LETTER: The facts on the NAACP debate

In response to the attack on my character by Delegate Jackson Miller in the Sept. 4 News & Messenger, let me say that I am not an activist or volunteer for Jeanette Rishell. I made a $200 personal
donation to her campaign.

The NAACP is a nonpartisan organization, and as a representative of this organization, my actions have been completely nonpartisan. The NAACP sponsors political forums to help citizens understand
the importance of local elections in their day-to-day lives, giving them an opportunity to meet and question the people who are vying to represent them.

We offered the same opportunity to the candidates in the 52nd District and both candidates accepted.

My contact with the Miller campaign was Cory Bliss. I will not question Mr. Miller’s integrity, as he unfairly did mine, but I will suggest that perhaps Mr. Bliss did not keep him informed of our
conversations. I telephoned Mr. Miller in July to schedule a forum between him and Mrs. Rishell for Oct. 17. Cory called me a few days later, informing me that Delegate Miller was considering the
invitation. Several weeks passed with no word from the campaign. During this time I left one or two messages. None were returned. I sent an e-mail inviting him to the forum; no response.

Cory called Aug. 21, leaving a message that Miller could not fit Oct. 17 into his schedule.

I have no memory of Cory mentioning Miller had a family obligation on the 17th.

I called Cory on Aug. 24, asking him to provide me with any date that fit their schedule. He agreed to get back to me by week’s end. When I did not hear from him by Friday, I called him and left a
message requesting a date.

Mrs. Rishell called Friday, leaving a message requesting confirmation of the forum date/time. I called Cory on Aug. 31; he informed me that Miller’s schedule would not allow him to participate. After
learning this, I called Rishell’s campaign to let them know Miller had refused our invitation because he could not fit the forum into his schedule, and that we intended to proceed anyway. I was surprised
and disappointed by Mr. Miller’s refusal.

I gratefully welcome Mr. Miller’s current interest in the forum and hope he will participate, but both his expressed interest and his “written statement of apology” came after Rishell’s press release.

NORMA FIELDS

Member

Prince William NAACP