Hand Out The jockeying surrounding the race to fill Bobby Christine’s chief magistrate position in Columbia County is starting to get interesting. Had Christine decided he wanted to run for the job, everybody would still be talking about Magnolia Trace. But Christine, a JAG officer in the National Guard, threw everybody a curve when he let it be known that he’d gotten wind that he would likely be activated and deployed later in the year. If he waited to drop out until he was sure about the deployment, he said, it might keep good, qualified candidates from stepping forward, so he went ahead and announced his decision not to run before he actually got his orders. Almost immediately afterward, people started looking at the chief magistrate job under a new light, and when they did, they saw Jason Troiano, Jason Hasty and Christopher Hudson smiling back at them, all eager to make a good impression. Troiano, the associate magistrate, is the heir apparent, but he might do well to think twice before he goes back to humming “With a Little Help from my Friends.” Recently, Judge Grady Blanchard was making the rounds pushing for Troiano’s election. In a letter dated January 27, Blanchard made no bones about who he wanted to see in the position. “With Judge Troiano’s experience and leadership, he will continue protecting the citizens of Columbia County by making rulings based on law and sound reasoning. That is why I am giving my full endorsement to Jason Troiano and I encourage you to do the same.” And here you thought it was only Public Broadcasting and those church groups that accost you on the way into Walmart that knew how to shake you down. It’s a shakedown, of course, because the request doesn’t stop there. “You can help by lending your support,” the letter continues. “Enclosed herewith is a pledge card. Please fill out this card and return it along with a donation amount of your choosing in a self addressed stamped envelope. Additionally, you can further show your support by requesting a yard sign or agreeing to help with the campaign.” Shaking the trees is nothing new, but when it’s a judge approaching attorneys it comes awful close to a boss asking an employee to donate to his pet project, then holding out his hand. Blanchard was also hawking tickets for a barbecue for Troiano on February 28. Hatch Act violation? Business as usual? Shameless maneuvering? Or is it just another episode of the “Untouchables?”
Note from the Publisher An image of Barry White by photographer Brent Cline ran in last week’s Metro Spirit. The image was unattributed to Brent and was run without his permission. We regret the error. Joe White Publisher
V. 23 | NO. 08
METRO SPIRIT 02.23.12
5