Translate

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Fired public defender calls Jim Matthews 'despicable'

Republican turncoat Jim Matthews isn't making many friends during his first week as self-proclaimed emperor of Montgomery County.

Earlier in the week, Matthews voted with Democrat Joe Hoeffel to hire two former Hoeffel campaign workers to lucrative county jobs. (Hoeffel ran on a campaign to end cronyism and patronage jobs in the county. Sounds like Hoeffel was lying to get votes).

Reporter Margaret Gibbons reveals that Matthews upset the widower of Montgomery County Judge Toby Lynn Dickman, who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.

The husband, former Montgomery County Chief Public Defender John C. Armstrong, blasted commissioners' Matthews for invoking the name of Armstrong's recently deceased wife while, at the same time, pushing him out of the county courthouse.

"This hypocritical and despicable stunt by Mr. Matthews after he had been plotting my removal from office for over three weeks was an insult to me, my family and, most importantly, to the memory of my wife," said Armstrong on his last day of work for the county after some 28 years of service.

"Loyalty, integrity and public service defined Toby's life and career," Armstrong said. "By his conduct during the last month, including his cynical use of Toby's passing for political gain, Mr. Matthews has demonstrated he does not know the meaning of loyalty, integrity and public service."

Read the full story in today's edition of The Mercury.

No comments: