Here is my reply to Mayor Lenox.

Dear Mayor Lenox,

Thank you for responding to my e-mail concerning the “No Vote, No Voice” comment.

I certainly do not disagree with you regarding points (1) and (6).

With respect to the remaining points, I do not agree with your position and I consider your remarks (2) through (5) as political arrogance.

Remark (2). Yes, as a free citizen he or she has the right not to vote. Since you will only listen to one who has voted, what about the tax-paying resident who is not eligible to vote due to factors other then age, such as resident aliens. Since my wife is a resident alien, does this mean she does not have a voice and does not count?

Remark (3). For you as an elected official to say that you have the right to choose the voices you will listen to is the height of arrogance. Yes, you have the right and obligation to decide what weight you will give to their input, but you do not have the right to arbitrarily and capriciously ignore anyone you choose to.

Remark (4). I did not say that only taxpayers' opinions are valid. I said that they have the right to be heard and that their opinion is just as valid, or invalid, whether he voted or not in any given election. You then go on to say that all citizens' opinions have validity regardless of whether they pay taxes or not. How do you equate that statement with your position that if they don't vote they don't count?

Remark (5). If it was only disgust I would more then support your position, but you have carried it one step too far and that amounts to arrogance on the part of an elected official. Again, all citizens and resident aliens have a voice and count and you have an obligation to listen and the freedom to disagree or agree.

I find it quite interesting that you did not answer my question as to whether a resident alien has a voice and does he or she count.

Will you ask an individual who is addressing the City Council and who is not on the voter list, whether he or she is a resident alien? Will you also ask why a given individual did not vote? Will it occur to you that there may have been a valid reason why that person did not vote?

I think perhaps you should reconsider having a voter list in front of you at City Council meetings because I can assure you that everyone I have talked to disagrees with your comments, and most of them have said “Who does he think he is!”

Richard Downing
Peachtree City

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