I have been a resident of Clay County for over 20 years. I love my home, my neighborhood and my county. There is only one downside to this great county….I have seen a great deal of “The Good Ol’ Boy” network at work in many areas of the county over the years. I had hoped that when Sheriff Scott Lancaster was not re-elected that things were starting to change. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Compare what Mr. Lancaster did to what former County Commissioner Christy Fitzgerald is alleged to have done. There is no comparison, Mr. Lancaster’s misdeeds are far more egregious but did he ever face any criminal charges or administrative punishment? NO!! Granted he did not get re-elected, but that was the people of Clay County voting.

The “Good Ol’ Boy” network in Clay County is still alive and roaring its ugly head, especially against intelligent, assertive females. Can you find any other intelligent, assertive females within the Clay County government (other than Supervisor of Elections and the School Board)….no I do not believe you can.

The State Attorney was quoted in the paper as saying he would hold the first trial for the felony charge only. If Ms. Fitzgerald is convicted, then there is no need to have a trial for the misdemeanor charges. What he should have said is, We are not going to trial on all of the charges because in the event we CAN NOT convict her on the felony, then we will spend thousands more dollars on a second trial to “try and get her.” I as a taxpaying citizen of Clay County think that this is an absurd waste of taxpayer money…two trials….two chances to “get her” in case the first trial does not go his way.

Ms. Fitzgerald has requested a change of venue to get out of Green Cove Springs, capital of the good old boy network and home of government and State Attorney office personnel who are on a mission to destroy her. Even the Clay County Sheriff's Office may have played a role in this by reportedly losing documents that exonerated Ms. Fitzgerald on some of the charges. Based on the biased media coverage I have seen, she is unlikely to get a fair trial in Clay County. Would you want to take a chance that Jane Padgett or Durwood Smith would be sitting on your jury ...no matter what the charges?

I have heard several things that DID NOT make it to the print media…why….because it cast a shadow on some of the Good Ol’ Boys…..Did County Commission George Bush really try to avoid giving a deposition in the Christy Fitzgerald criminal case? Where are the documents obtained by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office that exonerates Ms. Fitzgerald on some of the charges? These documents were present but now the CCSO has lost them? How convenient.

Ms. Fitzgerald deserves better than this from the citizens of Clay County. Is it too much to ask that she be afforded a fair trial?