(Richmond, VA) – “Corey Stewart placed first in the joint Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation/Middle Resolution comprehensive Lieutenant Governor candidate vetting process, held on April 26-27,” said Mark Daugherty, Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Chairman.  “Senator Mark Obenshain earned first place in the Attorney General candidate vetting competition,” Daugherty added.

Angie Parker, Executive Director of Middle Resolution PAC, noted, “The Lieutenant Governor race has been very competitive with a field of excellent candidates.  We are pleased that Corey Stewart demonstrated a strong grasp of the constitutional principles of limited government and individual liberty during his questioning.   Furthermore, Mr. Stewart has a well-organized and well-financed campaign.”  Parker added, “Senator Mark Obenshain delivered an outstanding performance during his interview.  This proven strength, combined with a vigorous statewide campaign, places Mark in a good position for both the May 18^th nominating convention and November 5^th general election.”

Over 200 Virginia Tea Party and Middle Resolution members from 31 groups across the state took part in the vetting session, each completing scorecards based on the candidates’ responses during live interviews.  Identical questions on constitutional principles principles, policy, and political philosophy were asked of each candidate; candidates were not given questions beforehand.  Campaign viability was also factored into the evaluation.

Participating Tea Party groups and Middle Resolution members will share the knowledge gained from the two-day vetting process with over 1,000 convention delegates from their respective groups.  These delegates will then support Corey Stewart and Mark Obenshain for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, respectively, at the May 17-18^th Republican Nominating Convention in Richmond where a multiple ballot process will lead to the selection of a Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor and a single ballot process will determine the Republican nominee for Attorney General.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation is a coalition of 46 independent Tea Party and patriot groups that stand for fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free market principles.

Founded in Richmond, Virginia, Middle Resolution PAC helps elect leaders who are committed to restoring individual rights and limited government as described in the U.S. Constitution.  Middle Resolution also holds legislators accountable once in office, following all necessary voting records. 

To learn more about the vetting process and top-ranked candidates Corey Stewart and Mark Obenshain, please visit www.virginiateapartypatriots.com and www.middleresolution.org.

Wytheville declines to endorse Crooked Road plans

Posted: Friday, February 15, 2013 4:06 pm

Millie Rothrock

Say you’re a 501c3 non-profit group with a clever name and cute logo. Convince
a few strategic folks—a congressman, a senator, and a press that might as well be
your own PR firm—to back you up. Then take 19 counties in SWVA, and draw a
boundary line around them. Hold 12 “public information meetings”, without mentioning any of this to the 19 elected county boards. Your own board of directors has some tourism folks and planning district commission figureheads across the region—names that pop up on board after board—so you’ve got “district-wide participation”. Get their network to write some letters of support. Take ‘em to your buddies in Congress. Then get everything inside the boundary line designated a National Heritage Area, fast-tracked through those hallowed halls as easy as one-two-three, with no debate.

Then, bingo! In the immortal words of Nancy Pelosi, we’ll find out what’s in the
bill after we pass it. Congratulations! You are now the unelected “managing entity” of almost 21% of the state. As long as you do things just like the National
Park Service says, the Secretary of the Interior will turn on a pipeline of federal
grant money that will keep all your special interest groups’ special interests welllubricated. Just like that. In the name of preserving the unique cultural heritage of a huge chunk of SWVA—how did it ever survive this long without you?— you are now the man.

Really? Is that all it takes for a noble, self-governing country with a proud history to be snookered out of its representative form of government, not to mention the US and Virginia Constitutions, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights? A 501c3 with a gleam in their eye? In this issue, we follow the money and find out.

After examining some NHAs that have been around for a while, we’ve determined that across the board, their management plans start out sounding like promoting the natural assets of the region— the art, music and food—is the answer to all of your economic prayers, we documented that a few years
down the road, the plans for the region start sounding a lot more like the UN’s
official policy on land.

“Land…cannot be treated as an ordinary asset, controlled by individuals and subject to the pressures and inefficiencies of the market. Private land ownership is also a principal instrument of accumulation and concentration of wealth and therefore contributes to social injustice; if unchecked, it may become a major obstacle in the planning and implementation of development schemes. The provision of decent dwellings and healthy conditions for the people can only be achieved if land is used in the interests of society as a whole. Public control of land use is therefore indispensable….” http://www.sovereignty.net/p/land/unproprts.htm

But since we’ve encountered a reluctance to believe such a plan could ever replace the authority of our local boards and planning commissions, we decided to document the victims.

