Hart campaign disavows mailer » Local News » Moultrie Observer

QUITMAN — A political circular criticizing one of the two candidates in the Colquitt County clerk of court race is raising questions concerning the origin and intent of the literature.

The flyer, which appears cheaply done and on poor-quality paper, includes on one side a photo of incumbent Clerk of Court Lynn Purvis with a circle around it and line through the circle.

It was mailed anonymously with individual stamps rather than bulk postage, and also contains the phrases “Failed Marriage,” “Tax Liens” and Bankruptcy.” It closes with: “Learn the facts before you vote.”

Purvis faces Shannon Hart, the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office chief investigator who took a leave of absence to run for office, in a Sept. 17 special election. Early voting begins Monday in the contest whose winner will fill the unexpired term of former Clerk Carolyn Marshall, who resigned earlier this year.

On the other side the card contains a return address for a Moultrie post office box. The box given has not been assigned to anyone in about four years, Moultrie Postmaster David Porter said.

“It’s been vacant since that time,” he said.

Since all mail from the county is stamped with a Tallahassee, Fla., postal mark, it is impossible to know where it was mailed, Porter said. He said he has “no idea” how many may have been delivered.

The mystery of the last person to rent the post office box was explained by Moultrie attorney Bert Jewell. He gave it up in 2009 when he began having mail delivered directly to his office.

“Somebody has attempted to attribute this to me,” Jewell said of the card bearing box number 157.

Hart’s wife works in Jewell’s office.

via Hart campaign disavows mailer » Local News » Moultrie Observer.