Dear Susan Lynn:
I read your recent editorial regarding Allen County Attorney Republican candidate Linus Thuston. My initial thought was why you didn’t feel it remiss to not make your thoughts known to the voting public in 2008 when Mr. Thuston was on the ballot for Allen County Attorney? Could it be that you, and other members of the bourgeoisie, are finally realizing the Allen County voters are fed up with the status quo, and are ready to have their voices for change heard?
“Can’t stay on the right side of the law?” “Bribery?” To use your language: “For Real?” As you obviously did a poor job of fact checking before inking your editorial attacking Mr. Thuston’s credibility some two weeks prior to the primary election, I would suggest (a little late now I realize) you conduct an online search of, or call, the Kansas Attorney Disciplinary Administrator’s Office, which will confirm that Mr. Thuston was not disciplined by said office as a result of the events you inaccurately describe. Nor was he ever charged with any crime.
Mr. Thuston did make some poor decisions early in his legal career, and has demonstrated his ability to learn from those mistakes and move past them. It’s a good thing that Jesus forgives, because you obviously don’t. Are you being equally diligent looking into the distant past of all candidates for political office, or are you just singling out Mr. Thuston?
I would like to point out a few things about Mr. Thuston that your article omitted. Mr. Thuston has served his country in the Kansas Army National Guard for over 27 years, including an active duty deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed, Mr. Thuston prepared in excess of 100 wills and power of attorneys for other deployed soldiers pro bono, and continues to this day to provide pro bono legal services for military service members, as well as domestic violence victims in domestic cases. Mr. Thuston served as the Commander of the Chanute VFW for two years, and serves on the Kansas National Guard Suicide Prevention Team performing suicide interventions, and is on the PTSD Response Team.
Mr. Thuston is also active in his church, serving as a Deacon for his local church. He further actively serves his community through past or present membership on the Neosho County Community College Alumni Board, the Safari Museum Board, the Chanute Housing Authority, and the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center Board. Mr. Thuston and his wife have been foster care providers, and they continue to serve as surrogate parents and mentors for the NCCC track and field team.
Mr. Thuston has served as a prosecutor for the State of Kansas for over 10 years, and was the recipient this spring (2016) of the Kansas Prosecutor’s Foundation Community Service Award. I wonder why it is that when some local incumbent elected official has an ax to grind, you are so quick to accommodate them in the form of an editorial? Our current Allen County Attorney works on average less than three days per week, draws an annual salary of nearly $70,000, and doesn’t even live in the State of Kansas. Our current assistant county attorney works on average one and a half days per week, with an assistant’s annual salary of approximately $56,000, and lives in Coffey County.
You obviously have a penchant for sensationalism. I guess drama sells newspapers just like it draws viewers to reality television shows.
Mitch Sigg,
Iola, Kan.
