WATTS v. FOGLE: ROUND 2 ...
Incumbent's phone call angers challenger during WBRT radio program

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 12:30 p.m. -- Kenny Fogle, candidate for Nelson County judge-executive and owner of WBRT, was a guest on his own radio station during Ed Carty's public affairs program Tuesday morning. Fogle was on the show to discuss his candidacy in the Democratic primary race for Nelson County judge-executive.

Fogle clearly was still fired-up from his debate with Watts the night before. The discussion remained relatively calm until about 30 minutes into the program, when incumbent Judge-Executive Dean Watts called in.

Fogle angrily chastised Watts for calling in on the day when Fogle was to appear on Carty's radio show. "Don't you have a show on Thursday?" Fogle snipped.

Watts' call came after Carty and Fogle discussed the county government's handling of Craig Davis, an employee of Nelson County EMS who left his job for military service and couldn't get his job back when he returned.

Fogle continued to argue angrily with Watts for calling in. With Fogle's voice betraying his rising temper, Watts argued he felt compelled to call. "If I'm getting accused of something I need to defend myself," Watts explained.

Fogle, sounding hesitant, allowed Watts' call to continue.

Watts explained that there were some snafus in Davis' paperwork, and the problems were not a reflection on Davis or his value as an employee of county government or EMS. Watts said Davis was not initially called up to active duty, and that created some confusion when he returned.

"Nobody was trying to hurt Mr. Davis," Watts said. "I just think the public needs to know."

Watts said he recognized the caller who called in started the conversation about Davis. Watts said the show's listeners should be aware that the caller was one of Fogle's political supporters.

The conversation turned heated as Fogle argued with Watts about the allegation. Watts said there's nothing wrong with supporters calling in, but listeners should be aware the calls were not random.

Fogle and Watts got into a heated discussion about the previous night's debate, with Fogle admitting he was still mad about Watt's statements relating to campaign contributions.

Watts said during Monday night's debate "it looked funny" that his opponent, who has been critical of the county-provided dead animal pickup service and says he supports privatizing the service, had received donations from an out-of-county company that provides that service.

Fogle criticized Watts' for prying into the identify of his supporters.

"It's public record," Watts replied.

"I've got a list of your supporters and you don't hear me mentioning them," Fogle said angrily. "A lot of them are outside the county."

"They're family members," Watts told him. "They're my kinfolk."

Additional callers to the radio program were clearly divided between the candidates.

A female caller said she believed Watts hurt himself in the televised debate. The next caller questioned Kenny on many of his campaign statements, inferring that Fogle's statements are inconsistent. "You say you want an ambulance service, then you don't," he said. Fogle accused the caller of being a Watts supporter who was trying to "set him up."

The final caller said he agreed with Fogle's stance on small business and privatization, even citing Kenny's temper as a beneficial quality for a government official.