Printed in the Clarion Ledger November 1, 2003

The gubernatorial debate Thursday night, Oct. 23, was, by far, the best debate I've seen so far. The candidates actually discussed issues rather than taking jabs at each other all night. All five candidates were invited, but Green Party candidate Sherman Lee Dillon and Constitution Party candidate John Thomas Cripps were the only candidates who arrived.

Mr. Dillon and Mr. Cripps actually had a lot in common. Both are family men, not career politicians, who believe they can make Mississippi better for their children and grandchildren. Also, both want campaign finance reform and neither will accept corporate donations.

On topics such as the state flag, homosexual adoption and the death penalty, they had completely opposite opinions, but they were able to disagree without name-calling and arguing. Sherman Lee Dillon will receive my vote, but I respect Mr. Cripps for caring enough about the state to try to make a change.

I believe Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and Haley Barbour refused to attend because they didn't want to answer tough questions about how to better Mississippi. Mr. Dillon said the Democrats and Republicans were more like two branches of one big ruling party.

When asked about the third party candidates being excluded from the previous debates, Mr. Cripps said, "All it takes is one other candidate to get thrown into the mix to talk about the issues, and then all of a sudden everyone has to talk about the issues."

There were only about 50 people in the audience. There should have been thousands. I suggest that Mississippians forget about both of the over-funded top-party candidates and choose our next governor from the three "third-party" candidates - Dillon, Cripps or Shawn O'Hara. Don't waste a vote on "the lesser of two evils."

Tre' Thornhill
Raymond

Printed in the Sun Herald - October 28, 2003

Third-party candidates bring focus to the issues

Thank you, Sun Herald, for the article about third-party candidates. It is about time that media addresses the fact that our nation has always valued the candidate over the party. In the old times, the American voter had to rely on party affiliation to determine how a candidate stands on issues because mass media was non-existent.

Nowadays, party affiliation is merely a way of raising money for media exposure. And frankly, the party lines have become obscured with Republicans wanting more federal dependency for our state and Democrats asking for more control over personal choices. So the third-party candidates are valuable to show that there are ways to meet needs beyond the major party solutions that consistently fail, yet are repeated in every political term.

The article stated, "Jim Herring, chair of the state Republican Party, said he has heard of no 'great, burning issues' that third-party candidates would bring to a debate." How pompous of an over-dominant party rep to say that the environment, domestic violence and the budget are trivial issues that no Mississippian would want to hear about.

The article also stated, "... those in the major parties say including minor candidates in debates often confuses voters and allows less time for major-party candidates to discuss important issues." Confuses voters? How insulting! I promise you, if voters are following issues and attending debates, they are less confused than those who simply vote for someone whose name is familiar, yet their positions on the issues are clouded by the slamming of their opponents (and spending millions of dollars to do it).

I think the two major parties are afraid that some average Mississippian running on a third-party ticket would actually have the solutions we are seeking and this would force them to do more than attend thousand-dollar-a-plate luncheons to win an election.

Meldoy A. Worsham
Woolmarket

October 28, 2003

Want to know who will be running our state for the next four years? Well, look at this website:  www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/CampFinc/Reports/.

The corporations you see pouring money into the campaigns of Musgrove and Barbour are the people they will consult with and cater to when making decisions as governor. Talk about throwing your vote away!!!

I hope that after you look at the thousands, millions of dollars, your future is being sold for, you will be ready to do the right and courageous thing.

Educate yourself, look at this website: www.dillon4gov.com. If you really want your vote to matter, then vote for Sherman Lee Dillon for governor. 

Polly Thornhill
Raymond

Printed in the Clarion Ledger October 24, 2003

Sherman Lee Dillon, all other candidates should be heard

Sherman Lee Dillon, candidate for governor, has been illegally excluded from the 2003 gubernatorial debates. Maybe it's because opening up the debate to other contenders would take some of the power out of the hands of the corporate masters of the two-party system and place it back into the hands of the people.

Staff Writer Julie Goodman should be ashamed of her article ("Musgrove ignores scolding by Republican," Oct. 15) about Haley Barbour "lashing out" at Gov. Ronnie Musgrove during the Delta debate for the obvious opinion wedged into her news story.

