Editor:

Although I managed supervisorial candidate Erik Nunn's 2004 supervisor campaign and Gary Agopian's 2004 Antioch school board campaign, I'm not managing either campaign now. I consider them both my friends and good, honorable men. But after reading the letters attacking Nunn, I felt obligated to set the record straight.

Nunn's mailer doesn't say he was the first person to oppose the Antioch prison site. Former Antioch Councilman Manny Soliz's quote in the mailer is very specific: Erik Nunn was the first local official to attend a community meeting and take a public position against the Antioch prison.

At UCBN leader Gary Gilbert's request, Nunn spoke at our meeting the Saturday following the Supes' vote. That's the community meeting to which Soliz referred. As a UCBN member, I attended both that meeting and the group's candidates forum featuring Nunn and Agopian.

Technically, the first people and local officials to speak out against the Antioch prison site were the councilmembers at their meeting, the night of the Supes' vote. The debate is whether you define the council meeting as a community meeting or a government meeting, as Soliz and Nunn see it.

As for Nunn's reason for changing parties, his comment about the people of his church pressuring him was a weak attempt at humor. But some at the UCBN candidate's forum took him seriously. When questioned if the members of his church would make other decisions for him, Nunn said no and that's not what he meant.

That makes Nunn less than honest and willing to lie without hesitation or remorse ? Of course not. One thing to know is that Nunn spoke at the forum in spite of Gilbert publicly endorsing Agopian before it was held.

Besides, local government is non-partisan. Ironically, some of those who are now opposing Nunn because he switched parties have supported other Democrats over Republicans for local office in the past.

As for Nunn not speaking at the second Supes' meeting, he's not self-employed like Agopian and me, or retired like Gilbert, and can't always attend daytime meetings. But Nunn was planning on attending the previous Tuesday until Federal Glover told me that day that the Supes don't hold meetings the day after a Monday national holiday. So I called Nunn and Agopian and e-mailed Gilbert to let them know. Instead, Nunn called and e-mailed the Supes and sent a guest column to the paper. So he did his part to oppose the Antioch prison.

Agopian and Nunn have been friends and Gary even attended Erik's campaign kickoff. Unfortunately, Agopian started his campaign by taking a shot at Nunn over not speaking at the Supes' meeting, and his supporters are trying and help him win by continuing to attack Nunn, who, to his credit, has not responded in kind.

But when you're the front runner, like Nunn, you expect the attacks. We'll see on June 3 whether they were effective.

Allen Payton

Antioch