This, my dear Georgia taxpayers, is an intimidation attempt.
And you are.........?
In my quest to obtain answers from the Ga. Dept.of Agriculture Animal Protection Division management I received an email today from someone by the name of "Terry Coleman". He was kind enough to include an email signature that identified him as "Deputy Commissioner of The Georgia Department of Agriculture". Ok, he has a long title, but I still don't know him.
I would like Mr. Coleman to know that my "official" title is a "Georgia Resident" who still has questions that remain unanswered. And my take on this? If Mary Greene cannot, or will not, answer questions regarding the operation of the state regulatory agency she holds the position of Director, then maybe she shouldn't be in her position.
But the thing that concerns me is the fact that this man made the choice to contact me, out of the blue, to inform me that "he" would be the person I would need to direct my questions. And when I questioned why "he" had made this decision, his response stated that it was he and Mr. Irvin's decision as to who I should contact with questions or complaints. Nice.
This is certainly not the standard procedure when a Georgia
Mr. Coleman stated that my emails were "inappropriate" - I asked him what was inappropriate about any of them. I have not received an answer to my question. My emails have not contained any threats or curse words. So I would simply like for someone to explain to me what has been "inappropriate" within my correspondence. I have simply asked direct, and legitimate, questions of a state regulatory agency Director. And, in my opinion, if she can't, or won't, answer my questions, then maybe someone should look into the reasons why.
I sent my first email to Mary Greene, Director of Animal Protection, on April 6, 2008. I have yet to receive the courtesy of any sort of response from Ms. Greene, regarding my questions, comments or complaints. Mr. Coleman's email, today - May 8, 2008, has been the first correspondance I have received from anyone affiliated with the Ga. Department of Agriculture.
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It has been brought to my attention that you have been sending inappropriate emails to one of our employees. If you have a legitimate complaint or if you have anything you feel we should investigate, please contact my office to speak with me. I would be more than happy to discuss it with you.
Terry Coleman
Deputy Commissioner
Georgia Department
Mr. Coleman,
I am in receipt of your email, and would like to ask you which “employee” you are referring to, and what part of any of my email(s) to this “employee” have been “(in)appropriate”? If you could be more specific, it would be appreciated.
In reference to your comment of my having a ‘legitimate complaint’, you are correct, I do. I have a few legitimate complaints, and I have directed those complaints to the appropriate department, being the Animal Protection Division, specifically Mary Greene, Director. I have also copied Tommy Irvin on a few of these emails, with respect to his position as Agriculture Commissioner. Nothing in my correspondence to any employee of the Ga. Department of Agriculture Animal Protection Division has been “inappropriate”.
With respect to your position, I do not feel that you could answer questions, or address complaints, regarding the Animal Protection Division. Had I felt that you could, I certainly would have contacted your office first.
As of this date, I have not received a response to the numerous questions I have asked, and because of that, I was not certain Ms. Greene, nor Mr. Irvin have received my emails. However, being in receipt of your email, it is apparent that my correspondence has been received, and reviewed, and for reasons unknown, they have chosen to not respond.
Please understand, Mr. Coleman, that the possibility that Ms. Green and Mr. Irvin have chosen to not respond to my questions, or complaints, does not constitute inappropriateness on my part.
In closing, could you please explain to me the reason(s) you have contacted me to ask that I direct any questions, or complaints, to your office, instead of to the appropriate department?
Thank you Lisa Martin
Received 5-9-08:
Dear Lisa:
I will, or Commissioner Irvin, will make the decision as to who the appropriate person is to be in touch with you. That person is me.
Terry Coleman
Deputy Commissioner Georgia Department
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Mr. Coleman,
You may review my emails, and provide any answers to my questions that you feel you are able to answer. But I would appreciate the courtesy of receiving an explanation as to the reason I am being directed to your office to resolve this matter. Your previous email comment stated that it was up to you, and Mr. Irvin, as to who should be in touch with me. I simply would like to know why this decision has been made by you, and Mr. Irvin.
