Gundovald Speaks

F is For Fat Redux

2006-09-06T18:05:00.000-04:00

Here's some perspective for a couple commentators in the other piece. I am quoting below from a May 22, 2006 article, "The Search for Sweet - Building a Better Sugar Substitute" published in The New Yorker. For what it's worth.

When Columbus introduced [sugar] cane to the New World, the antropologist Sidney Mintz has noted, sugar was an exotic luxury. Most Europeans had never eaten sugar, but they quickly developed a taste for it. By 1700, the Americas had become a vast sugar mill and the English were eating four pounds per person per year. By 1800, they were eating eighteen pounds; by 1900, ninety pounds. But nowhere was the rise of sugar as dramatic as in the New World. Last year, the average American consumed about a hundred and forty pounds of cane sugar, corn syrup, and other natural sugars - fifty per cent more than the Germans or the French and nine times as much as the Chinese.

F is for FAT

2006-08-31T01:02:00.000-04:00

WV ranks Third Fatest in the Nation. Remember the War on Hunger? We have a Winner!

2006-08-31T00:54:00.000-04:00

The creation of West Virginia — Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Heaven, God was missing for six days. Eventually, Michael the Archangel found Him, resting on the seventh day. He inquired of God, “Where have You been?” God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, “Look Michael, look what I’ve made!” Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, “What is it?” “It’s a planet,” replied God, and I’ve put life on it. I’m going to call it Earth, and it’s going to be a great place of balance.” “Balance?” inquired Michael, still confused. God explained, pointing to different parts of Earth, “For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth, while southern Europe is going to be poor.” God continued, pointing to different countries. “This one will be extremely hot and arid while this one will be very cold and covered in ice.” Michael, impressed by God’s work, then pointed to a large land mass and said, “What’s that one?” “Ah,” said God. “That’s West Virginia, the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful lakes, rivers, sunsets and mountains. “The people from West Virginia are going to be modest, intelligent and humorous and they are going to be found traveling the world. They will be extremely sociable, hard working and high achieving, and they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace.” Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, “What about balance, God? You said there would be balance!” God replied wisely, “Wait until you see the idiots I’m putting around them in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland!”

2006-08-18T00:49:00.000-04:00

What's your Theory of the Crime?

Theory 1: The proponents of keeping the picture up had it stolen so that they wouldn't lose in court. It will be anonymously returned after the legal case is disposed with.

Theory 2: The proponents of taking down the picture had it stolen because they knew that they wouldn't win in court and were hoping to end the issue

Theory 3: A BHS student or recent graduate removed the picture because he was tired of seeing all those T-shirts proclaiming that "You can't take my Jesus Down", and thought, "Oh yea, watch me!"

Theory 4: The friends of the federal judge had it removed so that she wouldn't have to make a decision that would alienate one side of the community in which she lives.

Theory 5: There was a Multi-county Emergency Communication Anti-terrorism Swat Team Drill the same day. This was a bogus Terrorist Act played by the participants who were just having fun. Ransom note to follow.

Theory 6: This was an inside job. The window was broke and a chair left outside to confuse the investigators. The picture is hid in the ceiling

Theory 7: This was an outside job. Someone just got tired of hearing otherwise intelligent adults carrying on and on about something stupid and thought he'd punish everyone by denying them a continued good time by removing the picture.

Theory 8: This is my favorite. The Resurrection Theory. Guess how this one plays out?

Theory 9: They'll wait three days; put it back on the wall and proclaim a miracle. More money will come flowing-in for the lawyers.

Theory 10: Some weary citizen doesn't care one way or another about the picture; he just got fed up listening to the media everyday when a certain self-righteous member of the Board of Education would just go on and on and on and on.

2006-08-16T22:23:00.000-04:00

Let us Now Praise Famous Men

Alan Mollohan will attend the Clarksburg City Council on Thursday so he can be praised for all that he has done to Clarksburg. Let's hope the Mayor proclaims that the Waldo building shall hence forth be known as the "Mollohans" and the old Palace building might be called the , "Alan did it for the People" building. His earmarks bought those buildings through Vandalia and it would be very Byrd-like to reap the public acclaim for this progressive use of down town real estate.

