Whether an industrial site at the old Longhorn Army Ammunition Depot is good or bad depends, as we have said repeatedly, on your point of view. Both sides have arguments that can be compelling.

But what is right and what is wrong are not “point of view” matters. We don't have to hold a vote, conduct an opinion poll or host a public hearing. Those things are clear, though we may not always choose to admit them.

The political mailer paid for by County Judge Wayne McWhorter that uses the state seal and purports to be a secret ballot, complete with sending the “ballots” to Elections Administrator Pam Brock was wrong.

Simply put, the county elections office – that is funded by taxpayer dollars – cannot be used to promote some private agenda. This is a concept we believe could be understood by most high school civics students.

It was wrong and it is difficult for us to believe McWhorter did not understand the misleading nature of the material when it was sent. We don't believe he intentionally violated the law, because he would not want to be charged, but he surely violated the spirit of the law.

If other county officials can be believed – and we do believe them – McWhorter asked none of them, including District Attorney Joe Black, whether the campaign material was legal. He did not even consult Ms. Brock and her name was on the material and was to be sent to her office. Ms. Brock knows election laws backwards and forwards and could have told him at a glance that what he proposed was unethical at best and illegal at worst.