Thank you Lisa Martin
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Sent to Terry Coleman: 5-18-08
I find it interesting, at the very least, that Deputy Ag Commissioner Terry Coleman took the time to contact me to advise me that he is aware of my correspondence to the Animal Protection Division, and that I should contact him with my questions, or "legitimate" complaints. Mr. Coleman also stated that he would ‘be more than happy to discuss’ my "legitimate" questions with me.
My last email to Terry Coleman was sent on May 9, 2008, yet I have not, as of May 18, 2008, received the courtesy of a reply. I am left to speculate as to the reason(s) why I have not received a response to my questions, from Terry Coleman, or Mary Greene.
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Received from Terry Coleman: 5-19-08
Ms. Martin, I have finally had a chance to see your emails. I will get to them when I can. Thank you for your correspondence.
**********
Sent to Terry Coleman: 6-1-08
Mr. Coleman,
I am sending you this correspondence to ask why you have not addressed any of my questions of you, as well as my other emails/questions regarding the Animal Protection Division's operations.
On May 8, 2008, I received an email from you stating that it had 'been brought to your attention that I was "sending inappropriate emails.." to one of your employees. And you advised me that I would need to contact you with any further complaints or questions.
I responded to your email, and asked you, one, what has been inappropriate' in any of my emails. And two, why have you, and/or Commissioner Irvin, decided that I would need to contact your office with any future questions or complaints.
My question remains, for what reason did you initially contact me to suggest that I send my questions, or complaints, to your office, instead of the appropriate office, being the Animal Protection Division, specifically, Director Mary Greene. I personally know of numerous persons that have sent email correspondence to Ms. Greene, and not received an email, from you or your office, suggesting that they would need to direct any future questions, or complaints, to your office. I'm confused as to why I have been asked, by you, to do this.
The last email correspondence received, on May 18, 2008, you stated, regarding my emails, that you would "...get to them when I can."
I sincerely hope that you understand that, while you may not share my sentiments, I feel that my questions are of an important nature. I ask that you will take the time to address, this email, as well as others I have previously sent.
Thank you - Lisa Martin
**********
Received from Terry Coleman: 6-7-08
Dear Lisa-
Do you realize that you have sent various employees of the Ag Dept over 30 e-mails recently?
Why don't you just call m.elissa + make an appt.
Terry
**********
Sent to Terry Coleman: 6-7-08
Mr. Coleman,
I have emailed the Animal Protection Division management for the sole purpose of obtaining answers to numerous questions that I have, as well as other Georgia residents, regarding the protection of the housed animals in this state. My first email to the Animal Protection management employees, was sent on April 6, 2008. Today is June 7, so I'm not certain my emails would fall under the 'recent' category as those emails have been sent in the course of a two month time period.
In regards to my emails, I have not received a response to any of my correspondence sent. As I said previously, until I received your email, I was not even certain my emails were being received. Your first email to me, on May 8, 2008, was, and is, the first response I have received from the Department of Agriculture. In that first email, you requested that I send any future questions, or complaints, directly to your office. I would still like to understand exactly why I was sent correspondence, from you, requesting that I contact you, personally, with any future questions, or complaints?
I would also like to know why you are suggesting that I make an appointment to speak with you, when I have not requested, to meet with you. Again, please understand, Mr. Coleman, that had I wanted to speak to you, I would have attempted to make an appointment to do just that. However, I have specifically requested to speak with the management employees of the Animal Protection Division, as I feel they would be the appropriate employees to answer any questions that I, or other people, may have.
There are numerous persons that would like to ask these management employees questions regarding the protection of the housed animals in Georgia. These people include licensees of the Animal Protection Division, as well as non licensees. What I'm trying to understand is the reason(s) why these management employees have not responded to my emails, nor to my request for a scheduled meeting regarding questions that Georgia residents would like to ask. I honestly feel that, in light of, not only recent events, but events covering approximately the last ten years, I do feel that this department's management could, and should, afford the taxpayers of this state the courtesy of a meeting. It has become concering to the residents of this state that the housed animals in Georgia have not, and are not, receiving humane care as required by law.
You have suggested that I make an appointment to speak with you, and with all due respect, Mr. Coleman, you are choosing, for reasons unknown, not to provide answers to questions asked of you in my emails, therefore, I have very little trust that you would answer them from your office.