How nice it would be if his protege, ex-employee and beach home neighbor would acompany him to Clarksburg to finally reveal what their development plans are for their City properties, including their downtown garage off Washington. Ms Kuhns has been out of the lime-light of late and we miss her insight on all the fine work Vandalia has been doing for Clarksburg.

Al and Laura were the inspiration for the new parking facility on Pike Street. With assured parking there was no stopping the future of the Waldo Building. So the City moved ahead. They're still waiting at the alter.

Hopefully, other owners of vacant property will receive equal recognition from the City Council. This would be a good time to kick around that Wilmington, DE idea of charging property owners exorbitant fees for not having tenants. If it was to be $500 fine for an empty house, just think of what revenue could be reaped for Mollohan's buildings. But that committee is still working on their proposal.

On the other hand, maybe it is just the political season and the good Dems in City Council believe they better do a PR version of greasing the palm in the hope of getting something out of Mollohan that would be actually useful later on. You know, paying the public relations piper. $23 Million is estimated for the road from Rt 19 to US RT 50 - RT 98. Wouldn't it have been nice to have received 10% of the Federal dollars that went to the new Faimont connector from I-79 to down-town? That has yet to be finished. It is good that Mollohan has got around to thinking about Clarksburg.

2006-08-14T12:53:00.000-04:00

Blankenship's hit list fires back

The West Virginia Democratic Party -- and even a few Republicans and Independents -- plan to counterattack Massey Energy Chief Don Blankenship's attempts to influence this year's election.

2006-08-11T10:35:00.000-04:00

Watch for the Perseid Meteors Aug. 11-13

A 'Shooting Star' Every Few Minutes

This chart shows how the Perseids might appear to a person looking northeast at 11PM local time in mid-August. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, from which they get their name.

2006-08-11T10:09:00.000-04:00

New Indiana License Plate will cause a Stir

I like it.

2006-08-06T17:07:00.000-04:00

Contribute to the Legal Defense of Official Petulance Since I was emailed this, I assume it is an invitation to publish the same, regardless of my opposition to the notion that a government employee (principal) is expressing his personal religious preference and is attempting to turn it into public policy in a venue where children of all backgrounds are mandated by law to spend part of their life. And neither the Board of Education or the Supervisors have the leadership to remind a subordinate that in the secular world we are all subordinate to the law.

Learning about the First Amendment from a Federal Court can be an expensive choice in advancing one's education. The tuition is excessive and can be learned with less trouble by picking up a few books. The information you need to contribute is on Gundovald's Annex, here. Good Luck and God Bless!

2006-08-02T21:35:00.000-04:00

Here's Don Blankenship's latest Email with Video Link
Video uses footage of Dems Rally at Harrison-Marion Airport

Dear supporter of West Virginia's kids, Thanks to the thousands of visitors we have had on our www.andforthesakeofthekids.com website in only two weeks. Our message of protecting our children and providing them an education and opportunities to live and work in West Virginia is being received even better than we had hoped.

An extra special thanks to all of the volunteers that have helped us reach thousands of homes across the state. We will be coming to your neighborhood soon, so please let us know if you can volunteer to help us spread the word in your community.

The announcement of our campaign received a great deal of attention and even a response from the West Virginia Democrat Party Chairman (which we fortunately captured on video with our AFTSOTK Freedom Camera). Please click here to view our first web commercial highlighting the goals of the And for the Sake of the Kids effort and the truth about what the politicians don't want you to know.

Thanks again and please visit our website again soon as we will be constantly adding more information and new items.

Don Blankenship Sprigg, West Virginia don@andforthesakeofthekids.com

2006-08-01T19:15:00.000-04:00

Wakim Responds to Democratic Smear Campaign

“For those of you who are not aware, over the last few days, Alan Mollohan and his Democratic cronies have launched a despicable attack on my honor and on my integrity. He has called into question whether or not I have a Master’s Degree from Harvard (which I do) and my military service record. I am making the records for both my education and my military service available for any and all to see.

“Alan Mollohan’s campaign tactics match his finances: dishonorable and underhanded. For a politician like Alan Mollohan, who has spent his time as a public servant lining his pockets with laundered taxpayer money, to question my integrity is beyond the pale.

