Candidates dispute story on veterans

Meridian Star - Some candidates disputing they were given an opportunity to hear veterans out - Some candidates for the U.S. House 3rd Congressional District are disputing a report published Saturday that they were invited to hear grievances recently from area veterans.

Republican David Landrum was the only candidate who attended a meeting with about 50 veterans held Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the home of Bobbye Jerone, an independent veterans advocate in Meridian. After the article about the veterans’ concerns was published, Jerone said she received phone calls from representatives with the campaigns of Republicans John Rounsaville, Charlie Ross and Gregg Harper. And, she said she received a recorded message from Republican candidate Bill Marcy. Those speaking for each of the campaigns said they had not been contacted about a meeting with veterans. Representatives from the campaign of Rounsaville and Ross, and candidates Marcy and Harper also contacted The Meridian Star for the same reason.

Jerone said she called all nine campaigns between Jan. 28 and Feb. 1. Jerone also said she left a message with a person at each number, except for one, which she had to leave a voice mail for. On Tuesday she said she wasn’t certain, but that she thought it was Marcy’s number for which she had to leave the recorded message. Jerone said she left the same message for each person she spoke with, as well as on the recording.

James Peavey, who identified himself as a volunteer for the Rounsaville campaign, called The Star Saturday and said Rounsaville’s campaign wasn’t contacted by Jerone. Marcy left a voice mail saying a correction should be run in the paper because he was not contacted by Jerone. And, Gregg Harper sent an e-mail to The Star stating that his campaign was not contacted by Jerone. “I would have been there if I had known about this meeting,” Harper’s e-mail read. “I would ask that a retraction be printed to clear this up. My father was a gunner on a B-17 in WWII and my brother served 30 years as a B-52 pilot. I have the utmost respect for our military and our veterans and I am fully committed to helping them if elected.”

In a telephone conversation Monday with Mark Lyon, information director for Charlie Ross’ campaign, he said it was possible Jerone had spoken to a secretary within the campaign, but he said there was no record of a phone call from her. Jerone said some of the campaign representatives told her they would need an invitation in writing to consider attending an event anyway. Lyon also sent a letter to the editor stating: “Miscommunication can sometimes happen, but I assure you, had Charlie Ross known of the event, he would have been there. "Charlie Ross has not and will not forget the duty our nation owes to our veterans. He mentions it as a part of almost every speech he gives. Charlie is an Air Force Academy graduate and veteran of Desert Storm. His father is also a veteran."

Jerone said she offered to mail an outline of the veterans' grievances to the candidates. "If there is a runoff I have every intention to make the offer to hear veterans' concerns again," Jerone said. "I am not going to send out engraved invitations. I can't afford to do that."