What we found is shocking. And in case there is still denial of the connection to the global plan of action, Agenda 21—the “secret” that’s been around for 30 years— we prove that it’s no secret. UN Agenda 21 is Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development—no matter how sweet it is made to sound—is UN Agenda 21. And the management plan for The Crooked Road National Heritage Area is one and the same.

No one can dispute Southwest Virginia’s
uniquely rich musical heritage. We must continue efforts to leverage that distinction in a
way that brings tourists to our region and job
opportunities to our citizens. But after careful
consideration, I remain unconvinced that
designating The Crooked Road as a National
Heritage Area is in the best interest of my
constituents. Tourism success stories in
SWVA occur when risks are managed and
certainty surrounds the project and unfortunately, that cannot be said about the NHA designation at this time.
Senator Bill Carrico

The Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage
Foundation does not support the National
Heritage Area Designation.
Delegate Terry Kilgore, Chairman, Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation

After much studying, I have decided that I will
not be supporting the proposed NHA designation for The Crooked Road. Too many questions persist and our proud music heritage is already being successfully marketed all across the country, and indeed the world. I
question whether the additional designation
will be worth the undertaking of risk.
Delegate Israel O’Quinn

While the goals of The Crooked Road National Heritage Area may be noble in trying to promote Southwest Virginia musical heritage,
the Federal National Heritage designation
may put the rights of property owners at risk.
That is why I have not and will not support
the National Heritage Area designation.
Delegate Nick Rush
Although I understand that the proposed National Heritage Area will
bring in new money, there are many concerns which remain unanswered.
Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark

Delegate Joseph Yost and Delegate
Will Morefield did not return our calls
or emails with a statement on the
NHA. However, Delegate Morefield has since gone on record opposing the NHA designation.

In 2012, the Smyth County Board of
Supervisors voted to defund The
Crooked Road Organization.
*************

What if the Park Service decides to
regulate The Crooked Road? The
only recourse we would have is to
take them to court. He added that he
has a real problem with that because
our opinion of what infringes on property rights may differ.
Pulaski County Supervisor, Andy McCready

*************
Supervisor Ron Blevins (Smyth
County), Supervisor Bill Gibson
(Washington County) and Supervisor
Bob Gibson (Russell County) are all
outspoken opponents of the NHA.
*************
In November 2012, at their annual
meemeemeemeeting in Roanoke, the
Virginia Farm Bureau voted unanimously to oppose the National Heritage Area designation.

The Yukon Cleansing

The Park Service essentially told everyone they
could go on living their accustomed
“subsistence lifestyle,” as it was a
“cultural value” worthy of protection.
But the deep changes NPS brought
pulled the future out from under the
people, for their rights didn’t extend
to the next generation and their present lives now operated under an incomprehensible permit system

Congress created the Yuma Crossing NHA, and hardly any of the locals knew about it until Lee Ott saw the surveyors on his property………

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground from Charlottesville to Gettysburg… is a sweet deal that could leave the Partnership “with a near monopoly on real estate development opportunities within the [JTHG] area………..

In the National Coal Heritage Area the people of
Hinton wanted funds to repair a local road. They lobbied their
legislators for several years, and finally the federal funding came
through. At that point, the National Park Service stepped in.
Because the local road was in a Heritage Area, Park Service
officials announced, the money would be used to create a Scenic
Parkway. The Scenic Parkwaycalled for condemning dozens of
properties, forcing people out of their homes.…..

The Wheeling National
Heritage Act Corporation…take properties away
from their present owners and
give them to other private retail
businesses of the City’s choosing….

What did a historic survey find?

Private landowners ostensibly selling their properties to the National Park Service are in fact not bona fide sellers but are giving up title to
escape the legal expenses of a
foredoomed condemnation.

A problem arises when Park
Service officials are using
their jargon term SELLER
outside their circle, understood by the public in the
generally accepted meaning of
a free agent conducting business. A clever Park promoter
even coined the slogan WILLING SELLER/WILLING
BUYER, falsely implying that
the two parties are on an
equal footing. This slogan has
developed into a mantra recited at hearings and discussions on Park expansion for
the deception of legislators
and the general public.
 It is reasonable to assume that
Park Service extortion was
exercised in most of the
1,130 title transactions.