“I earned my Master’s Degree from Harvard University at night while serving my country as an active duty infantry officer during the day, and any attempt by Alan Mollohan or his cronies to discredit that achievement is disgraceful. Anyone who would like to come to Wheeling and take a picture of me with the diploma that I received from Harvard is cordially invited to do so.

“Alan Mollohan has also attempted to claim that I have lied about my military service and that I am not a veteran. I am not a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and I have never claimed to be. During the Persian Gulf War, I served as an active duty infantry officer and according to the law, that makes me a Veteran of the Persian Gulf War.

“Along with so many of my brothers-in-arms, I served our country honorably for 11 years as an active duty infantry officer, and as a result of that service I suffered a broken back, crushed elbow and a reconstructed knee. For him to attack my honor in such a despicable way is an attack on the honor of all who served our country in uniform.

“Alan Mollohan’s attempt to discredit my record is nothing but a dirty political smoke screen to try to cover up the fact that he has spent years in public office lining his pockets with taxpayer dollars and that he is under investigation by the FBI.”

2006-07-28T00:47:00.000-04:00

He is his own lawyer .....?

The Harrison County Commissioners have been advertising for a county Administrator. They seek someone who has a degree in Masters of Public Administration and also prefers the candidate to have a law degree.

Why the law degree? Some of the commissioners know arithmetic. The outgoing Administrator had been appointed from the Prosecutor's office. And wasn't it handy that they could exploit his law degree to also provide them with legal advice and to have him draw up legal documents rather than farming out the work to some local law firm or keeping some lawyer around on retainer?

The sense of thrift among the Commissioners is admirable. But when we get through admiring them let's do some analysis and begin by recalling to mind the adage that ends in the phrase, "has a fool for a client".

What is the reason for legal counsel, anyway? The Commissioners need a detached, unbiased legal view on some matters that may be at odds with what an Administrator would like them to hear. The Administrator also needs access to legal advice, even if he, himself, is a lawyer because given the daily flux, chaos, confusion and fog of the job, a dispassionate legal view may provide a much needed pellucid perspective on some hot topics to restore the Administrator's confidence, control and business sense when things seem to be getting beyond his daily reach. There is an honest broker point of view that will be denied to the next Administrator and the Commissioners if they pursue this false economy. Keep in mind that they also want this guy to be a Strategic Planner. When does he do this if he is also the guy in charge overseeing daily events, personnel matters, budget issues, preparing for the next commissioners meeting, and doing his and the commissioners legal work? There is not enough time in the day for the Administrator to get good at anything based upon the criteria of the job announcement. Was there a strategic plan produced from the last person holding the job? The next guy won't be producing one either. Here's an idea for the Commissioners. The Board of Education has legal counsel giving advice which they then promptly ignore. Have the Board of Education loan you their guy.

2006-07-28T00:15:00.000-04:00

IF I had a Vote Bridgeport's Doug McKinney would Get It!

The race for the Chairmanship of the State GOP has been heating up. Some Bloggers have been having a field day with who loves Reagan or Lincoln more between the two candidates. The other candidate is the County Chairman of Randolph County, Mark Scott. The GOP meets this weekend in Charleston. Saturday at 6 P.M., we should have an answer.

Big issue for the Republicans is how to pay a large debt that got out of control during the last race for Governor.

Doug's big sin is that he gave a few bucks to some local Democratic candidates. This is WV. Who hasn't? At least he's willing to talk to and influence the other side. Pragmatism and reasonableness should be a virtue.

2006-07-26T22:10:00.000-04:00

Jobs in and around C'Burg: Tell your lazy-a*s Friends to Apply

Electrical Worker

Clarksburg	Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center	07/18/2006 to 08/07/2006
Duties: The incumbent is responsible for installing, modification, troubleshooting, repairing, and the maintenance of all electrical systems and equipments at the Medical Center. This includes the primary and secondary distribution systems, all emergency generators, transfer switches, transformers, high and low voltage switchgear, AC and DC motors, all lighting in the buildings and outside, all battery powered equipment and related battery charges. He/she plans and layouts complete electrical installations using all established codes and ordinance for this locale. He/she will work from bu...
Click here for more information...

