While I would LOVE to spend the rest of my night publicly refuting these claims, I am afraid I do not have the time. However, I would like to take a moment and mention a few things...

The DA's investigation of the double payments also demonstrated numerous instances of multiple payments by Judge Parish's office to other members of the community, but we see nothing of that in the Gilmer Mirror. Why is that? Because our own local celebrity, Billy Byrd, is the one who issues the press releases...

In reality, there are many instances of people who are overqualified for their jobs accepting positions that require lesser qualifications and credentials. I can think of many non-profits, pro-bono positions, and (oh... I don't know) legislative offices that do not require ANY educational attainment. Yet, where would we be without them?

I do, however, find it interesting that you believe a County Judgeship is an easy job that requires a "very limited skill set."

It almost seems to negate your argument that he is too educated for the job, yet is apparently not smart enough to do it properly.

It would appear to me that you have some sort of personal vendetta against Judge Fowler and/or Robert Bennett.

And although I was slightly uncertain that you would pick up my subtle jab at your voting competency, I can do nothing but smile as I think about you sitting at home writing your brilliant masterpiece in the comments section of the Gilmer Mirror.

To the amusing writer below, other than trying to shoot off a smart comment you have no rebuttal to clear Fowler of his incompetence in paying Robert Bennett twice. It’s people like you that elected this goof and he has proven himself incompetent in his job performance. Clearly, as you say, if standardized test were mandated to vote then it reasons that Fowler would never have been elected. Anyone that supports substandard job performance and incompetence must be part of the corrupt legal system of Gilmer.

I think its fine to be overqualified for a job, that is if you have such a lack of motivation to get out on your own and accomplish something of greater significance. Perhaps someone has failed in their life so much that they have given up on trying to move forward in their career. Most people that are overqualified for a job never get the job they are applying for as the employer knows there is something wrong with a job candidate that is going backwards instead of forward in their career. Maybe someone likes simplicity versus challenges and opportunity, maybe they are depressed and have marriage problems, who knows? It doesn't make any sense to me as to why a person with a law degree would want a position that requires very limited skill sets, but:

Isn’t it funny how Fowler wants to cut the assistant district attorney’s salary yet not too long ago he managed to raise his own salary and others. I believe he received a pretty significant raise in his salary. Anyone care to refute this? Didn’t think so.

My congratulations to the district attorney for standing up for what is right and filing a lawsuit to reverse the lowering of the assistant district attorney’s salary.

When Fowler admitted he paid Bennett twice, and it took the district attorney investigation to bring this forth, he sealed his fate as “grossly incompetent in his job.” Yes, he is overqualified and he is clearly so very “educated” that he cannot perform the “simple duties of a county judge” that requires “no real advanced educational requirements.” The district attorney made Fowler look incompetent in his job. Maybe this is why he wants to try and create havoc with the district attorneys office by stating 74K is too much to pay the assistant district attorney. The salary was fine for her predecessor so why is it too much now? Makes you think doesn’t it.

The basic problem in this discussion appears to be why does Fowler bungle his job so badly when he is so overeducated for his job? Do you really pay someone twice, Robert Bennett, for a number of things and not keep records of what you are doing as a county judge? How can Fowler honestly justify this other than openly saying, “I am incompetent in my job or I was trying to hide this matter?” This problem was brought to the public's attention only because of the Robert Bennett investigation. What about other problems that may not have been in the Bennett investigation and may not be public and "overlooked" by his superiors, because of the “Gilmer justice system?” Since this problem aired in the Gilmer Mirror, no one, including Fowler, has tried to clear this matter with the public. Fowler and everyone else in the “Gilmer legal system” have been quite as church mice trying to dodge the bullet of truth in this matter. Perhaps he's not made any other mistakes, but with his excuse that "he trust people," I would bet that there are alot more problems yet to be uncovered. People trusted Robert Bennett and look what happened to their money. Their money is gone. The people that voted for Fowler must have trusted him at one time for whatever reasons, “now we are all paying for his mistakes and it appears will continue to pay for more mistakes for sometime to come.”

Clearly the writer below needs a mental evaluation for wanting an incompetent to continue in their position where the public trust has been and continues to be betrayed. The taxpayers money has gone to waste because the people that voted for and trusted Fowler to do a good job have been cheated by his lack of care, proper attention to his job, and failure to keep simple records in performing his job. Also, don't forget the cost to the taxpayers for this investigation. Everyone including Fowler was on the timeclock when the investigation was taking place and we the taxpayers paid for all of this. We also paid for his double payments to Robert Bennett and I am sure we will be paying Fowlers salary when he tries to defend the commissioners attempt at lowering the assistant district attorney’s salary or cutting some sort of deal with the district attorney to make this problem go away. Yes, Fowler has job security in defending all these bunglings and we the taxpayers are paying for it.

What about problems that may have not been made public? Fowler may have passed the bar once upon a time, but he has yet to pass basic business and common sense 101. I vote for a firing rather than a salary cut. If I had paid someone twice for the same job, I would have been fired and I'm sure most everyone else would have the same happen to them in their jobs. Where’s Fowlers boss and what do they have to say about this? They should be fired for inaction. If I were Fowler I would have to fire myself for being such a bungler.

Thank God Fowler will be defending the county and commissioners against the district attorney, in the upcoming lawsuit brought by the district attorney. The district attorney is assured a win in this matter and the assistant district attorney is assured equitable pay! Congratulations! Justice prevails against the “legal system” in Gilmer for once!

If Fowler wants to prove his worth to Upshur County then he needs to find a way to stop the district attorney and succeed in lowering the assistant district attorneys salary since he does not think the position warrants 74K a year. A man as smart as him should be able to find the legal reasoning to defend his bold statements. After all, he is over educated for the requirements of a county judge, so the task should be simple for a person of his stature. Otherwise, I think Fowler needs to take a huge pay reduction or better yet resign his position if he is unable to back up his statements.

Wow --->"Give Fowler a Paycut..."

You're accusing Judge Fowler of being too educated for his position?

You must know someone in the DA's office.

Sometimes, I read the comments section of the Gilmer Mirror, and I really wish standardized tests were mandated for the right to vote.

Fowler thinks that $74K is too much for an assistant district attorney.... Well I would like to know what the worth of a County Judge Dean Fowler is since he approved a couple of thousand dollars worth of payments to Attorney Robert Bennett...TWICE. His excuse was he trust people.... Fowler, in his position, should be keeping files and records on these matters. He is suppose to be a responsible person in a responsible position. By these actions and others he is clearly asleep on the job. Yes, what I would call KICKBACKS for Bennett referring business to Fowler was deemed ok by the legal system, yet in private business it is considered illegal or not of ethical and moral character, he scaped past justice here. Fowler still should be removed from his position and or his salary cut drastically. If you had to go before Fowler do you really think you would get an honest hearing....it's doubtful. He protects his interest only. I hear Fowler makes about the same amount of money as the proposed salary for the assistant district attorney, plus health care benefits. If anyone’s salary should be cut it is Folwer's for being such a screw up. Like other comments have said, "Why is an Attorney playing County Judge when the County Judge position does not require a law degree or a degree in particular." I seem to remember a number of people in the County Judges position whom just had high school education. Is a law degree worth the same value of what a high school education was a few years back? Make your think doesn't it...... Anyway, cut Fowlers salary to about 25K-30K a year and we’ll see if he’s responsible enough to earn that much money. He’s clearly riding the back of the County on what he is getting paid now.