I’m a little confused about a letter Ira C. Fuller, candidate for Wendell Town Commissioner, sent out the other day. It started off with “Dear Taxpaying Citizens of Wendell”, which immediately told me that non-taxpayers living in, and outside, Wendell were excluded. The letter went on to say that we, the taxpayers of Wendell, cannot “afford to sit idly by and let a few out-of-town people with special personal agendas, and pay no town taxes buy our town’s government process.” Wow, I thought to myself, those who don’t pay town taxes such as the people that live in Wendell but rent homes or apartments must certainly be the underclass of society.
But I digress, so let’s move on to where I decided to take a look at Mr. Fuller’s property tax payment record. Going to wakegov.com , Wake County Real Estate data, I searched for Mr. Fuller’s name. Guess what? I could not find the name Ira Fuller listed in the Wake County tax records. This can’t be I thought! If his name is not listed as a taxpayer that means his whole letter addressed to the “Dear Taxpaying Citizens of Wendell” was a sham. His status is the same as mine; he lives in town and does not pay Wendell property taxes; I live out of town and do not pay Wendell property taxes!
Later that night, while sitting at home I thought to myself how Mr. Fuller, with all his years’ service to the town, might make a good Town Commissioner. After all he had full confidence, and was the right hand man, of former Mayor Lucius Jones for many years. In fact, the Triangle Business Journal (5/29/98) quoted Mr. Fuller as saying “When he (Mayor Lucius Jones) submits plans, he always asks me to let him know if I see anything that is not in order.” Apparently Mr. Jones had complete confidence and trust in Mr. Fullers advice and guidance. That’s a stearling recommendation for Mr. Fuller’s candidacy.
Re-reading Mr. Fullers letter I came to a section wherein he stated “It would be ridiculous and an insult to your intelligence to think they (other candidates for town commissioner) will be fiscally responsible with your tax dollars.” Good point, I thought, you’re right on the mark Mr. Fuller. Every citizen of any community wants those in a position of responsibility to be watchful of their tax monies. But then I started to think back to when a town employee, under Mr. Fuller’s immediate supervision, embezzled several hundred thousand dollars from the coffers of Wendell. Whoa, I said, how did that happen if Mr. Fuller was such a competent manager and fiscally responsible? Well those things can happen to anyone, and remember, it only continued for a few years under his direct supervision.
But, to be fair to Mr. Fuller, I would ask him to set the record straight by responding to this article. If anything I have said in not fact, and the absolute truth, I will immediately retract it with a gracious apology.