Food Service Worker
Clarksburg	Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center	07/21/2006 to 08/10/2006
Duties: The incumbent serves patients by placing food items on trays on tray assembly line. On tray line works as assembler, beverage server, or loader at any meal, or as a server on milk/juice station at breakfast. Sets up and replenishes serving stations with necessary supplies, food and beverage items, dish ware, and serving utensils. Participates in daily tray line conference to discuss food items and portion sizes. Thoroughly cleans station after each serving period. Reads and comprehends menus, diet cards, and established procedures to serve correct food items and beverages.&nb...
Click here for more information...

Laundry Machine Operator
Clarksburg	Department Of Veterans Affairs	07/21/2006 to 07/28/2006
Duties: Runs laundry machines used for a variety of special purposes. Treats laundry articles with special solvents such as water repellent and flame retardant. Adjusts amounts used for effect of differences in water temperatures, timing cycles and types of fabric. Loads machines based on capacity of equipment, type of laundry treatment and type of fabric. Weighs load. Adjusts loads or equipment for load weights. Operates different types of laundry equipment. Sets a number of machine controls for a variety of cleaning purposes, including laundering, dying, starching, or trea...
Click here for more information...

MEDICAL TECHNICIAN
Clarksburg, WV	Delegated Examining Unit WV	07/19/2006 to 07/27/2006
Duties: Incumbent is responsible for independently performing a variety of difficult and complex laboratory procedures and examinations within various disciplines of clinical laboratory. Additional duties include accessioning of patient specimens into the laboratory information system, instruction of patients in the collection of blood, urine and stool samples, and the collection of blood specimens by venipuncture and/or finger-stick techniques. Testing methodologies are employed by the incumbent within the disciplines of: Chemistry - Protein electroph...
Click here for more information...

ASSISTANT CHIEF, PHARMACY SERVICE
Clarksburg	Department Of Veterans Affairs	07/21/2006 to 07/28/2006
Duties: Assistant Chief, Pharmacy Service for Veteran Clientele.Clarksburg, approximate population of 18,000 citizens, is located at the center of West Virginia’s I-79 High Tech Corridor which is anchored on the north by Morgantown, Home of West Virginia University, a Carnegie Foundation Research Institution Morgantown was recently rated the best small city in America. Other regional high technolo...
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AUTOPSY ASSISTANT
Clarksburg, WV	Delegated Examining Unit WV	07/21/2006 to 07/31/2006
Duties: The Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia is an acute and intermediate secondary care facility offering medical, surgical and psychiatric services. The Center provides a wide range of primary care medical services, including outpatient care, preventive services and acute hospitalization....
Click here for more information...
Autopsy Assistant
Clarksburg	Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center/05	07/14/2006 to 08/03/2006
Duties: This position is organizationally placed in the Laboratory Department, Diagnostic Services. The incumbent is responsible for assisting the pathologist in the performance of autopsies, and to collect blood specimens from both inpatients and outpatients by venipuncture. The incumbent is expected to cover a weekend rotation.Incumbent performs the full variety of technical autopsy procedures involved in typical autopsy examinations. In addition, he/she typically performs preparatory and miscellaneous duties necessary to the autopsy procedure and maintenance of the autopsy area....
Click here for more information...

County Executive Director
Northern West Virginia	West Virginia State FSA Office	07/17/2006 to 08/04/2006
Duties: Responsible for directing and managing program and administrative operations of the County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office as required to carry out authorized commodity production, price support, conservation, administration, common program provisions, GIS (geographic Information Systems), SCIMS (Service Center Information management System), compliance, outreach activities, program eligibility and environmental quality, indemnity, disaster, emergency, defense and related programs as well as crop insurance operations under policies established by Risk Management Agency (RMA). Duties include performing offi...

2006-07-24T01:19:00.000-04:00

Wolfe: Rahall's vote on Israel a 'slap in the face' Cabell County Sheriff Kim Wolfe, a Republican who faces 15-term incumbent Nick Joe Rahall, a Democrat from Raleigh County, in the fall responded to Rahall's vote on Thursday in the House.

