David Doss
This morning after publishing Doss' response to the story (see below) online, Hufstetler released the following:
This Sunday, the Atlanta Journal – Constitution had an article regarding unpaid taxes and tax liens from the past. One of my fellow Republicans for the Senate District 52 seat, David Doss, was mentioned in the article.
I have read Mr. Doss’s statement regarding the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's report. I fully believe this is not a campaign issue.
Further, I too believe this election year the politics in this race have been too negative. Therefore, I ask Mr. Doss to join me to only talk about the issues without mentioning any other candidates during these last eight days of this primary campaign, and for our campaigns, or supporters, to refrain from negative politics.
If willing, I will meet with Mr. Doss with media representatives and local Republican party officials to shake hands on our agreement to not run any more negative ads in this campaign, or the potential run-off campaign. If Mr. Doss's schedule allows, I will meet him today, Monday, July 23rd, at noon at the Republican headquarters to shake his hand on this agreement. I will also send a message to my supporters, both within the district and without, to also refrain from negative attacks.
If a negative attack against any of my opponents occurs from this day forward, I will denounce it.
In response to the morning release, David Doss sent in the following:
“I received an offer from Chuck Hufstetler this morning to meet at noon today to agree to stop the negative campaigning during the final week of this election. I have a previous campaign commitment that will not allow me to meet with Mr. Hufstetler today. From the beginning of this race, I have run a campaign based completely on the issues and have offered common sense, conservative solutions to the problems facing our state. To the contrary, Mr. Hufstetler has run one of the most negative attack campaigns in recent memory, including two disgusting and slanderous mailers sent just last week that he was too ashamed to even put his name on.
Since I have not engaged in this disgraceful campaign practice, I am glad to hear that Mr. Hufstetler now wants to end his negative attack ads. After he admits responsibility for the two anonymous mailers from last week, and takes down the negative website, then I will gladly accept his apology.” David Doss
Doss also added by phone that "I've talked about his record and I've talked abuot the issues and I'eve even responded to a couple of the negative attacks. But I don't have time to respond to everything."
The candidate added that the scheduled commitment was being held in Calhoun at noon.
UPDATE: Hufstetler releases additional response to Doss
It is time to put an end the politics of personal destruction. I am ready and willing to meet Mr. Doss wherever and whenever he would like so that we can do a gentlemen’s handshake to end the negative campaigning in this election.
As I stated earlier, if noon did not work for Mr. Doss, I am willing to meet him today when his schedule allows.
It is apparent that both campaigns feel like they have been attacked. I am willing to put an end to it. I am sure Mr. Doss is willing to as well.
I look forward to meeting with Mr. Doss.
From July 22, 2012:
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation turned up 56 Georgia General Assembly candidates who are, or have been, delinquent on taxes.
Click here to see the AJC report.
David Doss of Rome, a Republican running for state Senate District 52, was listed as being late with payments for 2003 and 2008. He released the following statement late Sunday:
Doss Responds to AJC Article on Taxes
07/22/12 For immediate release
In September, 2002, myself and two friends purchased 9 Richland Court in Rome, Georgia which had been vacant and was an eyesore for our neighborhood and the 2002 property taxes were paid at the closing. In June, 2003, we received a notice about unpaid taxes for 2002, which were paid on the 2002 closing statement In the confusion about the prior year's taxes, the 2003 property taxes were not paid on time. When we sold the house in 2004, the closing attorney discovered the unpaid taxes and they were immediately paid in full including all penalties and interest.
In 2007, I started Magnolia Market with local developer Tom Hackett. Tom was the day-to-day operations manager and I was unaware there were any unpaid taxes. As the real estate market declined, Tom wanted total ownership of Magnolia Market. When I sold him my interest, I was given an unconditional release and indemnification by Mr. Hackett for all past or future real estate taxes or taxes of any kind. A copy of the release and other documents will be available tomorrow on www.dossforsenate.com.
The factual part of the AJC article is that the taxes in question have been paid. In fact, the only taxes that David Doss had any liability for were paid some 8 years ago.
Unfortunately, this AJC article will now become new fodder for the Chuck Hufstetler campaign to distort and use in his negative smear campaign against me. Just like the attack mail piece from last week that was so slanderous, that Hufstetler campaign refused to put their name on it. The citizens of the 52nd District deserve more than this type of gutter politics from Chuck Hufstetler.
I'm leaning Doss, but I won't say why. It's a shame that 90% of the time I have to choose the candidate I feel is the lesser of two evils.
