Dear Citizens,

We are in the time for the runoff of the sheriff’s race, and I am tired of the rumors that have been going around about Royce Abbott, so I am writing this letter to tell all of you what I know about the man.  First off, Royce is a close friend of mine. This statement may hurt him, but as he said to me I choose who I associate with and I am not ashamed of it, so I am going to take him at his word which I know that I can.  I have known Royce since 2002.  We met while I was writing for the paper that everyone loved to hate, “The Star”.  I have been called radical, and a lot of other names, but I do have the reputation for being truthful, and I will tell you that if you tell the truth, you do not have to keep up with the lies that you have told, so I always tell the truth even when it hurts. 

Royce Abbot is a man who I know to be honest.   I contributed a small sum to his last campaign.  He asked me then if I expected any favors from him because of it, and I told him no.  He said that that was the only way that he would accept the money because he did not want me to think that if I broke the law, and he was sheriff that he would show me any favors.  I told him that I did not plan on breaking the law, and that if I did that I did not want any favors, nor did I expect any. 

I know for a fact that Royce is honest because when his sons broke the law, he booked one of them into the Collin County Jail while he was chief deputy, and another went into the Wylie Jail during his tenure as Chief of Police.  They broke the law, and he arrested them as will he arrest anyone who breaks the law.  I asked him for the time frame this happened.  It was between 1974 and 2000.  The records are probably on microfiche, but if you don’t believe this statement you can go and look them up.  He also arrested one of his cousins, and even locked up his own brother when he insisted on trying to drive after he became drunk.  His brother only spent the night, but it was what was right, and Royce did what his job called for by law. 

This man is an honest man.  This man believes that “No Person is above the Law.”   

I want everyone out there to know that I respect this man, and it is because of his honesty, and integrity that I support him.   

The rumors about Mark Lesher contributing to his campaign are true.  He put it on his statement of contributors because it is the law.  If he was trying to hide anything, or would break the law, then why is Lesher's name on the contributors sheet.  Just because Mr. Lesher contributed to Royce’s campaign does not mean that he has bought any favors from Mr. Abbott.  I know for a fact that no one can buy Mr. Abbott, be it me, or you, or Mr. Lesher.   

If you think that a candidate can be bought by contributing to his campaign, then maybe you should look at your own personality, and actions because you probably know something from the past about the politicians in this county that have caused you to believe in this manner.  A person’s actions and ideals should be considered in a campaign, and not their associates or their contributors.  My wife was a damn good lawyer when she was practicing, and she was honest, and did her job by fighting for her clients, and did it professionally.  I am proud of her reputation and her record in Lubbock, Texas.    Mr. Lesher is also an attorney who fights for his clients, and people condemn him for it, but would you hire an attorney that you did not feel would fight tooth and nail for what you hired him for?  Think about it.   

I know that everyone in this county is somehow related to everyone else, and everyone here bases their beliefs on what has happened here in the past, but I will tell all of you that there is a big world outside of Red River County where sure, there is corruption, but when it is found there is prosecuted by law, and here it is shoved under the carpet and covered up.  I will also say that I made my decision to retire and build my home here because of my wife’s disability, and my roots are here, but from what I see and know now, I would never have moved here, because the stench of favoritism and corruption in the County Government, and the judicial system. This sickens me to the point of hurling my lunch, and I do not care if anyone of you believe me or not, because it is my knowledge and research that tells me these things. 

Do not base your ideals on the words of another, like myself.  You can go and check out what I have said.  It may take some time but I assure you that the arrests are there on the records for all to see.  Mr. Abbott is not proud of arresting anyone, including his sons and he speaks with a soft voice about it, because it hurts him that he had to do it. This tells me that no person can buy Mr. Abbott with a measly campaign contribution.  Mr. Abbott cannot be bought, nor sold because he is a honest man who left home as a child, gained his experience in the real world, and came back home as a honest man who is sickened by the stench of corruption in this County.  He is offering to give up his retirement to attempt to make this county a better place for all of us.  That my good citizens are Mr. Abbot’s motives, and not those of being bought or sold by anyone for any purpose.  He has his past reputation as a respected law enforcement officer to look back on, and from what I can find it is sterling, and is one that I would be proud to have.  I know for a fact that he would not risk that to show favoritism to anyone for any reason, in this place.   

By the way,  if this letter shows it is a paid endorsement then it is, but I am and always will be proud to endorse Mr. Royce Abbott whom I call my friend, at any cost. 

Ernest Henslee

Lydia