In your excellent lead article in the Jan. 20 issue on the subject of the proposed Pinehurst well-field protection ordinance, there is a statement on page A9 that the Pinehurst Civic Group “has provided major political support for [Mayor Steve] Smith and some other council members.” This is absolutely untrue. As president of the Pinehurst Civic Group, I must set the record straight on this matter.

The Pinehurst Civic Group is a nonprofit corporation under North Carolina law. It has an exemption from the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Articles of Incorporation specifically provide that we are prohibited from endorsing or providing support to candidates for public office. This is also prohibited by the N.C. law provisions under which we are organized and the provisions of the IRC under which we hold our exemption.

There are no circumstances whatsoever under which we would take any action in violation of the legal provisions or requirements under which we are bound by law to operate, nor have we ever done so in the past.

John L. Naylor Jr

President

Pinehurst Civic Group

Pinehurst