Posted on 09/10/2002 10:23:27 AM PDT by CreekerFreeper
PIKEVILLE - A Sept. 11 memorial ceremony has turned into a public political fray, with one camp demanding that a singing judge not be allowed to perform on stage in the Pikeville City Park.
In a terse letter Friday, Pike district judge candidate John Doug Hays said allowing incumbent judge Darrel Mullins to sing in front of the crowd politicizes what should be a solemn event.
He asked that Mullins, a popular local singer and musician, be removed from the program.
The fallout from Hays' letter was immediate. Glendia Sawyers, manager of the Pikeville Main Street Program, resigned from the Patriot Day Committee, saying she was verbally attacked by Hays' supporters who were angry that Mullins would perform.
"I was called a liar and a good part of my work day was consumed with threatening, angry phone calls from people," Sawyers said in her letter of resignation.
Pikeville City Commissioner Gene Davis, who is seeking re-election, and Pike County Judge-Executive-elect Bill Deskins, said they also may resign from the committee.
The event, set for 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Pikeville City Park, has been planned for several weeks. It includes a keynote address by Tom Jordan, a survivor of the attack on New York City's World Trade Center.
Another candidate on November's ballot, incumbent Sheriff Charles "Fuzzy" Keesee, also is scheduled to participate by honoring his deputies and those who have died in the line of duty.
At a Friday meeting of the Patriot Day Committee, members denied politics played any role in the program. Members decided against inviting Hays to participate, possibly to sing a patriotic song of his own or to read a poem.
They also expressed concerns the city commission might vote to rescind $1,000 in financial backing and other support it has offered, and possibly even pull its firefighters and police officers from the event.
City Commissioner Steve Combs said the city is not likely to withdraw its support but that doesn't mean the commission will look favorably on how the event has unfolded.
"It's a shame that a bunch of politicians would dupe us into paying for this event," Combs said. "This was supposed to be a memorial, a solemn event, but they're trying to see if they can gain some political advantage from it. It's evolved into an argument."
Combs said he has received numerous complaints from local citizens about politicians' involvement in the ceremony. He said the controversy should prompt city commissioners to analyze more closely how events the city sponsors will be organized.
Mullins said he agreed to sing at the event as a public service, not for political favor.
"I'm doing this just as an American citizen, not as a candidate for any office," Mullins said. "There's nothing at all political about the songs."
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