THE FREE PRESS
Thursday, September 6, 2001
LETTER to EDITORS
Pollack responds
Although last week's headline article about me was hurtful, I am glad you outlined for your readers the extent to which mentally ill people are supposed to be protected by our judicial system and, in contrast, how the mentally disabled Lloyd brothers who I have been fighting for have not been protected at all.
Unfortunately, your lead-in that I "withdrew $3,000 from the bank account of a mentally incompetent woman" was a bit sensational. The reality was that the account was in my name as her guardian, that Judge Hupp had ruled in my favor, and the law is clear that, since there were threats of appeal, her estate was liable for my appellate legal fees, for which I held funds in my trust account.
Later in the article you stated that "his platform as an advocate for the mentally ill likely will smack of political hypocrisy...." Do you truly believe I have not been an advocate for a couple of mentally ill brothers who were swindled out of their $2 million farm?
Regarding my substantial services for Mrs. Skriloff, you neglected to report that, during my years as her guardian, I assisted her in about doubling the value of her estate. Though I may have been less than fully informed about some technical intricacies of such a guardianship role, everyone involved will confirm that substantively I was of great assistance to her. During my tenure as her guardian, she made wise business decisions, with my help. The worst thing I was cited for was giving her money that she herself had made! Your readers may be interested that Mrs. Skriloff called me, subsequent to my tenure as her guardian, asking if there was some way I could return as her guardian.
Your statement, "It was unclear why Pollack would purchase a car for Mrs. Skriloff knowing she did not have a driver's license," is most troubling of all the allegations in your long article. It is unfortunate you did not ask me, before you wrote the article, why the automobile was purchased. Actually, it was purchased before she lost her license.
Lastly, your readers ought to be informed that the article was prompted by an anonymous envelope which you received in November 1999. In the days prior to your article's publication, I had responded to reporters in the 15th District who had queried me directly on purported issues raised in that envelope regarding my services to Mrs. Skriloff. These queries came from similar information being peddled by my opponent's supporters. Hopefully, your publication will cover all aspects of this race in similar detail, especially regarding the critical issue of the Battle Creek landfill, for which my opponent was instrumental in burdening the citizens of Page County, along with its harmful impacts to the southern reaches of Shenandoah County.
Brad Pollack, candidate
House of Delegates, 15th District