As a much younger editor/publisher, I learned that the only way to get across my personal thoughts and opinions was through a column.

This, I found, was the only way to counter attempts by those who would want to speak on my behalf. Those, typically, are people who haven’t met me, don’t know my political beliefs or give a rat’s behind who I am as a human being.

They are typically people with an agenda.

People like the Mean Girls, purveyors of a self-important, mean-spirited blog that derides anyone who has the gall to disagree with their beliefs. Case in point, a now-deleted Photoshopped image of three people with their heads in one another’s butts — the names of local politicians attached to them.

That image proved too crude and offensive for some of that blog’s own followers. It was pulled down after a feeble attempt to defend it as free speech.

While I don’t like giving this small group of disgruntled bloggers any ink whatsoever, I do have a very real problem with words literally being put in my mouth.

I’m referring to what may arguably be an attempt at humor — one that falls flat because it is neither funny nor ironic. It’s a post that includes my column photo with quote bubbles that include remarks I’ve never made, nor do I agree with.

Granted, the Mean Girls’ band of merry mischief-makers are fuming about last Wednesday’s Whidbey News-Times editorial with the self-explanatory headline, “Time was right for Dudley to move along.” That editorial agreed with the Oak Harbor City Council’s decision to replace Dudley on the Island Transit board of directors.

Among the quotes attributed to me on the blog post are, “It’s Scott Dudley’s fault. Dudley is a troublemaker and a bully;” “Accountability is an extinct word used by Mayor Dudley, dinosaurs, Neanderthals, simpletons and Republicans;” and, “Island County Democrats are very wise. They know what is best for Island County peasants.”

The fact of the matter is, the editorial was not penned by me, and it isn’t one I personally agree with. It is a newspaper opinion written by the News-Times editorial board, which was filling in for me Tuesday while I was knocked out cold and undergoing a medical procedure at Whidbey General Hospital.

Normally, I would remain quiet and own the newspaper’s opinion. Unsigned editorials are, in fact, the opinion of the newspaper as an institution, not necessarily the beliefs of one person on an editorial board.

However, in this instance, I think it’s necessary to point out the fact that the Mean Girls have made that classic error that comes from making assumptions.

You know the one.

Because of their assumption that I wrote this editorial, the Mean Girls made up offensive quotes and present them as my beliefs and opinions. They essentially present those quotes as fact on their blog.

Dangerous ground.

In my opinion — and, yes, this is MY opinion — these fake quotes are intended to disparage my reputation and hurt my creditability, inflame conservatives, divide public opinion, damage this newspaper as a business in this community and essentially drum up interest in their blog by manufacturing controversy.

I believe this latest attack on me by the Mean Girls is perhaps the worst kind of free speech — that which is based on lies and intended to incite discord and cause damage.

I am a believer in free speech. It’s part of the foundation of our great country. Free speech isn’t always pleasant, as the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled, but at the end of the day, Americans have proven time and again that it’s OK to agree to disagree and walk away friends.

But it’s not OK to lie and instigate.

In the case of Mayor Dudley, I personally had no problem with him continuing to serve on the Island Transit board. I may not agree with his approach at times, but I believe every government agency benefits from having someone who asks the tough questions in a public forum. I’ve been very transparent in my criticism of the IT board members who have made poor decisions and met in secret session to hire an interim executive director.

Those are the transit board members I would rather have seen step down or replaced.

As I’ve said before, if you want to know my politics, if you want to know what I believe, read my column, or ask me.

But don’t put words in my mouth, especially lies.

Keven R. Graves is executive editor and publisher of the Whidbey News Group. He can be reached by email at kgraves@whidbeynewsgroup.com