Thomas Jefferson makes the following observation corncerning liberty in America.
"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?" (Thomas Jefferson from his "Notes on Virginia", 2:229-30)
As soon as the founders (represententing all the Peoples of the 13 colonies) signed the Declaration, all the Peoples in the colonies who were members became citizens of the new republic with civil rights. As citizens, each was obligated to give his allegiance to defend the principles and rights listed in the Declaration. In return for that allegiance, each citizen was guaranteed all the civil rights that were listed. That guarantee included safety, an unhindered right of conscience within the limits of the liberty found in the Gospel of the New Testament, and the right to pursue happiness according to the dictates of that right of conscience without the influence of the church or government.
You will notice in the Declaration that the only stated role of the government in this new republic is to secure those civil rights given to them by God as listed by the founders. Because all who are elected were seen as public servants not lords, any governments that would be created would have no authority to revoke, change, or grant additional rights.
This morning, I confirmed with Judge Burkhalter this information to be factual, and personally confirmed this to be factual with a third party who was present at the time it occurred. I have also obtained all of the supporting documents and have posted them at www.dossforsenate.com for voters to see for themselves.
Asking a Judge to commit a felony is a serious matter, and retaliating against him when he refuses is an even more serious matter. I am shocked by what I have learned today. Again, I have posted all of these documents at http://dossforsenate.com/ so the voters can see them for themselves and make their own judgments. I want to thank Mr. Galloway for his sound investigative reporting into this matter.
When Doss was a county commissioner, he stood strong against the City and the Chamber and fought the Forum location and building a golf course because he knew they would be a financial disaster. He took an incredible amount of heat for doing so, but he stood up for the taxpayers. Now, 20 years later, both the golf course and the forum have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars each and every year, just like Doss warned. Thankfully the county is not on the hook for the golf course.
When Doss was a commissioner, our employees got raises, and the police and Sheriff's office were treated like garbage. Chuck's refusal to maintain county buildings during his term has come home to roost. The jail is in horrible condition with roof leaks, and communication failure all related to the lack of maintenance. Grand Jury and Grand Jury have blasted the Commissions for not maintaining our buildings. Also, look at the road paving in the county. It went from 40 miles per year to 5. And you call all of this "serving the county extremely well"? Please!
As for the GDOT, they were audited yearly and ALWAYS passed with flying colors until 2008 when Perdue tried to take over the department. Plus GDOT enjoys the HIGHEST BOND RATING POSSIBLE which is a direct measure of their financial condition. They set records for performance and efficiency under Doss and the department was just named #1 in the nation for delivering projects on time and #2 in the nation for being on budget. THESE ARE THE FACTS. Feel free to look them up for yourself. Chuck has thrown the mud because he doesn't want you to look at his record.
What part of the AJC article don't you understand? It was 1 sentence long and said Doss' "taxes were paid". Doss also explained it. The taxes in question were paid 8 years ago immediately after they were found to be unpaid.So, you are perfect in your life? You've never overlooked a bill? It must be awesome to be so perfect. Isn't it odd that a guy who is in the real estate business and has bought and sold dozens of properties, they can only find 1 tax bill that was late? If Doss is such a bum and deadbeat, wouldn't he be delinquent on more than 1 time, 8 years ago? Go look at somebody like Larry Martin. He owes the County millions in back taxes. And what is Hufstetler supporter Kevin Payne doing about it? He lets Martin slide because he's scared of him.
As for Doss' transportation plan, it was to be voted on by the public you moron, just like the TSPLOST which is also the largest tax increase in the history of the state. If you don't like it, don't vote for it. DUH! Name me one idea Hufstetler has offered this entire race? You can't because he hasn't. All he can do is send out annonomous attack mailers and then cry "Truce".It's like when you punch your big brother and then run cry truce to mommy when he kicks your rear.
Hayden Collins, if you can keep it together for a few weeks, you'll be our new Senator.
I'm sure somebody thinks Chic Fil A needs to be run out of town too since Dan took a stand on Marriage. I'm happy a few of us are standing up for what we think is right.
And "Party Bus" allegations? Come on!!! The Huffster calls for truce and then the GOP Establishment talks about a "Party Bus"????
Lets talk about why all of us Southern Baptists and other non drinkers are offended that Chuck Hufstetler would start a BEER BREWERY in Paul's Oyster Bar.... He talks out of two sides of his mouth......