But we find ourselves here today facing a clear and present threat – we find ourselves at risk with the people who are using bad tactics to put themselves into power during this upcoming election on March 5th.
Mr. Ronnie Lewis, a long-time citizen of Ector County is someone I have never met in person, but online he has boasted he has recruited more candidates than ever to run for Precinct Chairs and County Chair of the Republican Party. I think that’s great we have so many races with unopposed candidates. Opposed races with ethical and qualified candidates are healthy for our system – incumbents should not be able to sit back on their laurels and avoid accountability to the public. If they aren’t doing their jobs or they are lining their pockets, or not working for us, “we the people”, they should be fired (voted out or recalled).
However, Mr. Lewis’ leadership style and influence causes me deep concern – enough to write my first letter to the Editor. Besides the stories that are being relayed to me about folks guilting and threatening people who do not support his full list of candidates, I had my own experience with Mr. Lewis this week. Rather than tell you about it, I’ll post it here– word for word. The only thing I changed was for clarity – I moved a couple of replies under the comment they belong to, as Facebook can mix them up and Mr. Lewis tends to comment back and forth between replies and new comments so it’s hard to follow.
Ector County citizens, whether you live inside or outside the city limits please ask yourselves: Is the type of leadership you want in place? Especially with Mr. Lewis claiming so much reach? What harm could he do to the system and how will we the public be impacted? We can only rely on his words and actions to make that decision. He recruited Donna Kelm for County Republican Party Chair, unfortunately she’s not been out at the scheduled events hosted by unbiased moderators. But I feel like she’s a dubious candidate since she is tagging along with and following Lewis’ lead.
Besides his clear attempt to intimidate me, including disparaging me and my husband, he then blocked or deleted the string of discussion and blocked me from his page – all because I asked Mr. Dubose to reply why he didn’t attend Monday’s debate.
Mr. Lewis has also continued to set up events, even at the last minute to keep his candidates from having to sit next to their opponents so that “we the people” can ask questions of both sides and see how they compare. I attended two events this week where this tactic was used by Mr. Lewis. As I was penning this, another candidate of his, Linda Hall, who previously confirmed 2 weeks ago had just responded saying she would not attend the candidate forum last night at Premier Ballroom because of a ‘scheduling conflict.’ And she did not show up. I will not be surprised if Mr. Lewis comes out with another paid, catered event for his candidates to attend on Monday, 2/19, when the official Republican Party Debates for County Commissioner 1 and 3, and Justice of the Peace 1, will occur.
If Mr. Lewis and his slate of candidates behave this way before being elected, what can we expect during their term? Transparency? Access? Ethics? I think not.
Early voting starts Tuesday, February 20th. Please go vote and protect us from this intimidating style of leadership that will surely bring back the wealthy good ‘ole boy network.
And to the candidates on his slate – I am sure there are some of you who do not agree with his tactics, but if you continue to avoid debates and forums and attend alternate events, then that is giving your approval. It also shows you are part of his culture of intimidation. We have many of your political signs in west Odessa and we deserve the right to hear from you. Otherwise, come pick those signs up! Signs don’t vote, people do.
Patti Kappauf