Lawson explains tort claim

Dear editor:

It has been brought to my attention that as a culmination of the smear campaign the Boise County Democrats have waged against me, they are going to bring out a civil tort claim that my husband has filed against Boise County. This tort claim was brought about by a personal attack against my husband, Fred, after he left office as a county commissioner.

Our county prosecutor, R.J. Terwilegar, brought felony charges against my husband for misuse of county funds. There were no grounds for these charges and state risk management attorneys advised Mr. Terwileger not to do this and these charges were thrown out, but not before the county had to expend funds for a special prosecutor and we had to expend funds for an attorney.

And as you know from previous attacks in this paper, an arrest, whether well founded or not, will be used against you when you are a public person. It doesn't seem to matter whether charges are dropped or thrown out.

We were approached by a civil attorney and asked to file a tort claim as a way of proving the negligence and misuse of office by the prosecutor. We are actually in hopes of an eventual disbarment and removal from office. For an elected official to misuse his office in this way, we feel is inexcusable and it is our duty to try and do something to keep it from happening to anyone else.

On another note, I have heard of the vandalism that has befallen my opponent's signs and the truck that he has been parking around town. This is not the work of my campaign and I would ask in the interest of all involved that whoever is responsible PLEASE DESIST!

While we all enjoy a spirited contest, dirty politics and vandalism leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

Marla Lawson, Lowman

Dist. 22 state senate candidate