She says: "The hourlong event, sponsored by WABG-TV and The Delta Business Journal, was marred by an outburst from Green Party gubernatorial candidate Sherman Lee Dillon." Marred?

She seems to have missed the simple insanity of having a publicly funded debate which invites only two out of at least five candidates.

Instead of looking at the possible reasons for Dillon's exclusion, Goodman finds it easier to dismiss his activities as rude and uncouth.

Shame on her.

Sherman Lee Dillon, in his campaign journal at http://www.dillon4gov.com, says of his activities that night: "Maybe I really am too Mississippi; I want to be polite. After all, there's never an excuse for rudeness - or is there? Could blacks ever have moved to the front of the bus by being more polite? Could we have broken away from England by being more polite? In my attempts to break the monopoly of the two-party system, should I be more polite?"

I agree with Mr Dillon when he says: My name is Sherman Lee Dillon, and I am a candidate for governor. People should be allowed to hear what I have to say.

Kenneth Evans
Hattiesburg

Printed in the Clarion Ledger October 22, 2003

Voters can find a real home in Green Party of Mississippi

The recent grousing match ("Barbour lashes out in debate," Oct. 15) at Delta State University between corporate-funded career politicians exemplifies how our money-hungry political system censors alternative viewpoints, such as those of Green Party candidate Sherman Lee Dillon, and keeps those viewpoints unknown to a citizenry that has everything to gain by finding out about them.

The two money-hogging mainstream parties and the corporations who fill the campaign contributions trough, through media controls, collaborate to deprive citizens of the knowledge they need to vote for candidates who will honor public interests over private wealth. Sooner or later, the American people are going to get wise to this act, but when they do it will be despite the type of condescending, biased coverage in The Clarion-Ledger.

Mr. Dillon's Green gubernatorial campaign is the iceberg tip of a global Green movement with about 200,000 registered members in the U.S.A. There are at least 180 Greens holding public office in the United States, 65 in California alone, where there are Green mayors and city councilpersons and where Green gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo did participate in the debates, and garnered about 211,000 votes in the election.

Further, the Green Party of Mississippi is not an anomaly in the South. Greens and Green-endorsed independents running for offices in and around New Orleans polled tens of thousands of votes in the recent elections. If you believe that people, not greedy, heartless corporations like the one that melted down over in Clinton, should run things in this supposed democracy, you will find a home in the Green Party of Mississippi.

Will Watson
Green Party of Mississippi
Diamondhead

September 15, 2003

There is a man running for governor of Mississippi who supports some ideas that I hope will catch on - no matter what the outcome of the election. On the web site of Green Party Candidate Sherman Lee Dillon (dillon4gov.com) you can see the four pillars of that party - they are all very sensible, earth- and people-friendly.

For instance as part of its environmental stance, the party is in favor of passing a bottle bill - That is such a small thing to do and yet such a monumental step for the environment. Another state, one very much like Mississippi in many ways, has a successful bottle bill. Like Mississippi, Maine is home to a lot of blue-collar people and also has quite a bit of poverty in some areas - so caring for the environment shouldn't be considered here as some "la-de-dah" thing for people with money and time on their hands. From what I could see on many extended visits there, their bottle bill works well. People pay a deposit when they first buy their bottled products, but that money keeps getting recycled as they bring their bottles back, collect their deposit and put it right back into more bottled product. People turn their bottles in at the grocery store's service window on their way in - and get handed a slip they can take to the checkout counter and either get the cash or put it toward the groceries they buy that day. It is a reassuring thing to see people all doing something so "green" together - just as a matter of everyday habit. Also, in Maine, I came across another good idea - a way to keep the millions of plastic shopping bags out of landfills. One grocer that I frequented had a prominent display of sturdy attractive (modestly-priced) mesh bags that people could buy carry with them every time they shopped - I bought several and enjoyed using them there. When I tried to use them at local grocery stores in Mississippi - I was met with blank stares and some actual resistance at the check outs. In Maine, however, where recycling seemed commonplace, I felt a sense of solidarity - and also a sense that my little effort was not just an isolated "drop in the bucket" - that it added to the common good and had meaning.

To paraphrase Kermit the Frog, it isn't easy being Green all by yourself - maybe we do need some effective leadership in that regard.

