Letter to the Editor: Too many red flags for me to vote for Melissa O'Rourke

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Thomas Hansen of Decorah): "It would seem that running for public office, you would tout previous experience as a public servant unless of course it was not that stellar. County Supervisor candidate Melissa O'Rourke was elected as Sioux County Attorney in 2002, but I have not seen that mentioned anywhere. Lots about Farm and Ag Business Managing and ISU but nothing on her stint as County Attorney. After a bit of digging, I could see why. During her tenure her relationship with law enforcement, which I would think would be an important part of her job, "broke down" to the point where the County Sheriff made a murder arrest without consulting her (Sheriff files charges without county attorney consultation, www.iowacoldcases.org). Her Assistant, Coleman McAllister, stated he had prosecuted 17 cases while she had prosecuted one. McAllister met with O'Rourke and informed her of his intentions to challenge her in the Republican Primary (she was a Republican then) and even though other departments stated he was doing a good job, she promptly fired him (Sioux County Attorney fires Assistant after he announces candidacy, Sioux City Journal, 6 January 2006) and then she stated he resigned (Firing in Sioux County brings out two versions of story, Radio Iowa, 6 January 2006). I also reviewed minutes of Sioux County Board of Supervisors meeting held on August 22 and September 8, 2000, that Ms. O'Rourke was fired as Assistant County Attorney by County Attorney Mark Schouten. Too many red flags for me. I do not believe we need someone with this sort of work "experience" as an elected representative of the people in Winneshiek County and think that Gary Rustad's 20 years as public servant, including Mayor Pro Tem, on the Decorah City Council, is a far better choice."