On Oct. 27, we can’t send Obama, Pelosi and Harry Reid packing, but we can change the big-spending political culture of Franklin. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) are set to implement the $100,000,000 Streetscape and the $60,000,000 New City Hall. Considering the declining sales tax revenue (the unemployment rate has doubled in less than 3 years to 9.8% and climbing) and the greatly diminishing building impact fees resulting from the housing meltdown, means that property taxes  MUST rise dramatically to pay for pretty roads downtown. By the way, has the city spent anything to refurbish your street?

Since the new Police Station is much bigger than City Hall, which currently houses the police, why not simply make the new police station the new city hall? Do the police need 3 times the space? Will we triple the size of the police force?

By electing Thomas Smithson, Gary Neal, and myself, Scott Ware, we’ll have the votes on BOMA, along with Ann Petersen and Dana McClenden  to end the profligate spending. Furthermore, the other at-large alderman candidates will feel the shifting political winds and may get on the cut-spending bandwagon.

My opponents in Ward 3 are all intelligent, dedicated and likable men, but all 3 stated in the 9/21 debate (go to franklintn.gov click Channel 10, and week of Oct. 18 for replays of the debate which airs almost every day and night) that they would build the New City Hall and fund Streetscape. We all support wider roads, better water and resolution to the Superior Essex problem, etc. If you want more downtown spending, vote for any of them; if you want lower property taxes, vote for me.

Less than 9% of registered voters voted in the ward alderman race 4 years ago, but I’m guessing 100% of people getting city contracts voted. Furthermore, they asked their friends and neighbors to vote for so-in-so because he is “fiscally responsible,” which is more palatable than, “He’ll raise your taxes to give me more govt. work.”

Please examine the candidates positions, vote, and encourage everyone you know to do likewise. If not, it’s the “same old, same old.”

Scott Ware

www.scottware2009.com

Editor’s Note: WCYR does not endorse candidates in primaries or nonpartisan elections.  We encourage members to learn about all candidates and get involved in the campaign of your choice.

Due to circumstances beyond our control that meeting room may no longer be available on a regular basis.

Suggestions? Do you have ideas on a convenient, tasty place where we could reserve a room each month?  It would need to be available on the 2nd Thursday of each month from approximately 6 to 9pm.

Send your ideas to Chairmen Dustin Dunbar.