Rahall, one of four Lebanese-American House members, was one of eight members of the House of Representatives to vote against a resolution backing Israel's military drive into Lebanon against the terrorist group Hezbollah.p

The resolution passed 410-8.

Wolfe said southern West Virginians need to bring Rahall to accountability for voting against Thursday's resolution.

2006-07-24T00:58:00.000-04:00

Federal Judge in Clarksburg Allows Muslin Couple's Lawsuit to Proceed

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A federal judge decided on Wednesday that a Muslim couple's civil rights lawsuit may proceed but without two of the four claims. The two remaining counts claim the couple's civil rights and First Amendment right to associate with whomever they choose were violated.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in December 2004 on behalf of Aliakbar and Shahla Afshari, who claim that they were illegally fired from their jobs with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's facility in Morgantown.

The Afsharis, who are Shiite Muslims and natives of Iran, were fired May 5, 2004, because they failed to pass a secret background investigation that was conducted on employees from countries considered a threat to the United States, including Iran, according to the lawsuit. Click on Headline Link for the entire story.

2006-07-20T02:20:00.000-04:00

"Our State and Our Votes Are Not For Sale"

That's the message from the WV Democratic Headquarters in their press release. Wonder if they are over-reacting to the desire of Blankenship to fund opposition candidates in the Fall election?

The plan: Get a plane; make a 5 city stop around the state; get a motivational speaker to say the state is not for sale; this results in an aroused and high motivated populus to take the party to Victory in the general election.

Nick Casey, I take it, is a motivational speaker. Don't know him. Others might have drawn a larger crowd. They should have got Jay Rockefeller as speaker. He has convinced many West Virginians that the State is not For Sale. Or, Alan B. Mollohan could provide some insight into the way money may corrupt politics. (I don't recall if the Manchin family is better off than I - Ok, they live in a better house). There are lessons to be learned; both by the would-be-teachers as well as the prospective students. So, come out to the airport Thursday at noon and have some fun. Oh, and if you have any Warner Sallmans' around ... take a portrait with you to Bridgeport so everyone will know that God has adopted your cause.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2006 Contact Nick Casey: 304-345-2000 (Charleston) Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey announced that he will launch a 5 city fly-around tour to show Don Blankenship that our state and our votes are not for sale. Chairman Casey announced the tour following published remarks by Don Blankenship promising to spend millions or "whatever it takes" to defeat legislators that he doesn't like. The tour has three main purposes according to Chairman Casey. "We'll be delivering post cards at each stop so that West Virginians of all parties can send a message directly to Don Blankenship," said Casey. "That message is simply, you can't by our votes, our integrity or our legislators. West Virginia is not for sale, Don." "Second, we'll be delivering a little 'truth serum' as the antidote for Mr. Blankenship's distortions and misrepresentations about members of the legislature." "And finally, since many people don't know much about who Mr. Blankenship is or what he stands for, we'll be letting people know who the real Don Blankenship is," said Chairman Casey. For example, "In October of 2004, in response to criticism that he was using the plight of poor hungry children to advance his political causes, Mr. Blankenship said "he will start a foundation also called 'And for the Sake of the Kids' to 'provide needed clothing and other necessities to the most needy children of West Virginia.' (Charleston Gazette, October 15, 2004). In that article he pledged to raise an amount 'similar' to what he spent in the 2004 election. At last count that was about $3.1 million," said Casey. "Our question to Dan Blankenship is simple. Where you serious about that pledge or did you just use the image of suffering children to advance your political empire?" said Casey. "If hungry children can't take Don Blankenship at his word," said Casey, how can we? The tour schedule is as follows: Martinsburg 10:00 413 South Raleigh Street Clarksburg 12:15 Clarksburg Airport Wheeling 2:00 Independence Hall Beckley 4:15 Beckley Airport Charleston 5:15 Capital Steps Where: KCI Aviation at the Harrison Marion Airport 2100 Aviation Way Bridgeport, WV (Enter at the first blue building on the left at the sign that reads "Learn Flying Here") WHY: Because WEST VIRGINIA IS NOT FOR SALE

2006-07-18T09:59:00.000-04:00

No Lack of Case Law as it Applies to Government Employees

Is there a lack of case law on the rights of government employees with respect to the First Amendment? Mike Queen says on the Tim Brady Show this morning that there is a lack of case law. He heard it from the organization's lawyers who are offering to argue the Board's position in Sklar v Harrison County (read it here) for "free". Aside from the agenda that these organizations have, one wonders about their understanding of case law.