Samantha Prim
Raymond

September 12, 2003

Dear Editor:

Since I declared my intentions to seek the Governorship of Mississippi, I've spent a great deal of time deciding who I should ask for support. The first answer is "EVERYBODY". But once I began campaigning I realized that certain lines shouldn't be crossed.

For example, during my days at Mississippi College, I developed many lifelong friendships with preachers (My brother and two of my first cousins for starters). Over the past 30 years, my musical involvement has brought me into friendships with several more preachers and priests. It would be inappropriate for them to endorse me from their pulpit. God is the Father of us all and His representatives should not be using God's microphone to get votes for me (or against me).

Many of my other friends and supporters have government jobs that prohibit them from publicly endorsing either candidate. It was explained to me that since they are basically employed by all of the people of Mississippi they must conduct themselves in a manner that supports all citizens equally. After all, should a uniformed soldier be campaigning for me at the mall? Should five or ten policemen sponsor a fund raiser for me at the police station? Should my friends at the federal building hang a sign out their window saying "Sherman Lee Dillon for Governor"? Should my post office friends wear "Dillon4Gov.com" buttons?

If I'm right to this point, we are left with a question that goes straight to the heart of Democracy itself! How can the Commander in Chief of our country, employed by all the people of America, come to Mississippi to make a political endorsement?

This is not a question of Republican ,Green, Democrat, or Reform. This is a question of justice and an attempt to undermine our democratic process.

Sherman Lee Dillon
Green Party Candidate for Governor

Printed in the Clarion Ledger August 29, 2003

As governor, Dillon can work for all

I worked at Mississippi Music about six years ago. At that time, Sherman Lee Dillon taught guitar lessons there. I admired him then for his pro-family values and I am glad to read that he has not changed any.

Recently, I was very disheartened to hear that my choices for governor were Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and Haley Barbour.

Then I found out that Sherman Lee was running for governor. I decided to find out all I could about his values and what he would do for the state if he were governor. I was very impressed. Therefore, I will be voting for him.

It is great to hear of someone who wants to represent our state who is for all people, no matter the color or economic status. 

Dillon as governor would make Mississippi more of a state based on equality, therefore making lives a little easier.

Good luck to Sherman Lee Dillon! He has my prayers and my support.

Sherry Owens
Brandon

Printed in the Clarion Ledger August 29, 2003

Vote for Dillon is not 'a wasted vote'

When I tell my friends that I will be voting for Sherman Lee Dillon to be our next governor, they always ask why I want to waste a vote.

I don't agree that voting for the candidate that you believe is the best choice is a wasted vote.

Dillon is the first Green Party candidate to run for anything in Mississippi.

His campaign will not accept donations from corporations, and will not accept donations over $200 from individuals.

He will be able to make decisions based on his own judgment and what he believes is best for the people of Mississippi, unlike Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and Haley Barbour, who will make decisions based on how it will affect those who funded their multi-million dollar campaigns.

A vote for someone who is going to spend $10 million on a campaign to get a job that pays $100,000 is a wasted vote.

They will not consider what is best for us when in office.

They are in it for completely different reasons than Sherman Lee Dillon.

Tre Thornhill
Jackson

Dear Sir or Madam:

This year, the people of Mississippi have a progressive choice for governor. Both Barbour and Musgrove are beholden to Big Business interests and believe that Mississippi cannot determine its own path, that we have no other option than to follow the lead of the industrial states like New York. Gov. Paul Johnson once compared Mississippi, last in the nation in many categories, to a runt pig. Although the runt starts out smallest, he can grow up to be the strongest, if he's given the right nurturing support. That was the 1940's, and we're still dead last. Today, I would interpret Johnson's comments to mean that we can be anything we want to be. We can leapfrog over the other states and make Mississippi home to the next generation of industry, perhaps recycling or alternative energy technologies. A Mississippi university spin-off has patented and developed non-toxic non-petroleum-based paints yet has located in Tennessee. Planning for a more prosperous tomorrow takes vision, will, and hard work. Mississippi has always had plenty of people willing to work hard. What we've lacked so far is leadership with compelling vision. I believe Sherman Lee Dillon, small businessman, family man, and candidate of the Green Party of Mississippi, has our best interests at heart. He has pledged to listen to Mississippians. I believe he has the right vision for our state, and I intend to vote for him in November.

Sincerely,

John M. Wages, Jr.
Tupelo