In 2008, the VA legislature set up the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission. In 2010, they set up another non-profit, Friends of Southwest Virginia, to manage funds coming into each of the developing entities. The Commission then became a non-profit Foundation in 2011 and according to VA Code §2.2-2734, the SWVACHF was established as a body politic and corporate. The purpose of the Foundation is to encourage the economic development of Southwest Virginia through the expansion of cultural and natural heritage ventures and initiatives related to tourism and other asset-based enterprises, including Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Center, The Crooked Road, ‘Round the Mountain, and other related cultural and natural heritage organizations and venues that promote entrepreneurial and employment opportunities.

Only it’s not yo’ daddy’s sweat equity and all-American can-do spirit that will build this new rural economy for Southwest Virginia….it’s the Triple Bottom Line, the new-fangled business model that levels the playing field between filling a demand by producing a good product with equal parts social equity and environmental justice.

The Crooked Road, ‘Round the Mountain and the other colorful-sounding spin-offs of our

new-fangled “asset based economy”—the Appalachian Regional Commission dubs it their ”creative cluster”— take their foundation in Sustainable Development/UN Agenda 21. How do we know this? From their own account.

RESPONSE TO ANTHONY FLACCAVENTO’S CHALLENGE : The Washington County Tea Party  doesn’t need to make this stuff up, when the facts so clearly speak for themselves! We accept your challenge by reporting the truth.

What Sustainable Development Is and Is Not

 

A Challenge to the Washington County Tea Party

Prepared by Anthony Flaccavento, January 23, 2011

Materials gathered by the Washington County Tea Party portray “sustainable development” as a sinister effort to undermine American values and install socialist policies that eliminate private property. Based on nearly 20 years of work, research and writing in this field, I am putting forth this challenge to their attack on sustainable development. It is divided into four sections, corresponding to four core elements of their “argument”.

Sustainable development is being driven by the United Nation’s Agenda 21

· Contrary to the WCTP’s contentions, “Agenda 21″ and the UN have absolutely nothing to do with the vast majority of sustainable development (SD) projects and initiatives in Washington county, neighboring states or the nation as a whole. Out of a dozen sustainable development initiatives in the Appalachian region and more than 30 nationwide with which I am personally familiar, not a single one was launched or driven by Agenda 21, or is managed or directed by it. In fact, all of these initiatives were started at the grassroots, by a broad base of community people including local businesses, farmers, civic leaders, elected officials, etc. In 20 years of work and consultation with SD groups around the nation, I have never once heard “Agenda 21″ even mentioned.

We suggest that you start here, Mr. Flaccavento, and get it right from the horse’s mouth—as some of us quaint folks say around here in Appalachia!

Here is another analysis of Sustainable Development and The Global Reporting Initiative………

 

I spent several hours navigating through the myriad of resources, data, and links. I am sure, most Americans do not have the interest or the time to research what is happening to their country.

GRI is encouraging organizations to report (read snitch) on Sustainable Development compliance in their countries.

The list of past supporters includes….The Ford Foundation.

“The Global Reporting Initiative and the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding
in 2008 to set internationally recognized sustainability reporting
standards. It was done to foster sustainable development in developing
countries and transition economies.”
The real ultimate goal is to spread the wealth and arrest development
in countries like U.S.

Should United Nations dictate to the rest of the world what economic justice is? I do not wish to receive lectures on respect for diversity from UN totalitarian governments that disrespect women, other religions, and repress minorities through genocide.
We had informants under the communist system—it allowed the
totalitarian government to better control the masses. We have whistleblowers
in capitalism; we do not need UN’s rules to control us
through organized snitching……I fail to see how a private corporation
is obligated to report anything to the United Nations.
Dr. Ileana Johnson Paugh

The SWVA Tea Party of Abingdon / Bristol / Washington County is pleased to announce that we will host Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli as our speaker on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Abingdon High School Auditorium, 705 Thompson Drive, Abingdon, VA at 7PM.

A question and answer period will follow Atty. General Cuccinelli’s address.

The event is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend!
——————————

Next Tea Party Meeting is Thursday, May 9, at 7 PM.

