Article, editorial were unfounded

By Bill Hausrath
Published: June 6, 2008

Your innuendo inferring a conflict of interest because the Walker and Hausrath families both have an ownership interest in Lofton Lake boggles the imagination (“Retreat connects Walker, Hausrath,” June 5). An educated reader of the front page article recognizes the lack of facts to support the provocative headline. Your editorial slap at Mr. Walker is as unfounded as reporting, “if we had evidence that Florence Nightingale had arsenic then she might have done something bad with it.” Your reporter found no evidence of impropriety but you didn’t hesitate to create the negative impressions and make accusations. 
Friendships, politics and doing business with “people we know” are a fact in smaller communities. Does Tim Williams have a conflict of interest because his wife runs a picture of my son on her Web page advertising her photography service and I recruited him to run for the City Council? Does Frank Luncente have a conflict because we are in the same Kiwanis Club and I’ve been known to eat at Sam’s? Does Nancy Dowdy have a conflict because I’ve referred business to her husband? Does Tom Reynolds have a conflict because a few years ago we were teammates at WHS? Does Lorie Smith have a conflict because I actively participated in her election campaign? It might be possible that I could have conflicts with all of them in the same way it is possible that Mr. Walker and I have conflicts. But it isn’t the truth.
Why was it a hard choice to simply say that “we looked but found no evidence”? Instead, in order to sell a few more newspapers, you used your media privilege to take the low road. Where are your ethical obligations to the community?
I have known Doug Walker since he arrived in Waynesboro. Whenever our conversation would stray into the personalities of his work he was fond of saying “I don’t do politics.” He meant it. We would discuss philosophies but he was always respectful of the fact that he worked for the City Council and his job was to make them look good. For five years he has made them look good, really good.
I would challenge you to write ethical headlines and compose editorials that raise our standards. You may not sell as many newspapers tomorrow but you can hold your head high. The real silver lining is that you’ll probably stay in business longer, too.
Bill Hausrath
Waynesboro