I congratulate local real estate agent Kay Lloyd for speaking out in the newspaper. It is not the first time someone has expressed their dislike of me discussing the issues and people who shape them, and there are certain special interests who would like to see me gone for good.

I gratefully record my obligation to all those who have contributed to the public forum with suggestions, criticisms and information for public consumption. Public and political speech has not only shaped our nation, but it also created our national identity.

Just try pointing out bad government or corruption in Russia, Iran, China or many other nations around the world. Those who have tried have been imprisoned or killed. So, yes, indeed, we live in a wonderful nation grounded in liberty and freedom.

Even though I would not use Ms. Lloyd as my real estate agent, I would certainly fight for her right for free and open speech, whether she likes me or not.

I will respectfully disagree with Ms. Lloyd’s remarks about my using “distortions and mischaracterizations” in my opinion letters. Ms. Lloyd only made the accusation, but failed to supply any examples. Hence, if someone were to make such a claim and failed to provide a rational argument in support, the person could be accused of “distortions and mischaracterizations” as well.

There is also respectfully disagreement on Ms. Lloyd being part of the “silent majority” as many in the local tennis scene have told me my ears should be burning.

My complaints have favored the “ignored majority” in our community. These are the ones, when polled by the city years ago, who did not rank the tennis center expansion in the top 20 of recreation projects they wanted to build, but the city sneaked it through the Development Authority and did it anyway.

You will find the ignored majority in Peachtree City voted for promised tax cuts that never materialized.

Yes, the ignored majority gave the largest recorded citizen response in the city’s history in saying they did not want “big box” retail stores. Their desire was even written into ordinance form. However, the ignored majority watched as the City Council sold city property to a developer and granted him an exception so he could build several big box stores.

The ignored majority voted overwhelmingly to pass a tax exemption for low-income seniors living in Peachtree City, but the City Council has raised taxes every year since then and failed to increase the exemption, leaving these particular seniors in worse shape than before.

The ignored majority does not want the Fayette County Commissioners (or any other government body) to relax their residential development standards because developers say they need more houses per acre.

The ignored majority in Peachtree City and Tyrone will not like it when they find out the purpose of the Fayetteville West Bypass (currently underway) is designed to funnel traffic from new and existing developments in and around Fayetteville onto Ga. Highway 74, which will bog down our commutes to a crawl.

The ignored majority would like the truth instead of the fabrication. For example, most people think the Development Authority loans scandal was the first time the state law regarding city owned venues was violated.

Most people will be surprised to learn the exact situation occurred during the last years of Mayor Fred Brown’s administration with the amphitheater.

During the city’s research in a lawsuit regarding the Tennis Center, I had copies made of city documents describing how the amphitheater was rebuilt after a serious fire.

The old amphitheater was nothing like it is today. Much more money was required than the tiny insurance settlement to build the nice facility we have today. The handwritten notes from the city manager on the rebuilding project were entitled “Creative Financing,” and city documents showed how the city was soliciting banks for loans to build a bigger amphitheater.

An agreement with a bank was made without a vote of the citizens as required by state law. The only way state law would allow a local government to borrow from a bank for such a project was via tax anticipation notes, which require a public voter referendum. The state does not allow creative financing options to keep the local governments out of trouble and the citizens informed.

The big lie surrounding the project was the reconstruction costs were being covered by an insurance claim payment. However, common sense would tell you it is impossible to build a venue of much more value with the insurance proceeds from an inferior structure.

Luckily, that city council was bailed out when the state insurance commissioner sent a much larger than expected annual insurance premium tax check (based on the amount of premiums recorded in the area) to the city. The city used those funds to pays off the loans.

This is the importance of open government with a sense of history. If citizens had more access to government during the amphitheater reconstruction, we probably would have avoided the Development Authority illegal loans scandal. Instead, we suffered one dishonest move after another.

I urge you to watch Ben Stein’s new documentary “Expelled” and become champions of free speech and open government.

You can accept the failures in government or you can work to transform them. Study the issues, make your voice heard and make informed choices in the election booth.

Steve Brown

stevebrownptc@ureach.com

Peachtree City, Ga.

[Brown is the former mayor of Peachtree City (2001-2005)]