“A news report bylined Julia Robb, which appeared in the Jan. 27 edition of the Marshall News Messenger quotes Harrison County Judge Wayne McWhorter as blaming the failure to establish a proposed industrial site at Caddo Lake on U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

This is an unfair and inaccurate characterization of the senator’s position as I understand it from my conversations with her last year.

Sen. Hutchison’s efforts have been centered around a sincere desire to ensure that the local community be provided ample opportunity to participate in the process that will determine the future use of the land.

She recognizes that there has been a spirited debate on future use of the acreage and has taken a balanced approach, providing an opportunity for all those involved to present their views.

She knows that it is important to Harrison County and Texas to reach the correct decision on this important question, based on local political will.

Sen. Hutchison is one of the most hard working and responsive members of Congress. Texas has been well served by her in many major ways, including support for science, aerospace, health-care research and conservation of our natural heritage.

I am personally offended by efforts to mischaracterize her appropriately neutral stance with respect to issues surrounding our new Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge.”