It’s long been the policy of The Register to keep its opinions in check when it comes to local elections.
Such races typically involve if not friends, at least those we cross paths with from time to time, and we feel uncomfortable putting the qualities of one candidate up against those of another.
Call us chicken, but good neighbors will win out every time over politics.
This election, however, we would be remiss to let the race for Allen County attorney go without comment.
Simply put, Linus Thuston is not a credible candidate by evidence of the fact that he himself can’t stay on the right side of the law.
During his 1997-2001 tenure as Neosho County attorney, Thuston faced disciplinary action for three separate infractions.
The first was for accepting bribes; the second for overcharging Neosho County citizens for his services; and the third for misuse of county funds.
The bribery charge involved Thuston accepting two cell phones, pager equipment (remember, this was in the day before smartphones) as well as nine months of telephone service in exchange for his securing diversion agreements for two Chanute women charged with falsely reporting a crime in 1999.
In his defense before the state’s Board of the Discipline of Attorneys, Thuston said he figured that if community service could be accepted in lieu of being charged with a crime, then his personally profiting by agreeing to drop criminal charges against the women could be viewed in the same manner.
Um no, said the disciplinary board.
In the second case, Thuston billed the county about $34,000, for what commissioners valued at about $9,000, for the handling of three appeals cases.
The disciplinary board agreed with commissioners, saying Thuston’s fees were “unreasonable and excessive” and mandated he repay Neosho County $26,037, including the costs of the disciplinary hearing.
The third case, while not so egregious, is an example of poor judgment.
In 2001, Thuston used county funds to purchase five paintball guns and ammunition for $524. Thuston said the recreational equipment would help him better understand what it is like for law enforcement personnel to be in hostage situations.
For real.
THUSTON lost his bid for re-election in 2000.
Why he was re-elected as Neosho County attorney in 2012 can only be attributed to the short memories of voters.
A vote for Jerry Hathaway is a vote against Linus Thuston.
— Susan Lynn
