Below is the email I received from Huntington County Republican Chairwoman Pam Updike after the Candidate Forum for State Representative on February 26, 2008, along with my response.


Gary,
 
I want to let you know that I was upset with your presentation at the  breakfast Saturday morning.  I almost had you sit down.  I told you when you called me that we don't bash each other at our events and I have never let anyone do what you did before.  I know now that I will not let that happen again.  I have been inundated with people letting me know how disappointed they were at your display of negativity.
 
If you want people in Huntington to give you support you should know that they are not impressed with people giving off negative vibes.  Your letters to the editor have also been negative.  Voters like to see positive campaigns that reflect the candidate's views not negative aspects of their opponents.  When you are negative, the only thing that gets resolved is that you are a negative person that has nothing to contribute but what your opponent hasn't done.
 
Dan spent his time defending himself against your accusations and let everyone know that he is putting forth the effort needed to get things done at the Statehouse.  You can look at it how you will, but your attitude and demeanor gave nothing to be desired.
 
If you have potential solutions to our problems you need to let voters know what those ideas are in a positive manner.  Right now you are turning party people against you.  I want to work with you and will do what I can to maintain a good relationship but please change your campaign to positive.
 
Pam Updike
Executive Assistant
Mayor's Office
300 Cherry St
Huntington IN  46750
260-356-1400 x212
260-358-2338 Fax


Pam,

While I do respect your opinion, I must respectfully disagree with your assertions that I was bashing or tossing accusations at Dan and received very positive feedback, especially from the newspaper article the following day.  I spent 80% of my time laying out my positions on the issues I find important.  The rest of my time was contrasting our differences.  I not once attacked or "bashed" Dan personally, the same can not be said about him.  I disagreed with him and challenged him on his votes on the property tax relief checks, contrasted and challenged him on special interest groups and offered him the opportunity to clarify some earlier remarks.  If these are not differences between our campaigns, Dan did not vote against Property tax relief checks, didn't take money from special interest groups or didn't vote for the pay increase, I will gladly issue an apology.  Isn't Dan's campaign more than capable to correct  and defend anything they feel is incorrect?

I think you will find I am a very positive person and that is conveyed to people I meet.  I have a very positive agenda and take that to the people of Huntington and Whitley counties every day, along with contrasting my differences with Dan and that is why my support continues to grow.  Out of respect to you as the party chairwoman, I will take your advice under consideration with my advisers but will continue to put forth my stances on the issues and contrast the differences with my opponents.  Thanks for the advice and have a nice day.

Gary