Thursday’s Advocate-Messenger reported that our Boyle County Republican Party was a no-show at the Women’s Network-sponsored candidate forum on Tuesday evening.

That much is accurate. As a nationally known commentator would have once said, “Now for the rest of the story.”

The invitation from the organizers to the Oct. 9 forum (our only knowledge of the event) was dated Saturday, Oct. 6. With the Columbus Day holiday, no mail was received until midday, Tuesday, Oct. 9 — hours before the very forum in question.

Compounding the late notice, our regularly scheduled GOP monthly dinner meeting was also that evening, as well as the Junction city mayoral and council forums. Nonetheless, had we perhaps even a week’s prior knowledge, we would most assuredly had a presence at this event.

Thank you for this opportunity to clarify this important issue.

With the greatest respect,

Tom Tye

Chair, Boyle County Republican Party