Lisa Martin
**********
Received from Terry Coleman: 6-7-08
Ms Martin
Ill be happy to meet with you to discuss any issues you have with the Ag Dept.
Terry
Sent to Terry Coleman: 6-7-08
If, and when, such a time arises that the Animal Protection management employees are willing to honor a future meeting regarding the operations of their regulatory department, you may contact me with the details.
Thank you - Lisa Martin
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Received from Terry Coleman: 6-8-08
Ms Martin
I will be happy to meet with you to discuss any complaints you have with the Dept of Agriculture.
You may contact me at 4046564887.
Terry
******************************
----------Original Message----------
From: lisa < >
Sent: Fri, June 06, 2008 10:36 PM
To: "Coleman, Terry" <tcoleman@agr.state.ga.us>
Subject: June 6, 2008
Mr. Coleman,
On May 8, 2008, I received an unsolicted email from you stating that I had been "sending inappropriate emails.." to one of your employees. You advised me that I would need to contact you with any further complaints or questions.
I responded to your email, and asked you what had been 'inappropriate' in my correspondence. I also asked you why you, and/or Commissioner Irvin, decided that I would need to contact your office with any future questions or complaints.
My question remains, for what reason did you initially contact me to suggest that I send my questions, or complaints, to your office, instead of the appropriate office, being the Animal Protection Division, specifically, Director Mary Greene. I personally know of numerous persons that have sent email correspondence to Ms. Greene, and not received an email, from you or your office, suggesting that they would need to direct any future questions, or complaints, to your office. I'm confused as to why I have been asked, by you, to do this.
The last email correspondence received, on May 18, 2008, you stated, regarding my emails, that you would "...get to them when I can."
I sincerely hope that you understand that, while you may not share my sentiments, I feel that my questions are of an important nature. I ask that you will take the time to address, this email, as well as others I have previously sent.
Thank you - Lisa Martin
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[Message delivered by NotifyLink]
----------Original Message----------
From: lisa < >
Sent: Sun, June 08, 2008 10:36 AM
To: "Coleman, Terry" <tcoleman@agr.state.ga.us>
Cc: "Georgia.governor@gov.state.ga.us" <Georgia.governor@gov.state.ga.us>, "Irvin, Thomas" <TIrvin@agr.state.ga.us>
Subject: June 8, 2008
Mr. Coleman,
After reviewing the online information (links below) regarding your ethics, I am ceasing all correspondence, directly and/or cc, to you. With all due respect to your position within the Georgia Agriculture Department, I would prefer not to be in contact with any representative of the state of Georgia whose ethics have been questioned in this manner. Please cease any and all, future correspondence.
Lisa Martin
http://spofga.org/Updates/2003/dec/terry_coleman_3.phtml
http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/would_you_like_your_ethics_scrambled_/Content?oid=3883
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/081597/met_coleman.html
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/03/20/sailorethics_0321.html
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0309-22.htm
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Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 4:54 AM
From: Terry Coleman [mailto:tcoleman@agr.state.ga.us]
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 2:06 PM
To: lisa
Subject: RE: June 8, 2008
Ms Martin
Coming from someone who was dismissed from State Government for whatever reason should influence my decison to meet with you but I have an open mind..
For your information,I was re-elected several times and promoted.after that.
I will be happy to meet with you at the office to discuss any issues you have with the Ga Dept of Ag.
Please call Melissa at-
4046564887 to make an appt.
Terry Coleman
***************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: lisa
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 2:24 PM
To: 'tirvin@agr.state.ga.us'; 'Georgia.governor@gov.state.ga.us'
Subject: FW: June 8, 2008
Mr. Irvin,
Due to ethics issues recently discovered, I have respectfully requested from Mr. Terry Coleman that he cease contacting me further. My reasons for this decision can be reviewed in the messages below.
After receiving correspondence from Mr. Coleman, following my request to him, I am contacting your office in hopes that you will ensure that this state employee ceases any contact with me in the future. I am sending this request to your office, as I have terminated any, and all, contact with Mr. Coleman.
Thank you
Lisa Martin
bravenet.com