Location is the Washington County Government Center, 1 Government Center Place, Abingdon, Va. We will have a live computer link to Freedom Works’ Washington, DC, Office so we can see, hear and ask questions of several Freedom Works leaders.  Eric Gulab, noted political comedian, will be performing and Charlie Sewell will be speaking on “What does ‘Don’t  Tread On Me’ mean?”

We plan on being finished by 8:30.

Directions:

From Interstate 81, take Exit 14, turn towards Abingdon, right at the first traffic light, stay on that road approximately 1 mile past the Higher Education Center, Government Center is on the right.  Come in the rear door.

From East Main Street (US Routes 11 and 19), turn on Jonesboro Road towards I-81 Exit 14,left at the first traffic light, stay on that road approximately 1 mile past the Higher Education Center, Government Center is on the right.  Come in the rear door.

Update: Danny Goad was released from jail six days after his arrest for contempt of court.

Danny Goad has kids that are in the Botetourt County school system.

Obviously, he was unhappy enough with some of the goings-on in that system that he chose to raise local awareness. The court has not convicted him of defamation of character, but since last Thursday, July 5th, 2012, he has spent 72 hours in isolation for refusing to answer a question that could implicate his son. If you start at the bottom of this page and work your way up, you’ll kind of get the story of what happened between last December and last Thursday, when Danny was put in jail.

Today Danny will be moved into a “pod”. He can visit with his family for one hour a week, beginning this Wednesday.

There are a lot of unanswered questions….How long will he be imprisoned for contempt of court, without bail or bond? (A mechanical engineer by profession, Danny’s continued absence puts his job at risk.) Is this just punishment, in a civil lawsuit? Do individual liberties still count for something, under the Constitution, when accused of saying too much, or saying too little?

Danny’s friends ask that letters of support and donations to his legal fund be sent to PO Box 370, Fincastle VA, 24910.

This says a lot about who Danny Goad is, in his own words, from February 23, 2010:

 

2010.02.23

Danny Goad seeks chairmanship of 6th District Republicans

Danny Goad of Botetourt is seeking the chairmanship of the 6th District Republicans — the congressional district that runs from Roanoke up into the Shenandoah Valley.

Here’s the letter he’s sent out:

Citizens of the Sixth Congressional District,

It is with great anticipation and a strong sense of duty to serve that I write to you. After encouragement of many throughout the district I want to let you know that I am running for Chairman of the Republican Party of the Sixth Congressional District of the Commonwealth of Virginia. I believe as a nation and a state our best days are yet to come and that freedom fought and died for by our Founders is resurging. Great encouragement should be taken in the activity we are seeing in groups in our localities like the tea parties and Constitutional advocacy groups. For freedom to endure we must set the stage for it to be nurtured. We cannot sit idly by and think that business as usual will accomplish the task. We must be deliberate in what we do. We must have a plan for correcting the things that we are not doing well as the Republican Party.

As Chairman of the Sixth Congressional District I will work hard to strengthen the local units in accomplishing our stated goals and to grow the Party. The purpose of the Republican Party is threefold. First, we have an obligation to advocate the principles of the Republican Party and represent those electing us in our respective units. Second, we have an obligation to work hard to get Republican candidates elected to office. Lastly, we have an obligation to assist elected Republican office holders as they have need to attend meetings or otherwise assist them. I believe the Sixth Congressional District does a good job working on campaigns and assisting elected Republicans.

As we reflect on the events of the last year we recognize that our district is not what it was one year ago. Something has changed. Citizens are on their own volition speaking out in a constructive manner on the issues of liberty and the role of government. Once again citizens are talking about the Constitution like it means what it says. While Republicans recognize that this resurgence of liberty is a good thing, we must be true to ourselves and acknowledge it did not originate in the Republican Party. We must ask ourselves right here in the Sixth District what we must do differently to nurture this freedom.

We have a great opportunity to participate in this renewal of freedom. Our greatest strength is our principles. What we say we believe is the only thing that makes us different from the Democrat Party. The principles of the Republican Party are quite simple and are expressed concisely in the Virginia Republican Creed. Of particular note is the fourth clause of the Creed which refers to Constitutional limitations. As I have intently listened to many citizen groups in the last year I get the sense they feel the Republican Party has let them down in the Party’s failure to abide by Constitutional limitations. Specifically, they say, “On what authority does the federal government have the permission to dictate what health care plan we have? On what authority do you pass the TARP legislation and provide no accounting of the funds? On what authority do you pass ex post facto legislation that targets specific individuals and takes their assets?” These are but a few examples of concerns of the citizen’s groups. Many citizens feel to a large degree that the response of the Republican Party has been silence. Recognizing our weakness is the first step in gaining the confidence of those who feel our actions do not match our rhetoric. As Chairman of the Sixth District I will not be silent on these issues.

