Editor, Gazette-Journal:
I commend the Mathews Sheriff’s Office and Mathews Commonwealth’s Attorney for fully exonerating Dr. Melissa Mason from the residency issue. Residency is a legal requirement to serve on the board. When the question arose about Dr. Mason’s residency, the sheriff’s office and commonwealth’s attorney performed a fair, thorough, and discreet investigation. They found Dr. Mason had not falsified qualifying documents.
Since there was no crime committed, there was no reason to release personal information. Paul Hudgins, however, saw an opportunity for political gain. Hudgins, who is up for reelection and learned about the investigation through unnamed sources, decided to release this information publicly during the July 25 meeting. Specifically, Hudgins accused Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Bowen of using his position to try to disqualify Dr. Mason from holding a board position.
The hypocrisy of using his position on the board to insinuate that Mr. Bowen had used his of...