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Fireman pens fiery letter By CHRIS BRISTOL ASHLAND -- A local firefighter has found himself on the hot seat for penning a politically motivated letter to the editor under a phony name. But what really has Eric Campbell in trouble isn't so much the name as the content -- and the timing. The controversy ignited last week when the Ashland Daily Tidings published a letter that criticized Bill Robertson, a local real estate agent and board president of the Jackson County Fire District. The letter, signed by "Joe Butler," accused Robertson of threatening to terminate medical response and shut down station No. 8 in south Ashland. Robertson is running against retired fire captain William Brickner in the March 9 vote-by-mail election. Ballots were mailed Friday. The newspaper later discovered that Butler was really Eric Campbell, a longtime employee of the fire district. Robertson cried foul, accusing Campbell of lying about more than just his name. He acknowledged that passage of tax-cutting Measure 5 led to some talk of cutbacks years ago, but denied ever supporting the closure of station No. 8 or reductions in service. Voters passed a levy in March of 1997 that eliminated any threats of budget cuts. Robertson said he has suspicions about Campbell's motivation but no proof. He said Campbell and Brickner are "good friends." "Ultimately, I can't say for sure why he wrote the letter," he said. "It's just so sad, so stupid." Brickner does not have a listing in the phone book and could not be reached for comment. He retired last year after a 20-year career with the fire district. Chief Dan Marshall also denounced the letter as "inaccurate" and "fraudulent," and said an internal investigation has been launched to determine whether Campbell violated any district rules. "At no time did Bill Robertson push for closing stations or doing away with emergency medical services," he said. In a brief interview Monday, Campbell insisted that even though the name Butler was fiction, the content was not. "There was nothing incorrect about it," he said. "It's all true. It's all in the records." Campbell said he used a phony name because he feared retaliation from Marshall and the board. He denied the letter was written on behalf of Brickner, Robertson's opponent. "I've been under the gun at that department before for speaking my mind," he said. Campbell said Marshall's investigation confirms his fears. "I guess I was right after all." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA