Letter to the editor: Lillie’s record can’t be corrected

I have read with amusement recent letters to the editor from Ted Lillie “apologists” who take other letter writers to task for accusing Lillie of moving from Lake Elmo to Woodbury for the sole purpose of running in an open Senate seat. These writers defend Lillie by saying he is not a “carpetbagger,” that “Travelin’ Ted” is a disrespectful nickname, and that Woodbury residents should “welcome” him. But why do they conveniently ignore the more serious charges leveled at Lillie?

Because the more pertinent charges about Lillie’s involvement in Republican Senate scandals – and his abuse of tax dollars related to these scandals – simply cannot be defended or refuted. If they could, you can bet Lillie or his defenders would be all over these pages to “correct” the record. The problem for Lillie is that the record cannot be corrected. And that’s why we haven’t heard one peep from Lillie or his supporters either denying or defending his involvement in these scandals.

How can they defend the fact that as assistant Senate Republican Leader, he has condoned payment of over $103,000 to pay for a legal tab associated with the GOP Sen. Amy Koch-Michael Brodkorb sex scandal?

How they defend the fact that a three-judge panel recently found Lillie guilty of the inappropriate use of tax dollars to fund his campaign activities and literature?

How can Lillie or his apologists defend the fact that a recent Fox 9 investigative news report found that Lillie used the taxpayer-funded state Capitol building as a staging ground for his campaign activities?

But the most important question is, after running roughshod over Woodbury taxpayers for the past two years by expecting us to pay for his scandals, how can Ted Lillie actually look us in the eye and ask for our vote?

Tim Ward - Woodbury

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, elections, updates