We declare that we are a grassroots organization when we need someone to volunteer with the campaign but we sometimes cringe when we are asked by a volunteer why an elected Republican took a certain position on an issue. I think this is a natural human response. We don’t like it when the actions of elected representatives that we campaigned for are questioned. However, we must be willing to hear the concerns of citizens and be willing to advocate for them when we view their concern and recognize it as consistent with the Republican Creed and Constitution.

The Sixth District Republican Party has the opportunity to embrace freedom in a manner not paralleled in recent history. If we embrace the principles espoused in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, the Republican Party will grow. As Chairman I will lead that effort.

Very briefly I will tell you some of my political experience and I’ll follow-up with more at a later time. In 1992, I joined the Republican Party and went to my first state convention in Salem. In 1993, I was elected Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Hampton and was responsible for organizing the city-wide campaign of more than 300 volunteers. Simultaneously, I was City Coordinator for Mike Farris for Lieutenant Governor. 1994-Elected to Hampton City School Board, organized North for Senate campaign in Hampton. 1997, 1998-Elected Chairman of the Giles County Republican Committee. 2001-SW VA Area Director Jay Katzen for Lt. Governor. 2006,2008-Elected Vice-Chairman of the Botetourt County Republican Committee. I have a record of growing the Republican Party.

By trade I am a Mechanical Engineer, licensed in two states, and hold an engineering degree from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the College of William and Mary. I am also a graduate of The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding.

I am married and have six children.

We have a fantastic opportunity to more fully embrace the ideals of our Founders: the opportunity to pass a greater freedom to our posterity. Let’s work together to promote liberty in the Sixth District. Will you join me in reaching out to Virginians who share our vision of limited government who have not been active in a political party? Will you join me in my campaign for Chairman of the Sixth Congressional District? Please call or email me and I will let you know how you can get involved in my campaign.

Sincerely,

Danny H. Goad

Friday, July 06, 2012

Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter

Botetourt County man held in contempt after refusing court order

Danny Goad refused to answer a question that could implicate his son.

By Duncan Adams
981-3324

Botetourt County resident Danny H. Goad ended up jailed Thursday without bond for contempt of court after a hearing in Botetourt County Circuit Court.

Goad refused to comply with Circuit Judge Michael Irvine’s order to answer a question relevant to a civil lawsuit in which Goad is a co-defendant. The judge had earlier ordered Goad to respond to a deposition question from the plaintiff inquiring about who had helped Goad distribute allegedly defamatory fliers in early October that focused on former Lord Botetourt High School Principal Tim Bane.

Goad said he refused to answer the question because he took full responsibility for the fliers’ distribution and did not want to involve others.

On the witness stand Thursday, Goad continued to refuse to comply. Authorities have said that his son, Cullen D. Goad, a co-defendant in the civil case, was involved in the distribution.

Irvine reacted strongly to Danny Goad’s refusal to obey the court order.

“This goes to fundamentally our whole justice system,” Irvine said.

If people take it upon themselves not to comply with the rule of law, he said, “our whole system fails.”

Bane and his attorney Bill Cleaveland filed a lawsuit Dec. 5 that alleged the fliers included defamatory material about Bane that had damaged his reputation and profession, and caused “shame, embarrassment and humiliation.” It sought $75,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages.

Bane had been reassigned in June 2011 from his duties as high school principal, but school officials, citing confidentiality in personnel matters, declined to say why. He no longer works for the school division.

The fliers, distributed at an Oct. 7 home football game and two days later at two churches, implied that Bane’s reassignment could have resulted from criminal behavior or professional misconduct. Tony Brads, superintendent of Botetourt County Public Schools, has said Bane had violated neither the law nor school board policy.

On Thursday, Irvine told Goad and his attorney, Melvin Williams, that Goad can get out of jail by complying with the court order and responding to Cleaveland’s question.

