Letter To The Editor:

  I wish to clarify a statement I mistakenly made recently to Bradley County Republican chairman John Stanbery when asked why I no longer attended Republican Club meetings. In haste, I told him that I was no longer a Republican. That of course, is untrue. I am in fact a true, loyal, very patriotic conservative Republican as anybody who knows me will testify.

To me, a true Republican is someone who supports conservative issues such as defending our Constitution, small government, low taxes, government by the people, the right to bear arms, free enterprise, keeping this nations sovereignty independent and retaining our unique American freedoms.

A candidate for government office merely running on a Republican ticket to ensure election by a party majority does not warrant my support. Neither does a Republican who once in office, makes the decisions of a Liberal Democrat. Although the Bradley County Republican Club has many true Republican members, I felt the leadership needed to put conservative values before popularity or influence.  I gave my support to John Stanbery when he ran for Republican chairman and talked with him on several occasions about the club being run for an exclusive clique with no clear conservative platform.  He said he was going to change the image and make it more inclusive but nothing seemed to change. It is for this reason I no longer attend the Republican Club meetings.

Alexandra Edwards