Letter: Sen. Martin comments on "Conservative GOP Pac" mailer

Dear Editor,

I'd like to comment on the mail piece that was sent into Pickens County last week and paid for by a group called, "Conservative GOP PAC" out of Columbia.  It gives the distinct impression that the group is in some way connected to the party.  

My campaign contacted the state Ethics Commission and the Secretary of State's office, and we could find no record of this group with either office.  Also, Chairman Chad Connelly assured me that he had never heard of the group and that it was not associated with the state GOP.

As for the substance of the mail piece, it's simply not true that I used a "series of tactics", "gamed they system", and "voted to give myself an outrageously high pension" .  

The legislative pension plan was in place when I was first elected to the General Assembly, and no such vote occurred.  It's safe to say, however, if there was such a vote on a particularly bill or amendment to a bill there would be a record of it in the House or Senate journals.  You will note in the mail piece that such a vote is not referenced.

This mail piece that attempts to appear connected to the GOP reminds me of the junk mail that has "official mail" stamped on the envelope in an effort to lead us to believe that it's from the government.  The gambling theme of the mail piece isn't lost on me either.  Someone or some group from Columbia has gambled a lot of money on influencing a senate race in Pickens County.  My email is: lmartin@alicemfgco.com if you have any questions.

Sen. Larry Martin

R-Pickens