MORGANTON
Congressional candidate Anne Fischer says former campaign manager Will Bigger did not resign from her staff.
Fischer, a Democrat running for the 10th U.S. House District seat, said she dismissed Bigger.
She calls his allegations "less than honest" and his comments were actually about himself.
"Truth be told ... I had to cut Mr. Bigger loose from the campaign because of inappropriate behavior and diminished capacity which was deleterious to my campaign efforts."
Bigger, who had worked for Fischer in her unsuccessful run for Congress in 2004, left the campaign on March 2. He said he resigned.
"I thought Anne's response was awesome; just what I had anticipated," Bigger said Thursday.
Bigger questioned Fischer's ethics and her commitment when he announced he was no longer part of her campaign. He called her "unfit to serve."
In a statement issued Thursday, Fischer said the public should know the truth about Bigger.
"He is a troubled soul coming from a troubled background and refuses to take responsibility for his problems," she said.
She said she tried to help him with eviction from his rental home last year.
"I paid his back rent and utilities; kept his telephone going which then became the campaign phone. I bought him some clothes and even a pair of tires," she said.
Fischer said Bigger is a college dropout, "and his life was going nowhere," until she gave him the opportunity to work for her.
She took issue with Bigger's criticism of her personal beliefs.
"While I don't pretend to be a saint, though I think the saints are there supporting me, it is interesting to note Mr. Bigger's statement about my wanting to 'raise the consciousness of the district,' implying somehow that would be a bad thing," Fischer said.
"Well, I have spent many years working to raise my own consciousness and the pursuit has been nothing less than good ... the eminent goal of what I believe is simply practicing the Golden Rule."
As for Bigger's contention that Fischer wouldn't listen to his and the campaign staff's suggestions, she said, "I am solely responsible for my campaign and any advice or suggestions are just that. I stand on my record of service and professionalism."
"I literally laughed out loud," Bigger said about Fischer's rebuttal. "This also keeps the focus away from the real issues in that campaign.
"I'm glad the Democrats in the 10th District have a contested primary in this race. Further, I am glad to be in South Carolina (his home)," he said.
A second campaign worker, Brandon Greeson, quit on March 5, citing personal and professional issues stemming from Bigger's departure.
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