To the editor:

I am writing this letter to the Leader-Call, as I know that it has no chance of being published in Paul Barrett's newspaper, The Review.

As those who have read the recent issue of his paper are aware, his entire editorial was devoted to bashing Laurel Realtors, and their decision to return to the Leader-Call to publish the Real Estate Spotlight magazine.

To begin with, we (or at least I) were led to believe that the circulation would be superior to what we had in the past, and that did not happen. In the past when the Leader-Call published the Spotlight, my phone would begin to ring the day it was published with inquiries about my properties. This did not happen with the Review, in fact many of my clients asked me why we were not doing the Spotlight any more.

Now that the Leader-Call is publishing it again, my phone is again ringing in response to my ads.

My brokerage is small with limited funds available for advertising, and as a businessman Mr. Barrett should understand that one of the keys to success of any small business is to maximize expenditures, to get the most “bang for your buck”.

As to organizational and dysfunctional issues and condescending remarks Mr Barrett alludes to on the part of Laurel Realtors, I might point out that on several occasions ads that were counterproductive to the co-operatives objectives were published, once on the front page! Personally, my ads were published incorrectly for a month, and when I called to complain, the response was “you should have reviewed your proofs” (I never got any proofs to review).

Mr. Barrett, I thank you for agreeing to “help out” the Laurel Realtors, your help has greatly solidified my reasons to return to the Leader-Call.

— Paul Bourgeois, Broker/Owner

Southern Realty &

Appraisal Associates

Laurel