There is a complimentary and inverse relationship between the rights of the individual and the claimed rights of government employees acting in an official capacity. As the individual rights are enumerated in case law it implicitly limits the claimed rights (privileges) of the government employee who would otherwise interfere with the exercise of that individual's rights.

In other words, if the court says that I have a constitutional right, then it also means that you, as employed by the government, do not have a privilege to violate that right. The balance shifted. The individual's rights increased. The claimed rights of the government were diminished. So, for instance, if I have a right as a parent to provide religious guidance to my child, you, as the local government manager in a school, do not have the privilege of doing an end run around my religious preference to impose your personal view on my child.

2006-07-18T03:08:00.000-04:00

Clinton says he would have died for Israel

WASHINGTON: Former US President Bill Clinton who many Arab thoughts was more even-handed on the Palestine question than his predecessors shocked many when he asserted in Toronto last week that had Israel been attacked by Iraq or Iran during his presidency, he would have been ready to “grab a rifle, get in a ditch and fight and die.” “The Israelis know that if the Iraqi or the Iranian army came across the Jordan River, I would personally grab a rifle, get in a ditch, and fight and die,” Clinton told the crowd at a fund-raising event for a Toronto Jewish charity Monday.

Old Bill is shocking a lot of us. Where was he in '67 - '72? Turns out that Bill always wanted to be a veteran - just not of the US Army.

2006-07-17T01:57:00.000-04:00

French Plan to Save Earth

Thank You, Lord! I'll be able to sleep tonight!

2006-07-17T01:46:00.000-04:00

Ain't Science Wonderful?

In a new study, 13 mothers were asked to sniff soiled diapers belonging to both their own child and others from an unrelated baby. The women consistently ranked the smell of their own child's feces as less revolting than that of other babies.

But, on the other hand, isn't this the same thing we do with our politicians? You think yours is OK and it is the other guy's politician who stinks.

2006-07-17T00:41:00.000-04:00

Senator Byrd gets another Honor and Plaque after securing $3.6M to refurbish the B&O Martinsburg Railroad Center.

The Senator's Greatness is compared to Cicero, Daniel Webster and Sir Thomas Moore. Thankfully, someone read the First Amendment just before he arrived and an exaggerated comparison with the deity was avoided.

2006-07-16T23:16:00.000-04:00

What's Jim Hunt Ashamed of?

Ever since Jim became the president of the National League of Cities he's been saying it's not about him, it's all about the City of Clarksburg and Harrison County. It is the tradition of past presidents of the NLC to hold the summer conference in their home town.

Is Jim holding his conference in his home town? NO. Is he holding it in Harrison County? NO. Where's he holding it? Southern Lewis County!!

President Jim's theme for the year is "Inclusive Communities". Hey! How about "INCLUDING" your home County and City? Jim, have you ever heard of the Greater Clarksburg Convention and Visitor's Bureau? Use them! Why haven't they set this whole package up? Should we guess that you think it is not a good idea to show off the town that you have helped govern for over 20 years?

But here's Jim's clever idea. Flood the city streets with city equipment for an hour and half on Friday night. Bus the attendees into Clarksburg to look at equipment and then drive them back out to Stonewall Jackson.

Do you think they'll notice that we are all white people? What about the inclusiveness piece that Jim thinks will make him famous? Oops! The minority community of Harrison County is only about 2%. They are easy to include if you can find them. It is unclear if any will be bussed in Friday to serve as a backdrop to Jim's international self-made claim to fame.

2006-07-14T15:25:00.000-04:00

Blankenship Launches new effort to Target Legislators this Election

Article in the Charleston Daily Mail.

2006-07-13T12:08:00.000-04:00

Help Wanted

Raese fires second campaign manager

Tom Hamm, Raese’s campaign manager since May, was told to turn in his keys and campaign credit card and leave the campaign’s downtown Charleston headquarters Tuesday.