Search the ArchivesNavigation Contact InformationThe Citizen Newspapers For Advertising Information Email us your news! For technical difficulties |
Mouth soap for Chance, Ramsey; Plunkett flees her votes Art Linkletter coined the phrase, “Kids say the darndest things.” To borrow from Mr. Linkletter, politicians also say the darndest things. Ga. Senator Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone) and Ga. Representative Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City) just keep talking themselves into a corner. They wrote their first letter before the upcoming legislative session extolling their righteousness on budgeting and taxation. In their letter to the editor, they say, “It bears repeating that this [adopting a balance FY 2010 budget in the last General Assembly] was accomplished without raising taxes, a path many other states have followed to balance their budgets.” They continue by declaring, “We are a state that lives within its means and thankfully does not engage in the irresponsible deficit spending practices of the federal government,” (Chance/Ramsey, The Citizen, 11-11-09). Someone needs to wash their mouths out with soap. Both Chance and Ramsey gladly accepted major allotments of federal cash in the billions from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to balance the state’s budget, a far cry from their “we did it all by ourselves” theme. They did not raise state taxes, but they did go on the federal welfare dole, the same program causing the deficit spending they say they abhor. Conservative Republicans? The prideful young politicians might get struck by lightning if they keep testifying they are not like the federal government. Perhaps the pair ought to start over, beginning with the virtue of honesty and take it from there. You had also better watch out when local politicians hire campaign consultants for a municipal election. Mayor Harold Logsdon was the first local candidate to do so, followed by mayoral candidate Cyndi Plunkett this year. The only reasons hired campaign consultants are brought into a municipal election are to hide past voting records, to assassinate the character of a political opponent and to talk around questions instead of answering them. Councilwoman Plunkett’s latest campaign email says, “... keeping our taxes low is at risk, and positive growth is at risk.” Thanks to Plunkett’s actions over the last four years, I would say her statement is right on target. Plunkett, a four-year incumbent, mailed two campaign postcards that contained no facts, an amazing feat for someone who voted on some huge issues. Obviously, the strategy from her hired consultant was omitting the voting record. In her 11-11-09 letter, a very bitter Plunkett lashed out at those who challenged her on her voting record saying, “Don Haddix aligned himself to Doug Sturbaum and refused to work with other council members.” Councilmen Haddix and Sturbaum chose to honor the wishes of the majority who elected them, not kowtowing to the developers and the self-serving Chamber of Commerce crowd, each councilman stating a logical rationale for following the city’s comprehensive land use plan. Therefore, please know, Ms. Plunkett, a large number of us applaud the fact they resisted the temptation to get on the Logsdon/Boone/Plunkett train to land use destruction. Plunkett continued her stern lecture with, “I voted within the comprehensive plan and the zoning.” Watch out for that lightning bolt. The Logsdon/Boone/Plunkett annexation of the Westside was the poorest execution of sucking land into our city limits ever witnessed. Not only did the annexation not meet the standards clearly set forth in the comprehensive land use plan, but it also left an 89-acre chunk of light industrial land — to be fought over later — in the middle of the residential annexation. The new upcoming big box shopping center she brags about negotiating on Ga. Highway 54 West was prohibited by city ordinance. The city’s ordinances kept the large Kohl’s and mega Costco stores out. However, it was the Logsdon/Boone/Plunkett squad granting an exemption to our big box ordinance that allowed a yet undetermined big box store and shopping center to land there. Even worse, Logsdon/Boone/Plunkett requested another traffic signal for the big box shopping center they exempted. This upcoming signal does not meet the engineering criteria for signal distances; expect ultra-congested traffic in the years to come. Please keep in mind that the Plunkett in the Logsdon/Boone/Plunkett squad who shrieked she was a “steward for fiscal responsibility” has, in only four years, set records for the highest rate of taxation, the highest rates on city fees and the highest level of city expenditures. Along with steep increases in taxation and fees, we have seen a precipitous drop in the level of city services. Likewise, her spending priorities included a payoff of $1.5 million in illegal debts from the old Development Authority, tens of thousands for an early morning bicycle race that few attended, and tens of thousands for fireworks when other cities and counties decided to cut back or find corporate sponsors. Those expenses resulted into a reduction of hours for library operations, large employee terminations, three-foot grass in public places, cut programs and depressed employee morale. She also approved an annexation on Ga. Highway 74 South when city staff told her the city would lose $60,000 to $70,000 providing services to the site. The Logsdon/Boone/Plunkett squad also gave their approval for city sewer to be run outside the city limits to a subdivision next to Starr’s Mill High School, possibly leading to future expansion of capacity into the county, the last thing we need. The crime rate has jolted upward in the last few years, check the FBI reports. If you are planning on living in Peachtree City for only couple of years, you could vote for either candidate; although, for those who plan on staying awhile, Don Haddix is your only choice. I disagree with Haddix on certain policies, but he does not put the city’s superior quality of life at risk. Plunkett’s hired spin doctor is not capable of generating enough spin to push her to victory. [Steve Brown is the former mayor of Peachtree City. Brown ran unsuccessfully against Ramsey for the District 72 post in December 2007. Brown can be reached at stevebrownptc@ureach.com.] login to post comments | Steve Brown's blog
|
Copyright 2010 - Fayette Publishing, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use Policy
Server 4
