In the April 3rd edition of the Halls Shopper, local alternative publication writer Betty Bean in her column wrote the following paragraph.

Local party bosses like county Mayor Mike Ragsdale – not the voters – will choose most of the new candidates. GOP party chair and Ragsdale loyalist Brian Hornback, for example, spent the weekend boasting that he will be rewarded with the plum political office of his choice.

On the eve of this story going to press, I filed a compliant with the writer’s editor and publisher. On Wednesday April 5, 2006, the editor and I had a professional and civil conversation about this line.

spent the weekend boasting that he will be rewarded with the plum political office of his choice

On Monday April 3, 2006 as a guest on The Voice, Lloyd Daugherty asked about this paragraph, I said I was as shocked as anyone that this reporter would print such a thing and that it was a lie and fabrication. At the Fountain City Republican Club on Monday April 3, 2006, I re-iterated to many in attendance that this is a lie. On Tuesday April 4, 2006 at the Karns Republican Club and the Powell High School PTA candidate forum, I informed many of the people that this story is a lie. At the taping of Inside Tennessee on Thursday April 6, 2006 at the conclusion of the taping WBIR anchor Bill Williams asked me about it and I told him it was a lie.

This writer doesn’t like me for some reason, and has verbally expressed that to me.
Many people that dislike me, the party or are conspiracy theorist want to believe that the story is true. The story is not true.

My philosophy in life is you can get bitter or better, instead of getting upset about it and disliking the reporter like she does me, I chose to set the record straight and live a better life, instead of a bitter life.