Williams and Goad have asserted that the content of the fliers distributed in early October is protected by the First Amendment.

 

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter

Botetourt defamation defendant jailed after refusing judge’s order

Danny H. Goad won’t reveal who helped him distribute fliers last October that a former county school principal said damaged his reputation.

By Duncan Adams | The Roanoke Times

Botetourt County resident Danny H. Goad refused to comply this morning with a Botetourt County Circuit judge’s order to answer a question relevant to a civil lawsuit in which Goad is a defendant and ended up jailed without bond for contempt of court.Judge Michael Irvine had ordered Goad to answer a deposition question that had asked who had helped him distribute fliers in early October that were critical of former Lord Botetourt High School Principal Tim Bane, who no longer works for Botetourt County Public Schools.

On the witness stand today, Goad continued to refuse to name who had helped him distribute the fliers at a home football game and two churches in the county. His son, Cullen D. Goad, is a co-defendant in the civil case and was allegedly one of the distributors.

Bane and his attorney Bill Cleaveland filed a lawsuit Dec. 5 that alleged the fliers included defamatory material about Bane that had damaged his reputation and profession, and caused “shame, embarrassment and humiliation.” It sought $75,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages.

Today, Danny Goad said he refused to answer the question because he took full responsibility for the fliers’ distribution and did not want to involve others.

Irvine told Goad he can get out of jail by complying with the court order and responding to the question asked by Cleaveland.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter

Former Botetourt County principal files suit over fliers

The former principal of Lord Botetourt High School says a man and his son spread defamatory material about his reassignment.

By Duncan Adams
981-3324

A former high school principal in Botetourt County is suing a county resident and his son for defamation for their alleged role in distributing fliers in early October that implied the principal’s reassignment in June could have resulted from criminal behavior, such as embezzlement, or abuse of students, sexual harassment or other professional misconduct.

Tim Bane, former principal at Lord Botetourt High School, is suing Danny H. and Cullen D. Goad, alleging that the father and son distributed defamatory fliers at an Oct. 7 home football game and again, in a slightly different version, on Oct. 9 at two churches in the county.

For the alleged defamation, the lawsuit filed Monday seeks $75,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages. Additional compensation is sought under a section that suggests the fliers’ distribution resulted from a conspiracy to injure Bane’s reputation.

The lawsuit alleges damage to Bane’s reputation and profession and suggests the former principal has “suffered shame, embarrassment and humiliation” as a result of the fliers’ implications.

When interviewed Tuesday afternoon, Danny Goad said he had not seen the lawsuit. He neither denied nor admitted involvement in placing the fliers.

Instead, Goad said school division officials have an obligation to explain the circumstances of Bane’s reassignment.

“My reaction to [the lawsuit] would be that the citizens of Botetourt County and the parents and children of Botetourt County have a right to know about what happened that resulted in his reassignment,” Goad said.

The lawsuit, he said, is a way to communicate that “they will crush anyone who dares ask a question of the government.”

Maj. Delbert Dudding of the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday that officers working the football game had observed Danny and Cullen Goad at the scene and told them to stop distributing the fliers.

The football game flier posed a question: “Why was Principal Bane demoted?”

It then offered five reasons and instructed, “Choose the best answer.”

One possible selection was, “He abused his power over subordinates and had inappropriate relations with teachers.” Another was, “He embezzled taxpayer money.”

The flier deposited on windshields at churches asked, “Has your son or daughter been abused by Principal Bane?”

Both versions ask, “Why has the Commonwealth [sic] Attorney Joel R. Branscom done absolutely nothing?”

After the fliers’ October distribution, Botetourt County schools Superintendent Tony Brads reacted with some heat, describing their content as “misleading and inflammatory.” He emphasized then that Bane had neither broken the law nor violated school board policy.

Brads has said the circumstances of Bane’s reassignment are a personnel matter and remain confidential. In October, Bane was working for the division as a safety officer.

Lawyer Bill Cleaveland filed the lawsuit on Bane’s behalf.

He described the fliers’ contents as malicious and reckless.

“We believe there is no protection for this kind of behavior under the First Amendment,” Cleaveland said.

He said Bane is experiencing some problems applying for employment “because of this trash being spread around in Botetourt.”

“You throw something like this out and suddenly no one will talk to him,” Cleaveland said.