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Roger Bullis is on the ballot running for County Commissioner, challenging incumbent Christine Mele. One can see Roger’s signs throughout the county, and even hats with the simple message – “Vote For Roger”.

An obscene phone call to the Bullis home last night has caused Roger Bullis to withdraw from the race. He distributed this press release today:

Roger Bullis announced today he is withdrawing his candidacy for County Commissioner.

“I have been gratified by the outpouring of support and generosity from many many community members and friends — Democratic, Republican and Independent. If you contributed money to the campaign I will return it.”

According to Bullis, “When I announced I was seeking the position in March, there were no other candidates who were willing to run as Democrats. I am now in a position to understand why.”

“An anonymous phone call last night with an obscene epithet launched at my wife along with a veiled threat about ‘going back to where you came from’ is the last straw in a process where I have witnessed the hatefulness of too many. It is one thing to disagree with me about issues, it is unspeakable and unacceptable to verbally attack and frighten my wife. Enough.”

“When supporters are reluctant to put up campaign signs in their Oriental neighborhood because of fear of social or other reprisals from neighbors, we have a disturbing a climate of fear that should be an outrage in a democracy.”

“In the last two weeks we have begun a door-to-door campaign where we have been greeted with warmth and hospitality. It is gratifying to meet so many kind, grateful and supportive neighbors.”

“In addition I have gathered over 100 names of supporters which I intended to run in newspaper ads. Now, I fear that their names in an ad will subject them to the kind of abuse we have endured.”

“I expected a level of incivility when I began this journey for I have run successfully for office three times before. What I did not expect is the level of vitriol and hatred aimed at people of other opinions. Whether this manifests itself as destruction of property in the form of campaign sign theft and vandalism, shouting at Democrats about the President, the spreading of lies by email and word-of-mouth, or the cowardice of a disturbing phone call, the safety and security of my wife and sanctity of our home are of primary importance to me.”

“We choose not to live in fear in Oriental. If that means not subjecting ourselves to public service, so be it. I truly wish this were not the case because I believe strongly in public service as the main means of making democracy work.”

“Finally, I wish I still had the love of this part of the world that I had prior to this campaign. I hope that the prior feeling of good will and security comes back to me again and that local Republicans will fight to erase fear, intimidation and hatred from the playbook.”

Posted Tuesday September 18, 2012 by Keith N. Smith