Love calls negative ads “unfortunate”

By Kelly Tabor

Published: July 11, 2008

Enterprise developer Ronnie Gilley began running campaign ads Tuesday morning denouncing Jay Love as a “plain old liar”. The radio ads, which Gilley said he paid for himself, feature singer and Gilley disciple George Jones.

Republican candidate Jay Love, who is in a Tuesday runoff for the nomination for the 2nd Congressional District, said he is disappointed with the negative turn it has taken.

“I certainly dispute them,” Love told the Ledger. “I just learned that there’s another negative mailer ad by Senator (Harri Anne) Smith circulating saying ‘Jay Love will seize your home and property’. It’s not true and it’s unfortunate. I met George Jones once; and it was to ask if he’d take a picture with me!”

Gilley entered himself into this political boxing ring in part because he said he is looking to back the candidate who will support his Country Crossings project, a 150-acre entertainment and retail hub planned for Houston county. The venue will also feature bingo machines, an aspect that Jay Love has come out firmly against.

“It’s a very personal issue, close to my heart,” said Love. “My father was a compulsive gambler, and now he cousels people with that addiction.”

Love also said that when he was in the restaurant business, he had to terminate employees who pilfered money from the till to feed their bingo addictions.

“I believe in economic stimulation projects,” said Love. “But the expansion of gambling destroys people’s lives.”