Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:30:39 -0400
From: Randy
Subject: A business having tenants registered to vote is a red flag
Independent Weekly reporter response “There was no harassment”
Follow-up on my earlier email.
Later this morning, the Independent Weekly reporter responses that “There was no harassment” on the Chatham Bulletin Board at http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,15716.0.html
1. I am Rebekah Cowell, and I live in North Chatham.
2. I am a freelance reporter for the Independent Weekly.
3. I had an off-record conversation, and looked into the address: 50 Chatham Forest Drive. When I googled the address, I pulled up a business – Voller Reality.
4. I called BOE, and was given 3 names who have voter’s registration at that address. I then spent time w/ my editor looking up the names — a business facility with tenets, is worthy of investigating.
5. I drove by on Saturday at 5:30pm – no vehicles were in the parking lot, I could not judge whether this indeed was a residence or a business – the screened in porch has mailboxes for Voller Reality/the Homeowner’s Association, but none that said “CLARK.”
6. I drove back by Voller Reality while in town Saturday afternoon at 3:30pm, I was in my car, the engine was running when an individual drove up. I rolled down my window and asked the lady who had left her car IF she was the agent on duty. She said no, I than asked her if she was Faythe Canson Clark – she said yes, than bristled and asked why, and I said I was looking into a matter regarding addresses and voter’s registration – before any more remarks could be made or introduction for that matter, Ms. Clark became very upset and told me I was the 2nd person to bother her with the matter, and that she was going to the BOE and she was going to get to the bottom of everything.
I than asked, “do you rent this property.” Ms. Clark, who was standing as I sat w/ my window rolled down was quite angry and said, “It is none of your business.” and I said, “I respect that.” and I rolled my window up as Ms. Clark angrily walked away.
7. Ms. Clark did not say yes or no to my question – so I did call Ms. Stumpf on Monday morning and double check facts/sources on the situation. I learned that Voller Reality does rent out there office space/or annex if you will.
8. I called Ms. Clark around 10am on Monday morning and identified myself as the woman who had seen her in the parking lot, and apologized for making her uncomfortable. This is a small town, and I will run into Ms. Clark someday soon and I do not wish to have any more confrontations such as the one on Sunday afternoon. My call was for 2 reasons – 1) so that Ms. Clark knew who I was 2) to let her know that I had talked w/ Ms. Stumpf and knew that it was a rental property.
It’s important to remember, I did ask her first if she was an agent with the reality center, I did not ASSUME she was Faythe Clark.
9. There was no harassment, I had not called FIRST Ms. Clark’s cell phone number I found on a recent chatlist when I googled her name, simply because I had no intentions of putting her on the defensive until I had seen the space for myself.
10. It’s important to remember that this all took place in a public parking lot of a business in less than 3 minutes.
11. Legitimate questions were asked, and I was acting at the behest of my editor.
12. A business having tenets registered to vote is a red flag.
13. Ms. Clark called me on Monday evening and left me a mssg telling me she was going to bring the matter up at the meeting, and advised I appear.
You can follow the discussion about the Voller Realty’s “50 Chatham Forest Drive” at http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,15716.0.html