In a sweltering community center — someone had ripped the copper out of the central air system — Vernon Jones criticized his primary opponent for sheriff, dumped on the media and physically avoided an interview.
Physically. Like turning his back to the reporter, who would then go around to his front, which would then become his back. And so on.
Vernon’s disdain — he’s not “Jones” but “Vernon,” a one-name commodity sort of like Cher — included but was not limited to a mouthed epithet that appeared to be directed at me, the AJC’s Bill Torpy.
The former Mr. CEO was attending a candidates’ forum at the Community Achievement Center in South DeKalb in hopes of pumping up his base, in part by debasing his opponent Jeff Mann (who was absent).
“They want the Mann to be there because the Mann will be what they tell it,” he said. “Do you want a sheriff who will tell it like it is or is what they tell it?”
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