If Liberty Dispatch’s readers are ever asked what caused all of the questions about the integrity of District Attorney Mike Little to arise, we could give a one word answer, a two word answer, or an answer that names three of his friends that to some have linked him to a lack of integrity forever.
The one word answer is “politics”. Mike Little has been the most political District Attorney in memory, but unless you’re real involved in politics you may not have had an opportunity to witness it. When Little was appointed District Attorney over two decades ago the county politics were so lopsided in favor of the Democrats, Little never faced an opponent. All those years with no opponent are not by accident or dumb luck however. The District Attorney he replaced is the legendary W.G. “Dub” Woods. Woods went on to be an extraordinary District Judge whose reputation for upholding justice and the rule of law was totally untarnished when he retired after over three decades of public service. Judge Woods would undoubtedly be considered a conservative Republican these days, but no one would ever know it – he was too busy with the fulfilling his responsibilities to be political. Little and Judge Woods are very different. Unlike Little’s predecessor Little worked to perfect a carrot and stick approach to staying in office. He rewarded his friends and made new friends by using the power of his office to gain political favor. He punished or intimidated anyone who hinted at standing upon against him by using harsh realities a District Attorney can inject into any ambitious attorney’s career who dreams of being a D.A.
The word answer to what caused all of the questions about the integrity of District Attorney Mike Little to arise is “pet projects”. Little has leveraged his power and position to get huge increases in his budget along with tremendous amounts of “booty” from confiscating the belongings of convicted drug dealers – all money that is unaccounted for or “off the books” according to County Auditor Harold Seay. A District Attorney that is a political animal like Little will always devote most of their time to three main things. One thing is cases that will make them look good to the public. Another thing they will make a priority is cases that suck money in and add it to what the county allots them. And last but not least, they will use their time and resources to achieve their political goals. The public is just now being made aware of the fact that many times this District Attorney has different priorities than the public. He has had “pet projects’ that has caused him to ignore or pass the buck on many of the public’s concerns. He spends loads of his “extra” time, money, and resources on HIS priorities.
A discussion of three names would help to explain what has caused all of the questions about the integrity of District Attorney Mike Little. Chip Fairchild, Phil Fitzgerald, and Greg Arthur. For the purpose of this article we will only briefly review what HAS BEEN and what WILL BE talked about concerning Mike Little’s relationship and his obsession that involves these three men.
Endless allegations about the personal and professional conduct of veteran law enforcement officer Chip Fairchild have been ignored by this District Attorney for years. Of all of the allegations the one that really caused citizens to start talking openly about (and investigate) the unholy alliances between Chip and Russell Fairchild and officials in the courthouse was the land and cattle theft of rancher John Stockton. Little has made a political career out of avoiding conflicts with people like the well connected and well respected John Stockton, but not this time. The way Mike Little figured it, Chip Fairchild has been much too valuable to him and his pet projects for Little to allow him to be investigated. Little had no way of knowing that the protection he was giving dependable friend, Chip Fairchild might become known to the public. He had no way of knowing Chip Fairchild would present evidence that could lead to the indictment of another of Little’s friends, former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald. He had no way of knowing the public and the federal authorities began to learn some about what was going on in Little’s political “family” because of a difference in goals within.
Any hope of maintaining a level of respect from those who know what has been going on was lost by Mike Little when he chose to help former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald attack District Judge Chap Cain- in response to Judge Cain raising questions about the way FEMA contracts were being handled. Rather than look out for the taxpayers and look into the wheeling and dealing of his friend Phil Fitzgerald like any District Attorney should look forward to, Little influences newly elected County Attorney Wes Hinch to join him in passing on investigating and prosecuting all of the allegations surrounding Judge Fitzgerald. Instead, it is well known in the courthouse he has tried (unsuccessfully) to find evidence to indict Fitzgerald’s enemies.
The third name is Greg Arthur. Mike Little lost a handle on the Sheriff’s Department when voters sent Greg Arthur packing. The onslaught of political revelations and the bad press and campaign against former Sheriff Greg Arthur led by Liberty Dispatch caused Little to be “on board’ with an offensive and a very expensive pet project to “get” Ray Akins. Arthur injected himself into a private business dispute and Little has spent months trying to help him by finding something he can call a crime and prosecute his political family’s enemies. Little has had a great deal of help from his political allies at KSHN and I-dineout.com who have so muddled the reporting of what actually happened the public has little reason to understand the case. Rather than indict the people that committed a crime by forging names on checks and documents filed with the government, and rather than negotiate some kind of sentencing for those who were stealing money – Little has spent all kinds of money and time trying to persecute his political enemies and to exact revenge for Greg Arthur against Ray Akins.
Again, unfortunately for Mike Little, his routine of avoiding conflict with anyone powerful enough or rich enough or gutsy enough to not capitulate under the stress a District Attorney’s office can cause, was abandoned. Now at least three different groups of people have come forward and the public is now hearing for the first time what Mike Little has been doing for years.
In a time when we need to tighten our belts, nothing seems to stop Mike Little from opening up the purse he controls and using it try and paint a picture of who the bad guys are. His picture is much different than what the federal officials have painted. His picture is very different from what the voters have painted. With all of the power of his office and with KSHN and I-dineout.com, Mike Little is leading a charge. While he is doing that, the taxpayer is paying the bill. If we want a true picture of what is happening, maybe all of the spending on these pet projects should be put on his campaign reports.
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