According to a recent article in The Pilot, the legislative effectiveness rankings published for 2007 were based upon the input of over 300 respondents. The overwhelming majority of those solicited and those who responded were lobbyists.

Since when does our society place such importance on the opinions of influence peddlers who try to buy lawmakers in order to clog our legislative output with special interest deals and pork barrel spending?

Some of the most highly rated in this survey during recent years include Jim Black, Michael Decker, Frank Ballance and Thomas Wright. They all are now in jail, largely because they were unduly influenced by the money of lobbyists.

The latest example is Wright, who was ranked between 8 and 13 by this group of lobbyists from 1999 through 2005. Then, earlier this month he was sentenced to between six and eight years in prison for fraud after being expelled from the General Assembly last month.

As an alternative form of evaluation, isn't it more important to judge a senator by his voting record and by his service to his constituents?

From firsthand observation, I can assure Republican primary voters that Harris Blake has a perfect record of conservative voting in efforts to combat wasteful spending and to promote economic growth for all.

He is anathema to lobbyists as he fights against special deals for special interests. I can also assure voters that no senator has been more responsive to, or mindful of, his constituents. Sen. Blake returns calls personally and visits virtually every Zip code in Moore and Harnett Counties on a regular basis. His diligent work to help the Upchurch family is just one example.

Stan Bradshaw

Pinehurst