Your Opinion: Troubled by smear campaign

Dear Editor:

Like most Cole County voters, I don't know much about Circuit Court Judge Pat Joyce. And until a few weeks ago I'd never heard of Brian Stumpe. But what I've learned from the Stumpe ad campaign has made me a big Joyce supporter.

Stumpe has received more than $200,000 in outside campaign money in the past couple of weeks, which the News Tribune has chronicled well. He's spent that money on lots and lots of ads, but I still don't know anything about his qualifications. Instead, he's spent a lot of time telling me that Pat Joyce spends every waking moment plotting the downfall of our civilization.

Stumpe apparently believes she's a supporter of sexual predators, violent thugs and deadbeat dads, and she probably kicks puppies when she's got a spare minute.

Circuit Court Judge is an important position. I don't want somebody in that post whose only strategy is to relentlessly attack his opponent, hoping that a smear campaign will convince enough voters not to like him, but to hate the opponent more.

Mr. Stumpe, call off the attack dogs and run a respectable, issues-based campaign. Or get out of the way and let your qualified opponent handle the job.