As of Friday, September 14, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
Dear Editor:
Unfortunately, I'm writing a letter that's reminiscent of a letter I wrote in the last election cycle two years ago.
Recently, I was asked to pay close attention to candidate for Magistrate judge Phinia Aten's campaign signs. Since she has signs all over the county, it didn't take me long to find one and it took me even less time to see an obvious attempt to mislead voters.
Ms. Aten's campaign signs read; "Vote for Judge Phinia Aten Chief Magistrate." The problem, Ms. Aten is not a judge, as her signs would have the reader believe. By insinuating she is the incumbent, Ms. Aten's campaign is playing on the ignorance of voters.
This is reminiscent of Board of Commissioners candidate Courtney Dillard two years ago when he was caught wearing a name tag which read "Courtney Dillard, Rockdale County Commissioner, Rockdale Going Forward." Mr. Dillard wasn't and has never been a Rockdale County commissioner.
Since incumbents typically have a better chance at winning re-election, I believe these candidates are and were intentionally misleading voters in order to get votes in the election.
Now, as I did then, I think these misleading campaign tactics are disrespectful to the office the candidate is seeking, misleading to the voters, and unethical.
If someone seeking a judgeship is this disrespectful, misleading and unethical during the campaign, what kind of judge would they be if elected?
I hope the voters of Rockdale County research the candidates and vote for the most qualified, respectful, honest and ethical candidates. And I hope the voters prove to Ms. Aten that they're not as ignorant as she seemingly thinks they are.
Arthur Kidney
Conyers
More like this story
- LETTERS: Dillard doesn't act like someone we need on BOC ( July 8, 2010 )
- Letter: Judge-elect's ads were misleading ( December 6, 2012 )
- Conyers attorney announces run for Magistrate Court judgeship ( November 28, 2011 )
- Levett wins Democratic Primary for sheriff ( July 31, 2012 )
- Dillard to announce bid for Congress ( April 18, 2012 )
Comments
AJK 8 months, 1 week ago
Misleading to say the least!
by AJK
Frustrated 8 months, 1 week ago
I agree, If this is the way she runs her campaign what would she do if she was elected? ANd isnt she a member of the NewRock Legal Society? She should know better, but then I guess this is just the pattern of conduct they practice.
Innocent_Bystander 8 months, 1 week ago
The excuse that I read recently is indicative of the reason she is running for an elected position. Her rationale is pretty lame and unconvincing....for an attorney. If it's naivete'...there's no excuse, this is real time Law that you wish to administer to an unsuspecting public. If your written explanation is your sole excuse...madam, you are not ready to take the role as a judge as you are not quite ready to even admit to your intended constituents that you simply made a mistake. Rather and instead, to affirm your "freedom of speech" is nothing more than your inability to recognize your shortcomings when others take you to task.
Phinia....there's not a GOP sign from any of the incumbents or candidates that uses anything of a suffix before their name....not Lillis Brown or Rudy Horne...not even Jeff Wigginton. You appear to be the sole merchant of mis-information in this campaign by putting "Vote for Judge Phinia Aten" on your signs.
Since you are not a deputy...you can't go around telling everyone you're a Deputy. Since you are not a Marshall....you can't go around telling everyone that you're a Marshall. if you're not a member of the armed forces...you do NOT go around telling everyone that you have any rank in the military. And as someone that is supposed to be open and honest in the capacity of Magistrate Court judge....you can not go around telling everyone that you are a Judge...which is exactly what your capaign sign declares.
Anything less is in complete deference to the dignity of the court.
Frustrated 8 months ago
Dear Fellow Rockdale County Citizens: I am excited about the opportunity to serve as your next Chief Judge of Rockdale County Magistrate Court. This was copied directly from Aten's website. What does it sound like to you? To me it sounds as if she has already won the election. Is this reallythe way members of NewRock Legal Society conducts tehmselves? Obviously the answer is yes.
ClaytonBigsby 8 months ago
I haven't heard or read one thing from this candidate that explains how or in what way she can improve upon the performance of the incumbent. It's all vague platitudes that add up to one thing: "vote for me because I'm black". Sadly, she will garner many votes due to that crass appeal to race based voting, but that seemed to be the obvious cornerstone of the whole New-Rock slate from the beginning. We deserve better.
VPublicola 8 months ago
I have heard it stated that a lie is a lie only when the individual who perpetrated the lie knows the information to be false when they present it.
Certainly, as a licensed, practicing attorney, Ms. Aten knows whether she is a Judge or not. Actually, it is pretty simple - either you are elected to a judgeship and are actually serving in that capacity (A Judge) or you have/are not (not a Judge). Ms. Aten, it would seem to any reasonable, average citizen, is clearly not a sitting Judge and she knows she is not a duly elected sitting Judge. Despite this incontrovertible fact, the campaign sign states and read as follows: "Vote for Judge Phinia Aten Chief Magistrate." As most legal professionals know, it means what it says. In this instance, there is no vagueness and thus no flexibility for interpretation. Thus, the language on the sign is a lie. In fact, it is two lies embedded in one statement - 1) Ms. Aten is not a Judge; and, 2) Ms. Aten is not a Chief Magistrate.
Further, there is no plausible deniability. This is her campaign sign. It was created by her campaign committee (not an independent group) and thus she is responsible for the content of any campaign material disseminated. That is, she approved that message, but she knew then and knows now that she is not a Judge or Chief Magistrate in Rockdale County.
Thus, something for the voters to consider: you were lied to, you know you were lied to, the liar knows you know they lied, but the liar keeps lying to you, and you keep pretending to believe the liar. A legitimately savvy liar always insists they're honest about everything and even a tiny bit of deceit is dishonorable when it's used for selfish or cowardly reasons.
1ayk 8 months ago
Is it not against the law to impersonate a judge, law officer, etc.? What say you Mr. DA?
VPublicola 7 months, 2 weeks ago
How many of our observant citizens have noticed the "ms. Leading" Aten signs with the "red bar" between 'Vote for Judge' and 'Phinia Aten'? Apparently, an effort has taken place to correct these misleading dishonest signs. That red line is electricians tape that was used in an attempt to "fix" the legality of the signs. Obviously, "Ms. Leading" Aten and her campaign staff either ran out of tape or simply couldn't get to all the signs. So, if she did nothing wrong and the signs are not intended to mislead then why use electricians tape to fix them.
By the way, I agree in Freedom of Speech and recognize that Freedom includes misleading and dishonest speech. But, it also allows others to call misleading and dishonest speech exactly what it is!
marty 5 months, 2 weeks ago
If this incident is an ethic violation. Who where and how do you report and document this incident ?
AJK 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Judicial Qualifications Commission of Georgia is the entity that handles complaints about Judges (or judicial candidates).(http://www.gajqc.com/).
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