Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Dear Mr. Harding and Ms. Ross,

As a PHS student, I want to thank you both for all of the valuable lessons you have put before our classes.

We have studied different groups that attempt to affect the society in which they exist. PATA acts like it is a Political Action Committee (PAC). Yet, you are not registered with the Fairfield County Board of Elections as a PAC.

Your group attempts to influence others all under the appearance of promoting discussion and informing the community. Your members, other than Ms. Lisa Ross, Mr. Bob Harding, and Mr. Bill Miller, do not appear to want to be out in the open.

The fact is you are not a legally registered PAC, but you operate like you are the voice of the community. OK, are you a group or aren't you? Then put your cards on the table and register.

Right now you are the example of a group to avoid since you act like the playground bullies if things don't go your way. I really can't wait to look at a lesson on censorship in the future. Until then could you just let my letter stand for a while so my teacher can see it to give me a grade.

Thank you for your comments

Annie,

Thank you for your comments on this difficult issue. It was not an easy decision to delete the discussion item posted on our pages. I did not want to delete the item and left it on the site for a period of time although others encouraged deletion. When Dr. Rigelman contacted PATA and requested we delete it, we honored his request, due to the nature of the item posted, feeling his health issues were his business, and that if the people posted the item cared about him as they claimed to do, that they would have privately expressed their heartfelt concern to him instead of posting it on the World Wide Web.

I did not agree with the fact that the author of the discussion item was heartless in the posting, I do not know if the posting was factual and did not investigate to see if it was. I feel as though this should be a private matter and Dr. Rigelman is not required to pass a physical or obtain a goverment security clearance to serve in his position on the School Board, so this should only be the public's business if he makes it in my view. Clearly others disagree.

I was hoping not to observe the ''Jerry Springer Show'' tactics on this site. Although first amendment rights certainly permit this. The deletion was at the request of the individual who was intentionally being harmed, and I thought it reasonable that we honor this request.

PATA is not registered as a POLITICAL action commitee, although we have given thought to starting one. We do not endorse candidates or ballot issues on our site at this time although some of our members have privately exercised their right to assist in placing a referendum on the ballot in the city of Pickerington. The referendum effort was orignated by city residents who contacted Mr.Harding for assistance in finding idividuals to obtain signatures and for any information he may have about how to attempt a referendum.

Others who post messages in the discussion area apparently would like to use this a platform to endorse candidates, and if it is in the discussion area part of this site, they are free to do this since this is not where the heart of the PATA organization is. Please visit the ''Our Pages'' section for the information and views which we as an organization attempt to provide to the public.

I am glad our traffic on the site is increasing and encourage everyone to view the entire site to gain a perspective that is not always available in this discussion area, the press or even at public meetings. I believe that we will achieve better, more efficient government if we ask respectful questions when necessary. I try to keep my personal tone respectful as the only reason I do this is to try to improve our quality of life in the community. If nobody asks questions about these issues in their elected positions....I feel the public should point this out and attempt to stimulate productive discussion. I think PATA has suceeded in this effort whether you agree with our positions or not.

Lisa Ross