Sat
Feb 3 2007
02:38 pm
Meanwhile in Blount Co., Mayor tells citizens to put a sock in it
By: R. Neal

The Blount Co. Mayor knows how to deal with annoying citizens who think they ought to have a say in public affairs.

This is the same guy who wanted to ban the public from addressing county commission meetings and now wants cameras removed, and who wouldn't debate his opponent in the last election.

He's a real statesman.

UPDATE: SayUncle has a different term for "statesman." He's also ready to head down there with his "red Sharpie."

Topics:
Number9's picture

Convention Center?

Submitted by Number9 on Sat, 2007/02/03 - 4:34pm.

What happened?

Is the new Convention Center straining the budget? I hope your guys haven't been hanging around with our guys. Ours are a bad influence.

If we were kids your mom would tell you to stay away from the Knox County politicos. And she would ground you if she caught you hanging around with them.

mrvlknxor's picture

Blount Co. has no money in Arts Center

Submitted by mrvlknxor on Sun, 2007/02/04 - 12:15am.

I don't believe the "Convention Center" is straining Blount County's budget since they are not contributing to it. It's actually a Performing Arts facility at Maryville College which the College, Maryville, Alcoa, the State of Tennessee and the Federal Government are financing. No contribution is coming from Blount County.

As a native of Blount County and now a resident of Knox County, I am in favor of the the new arts center. My primary opposition is to the Federal Government's funding of this pork (via a transportation bill) at the hands of John Duncan and Lamar Alexander.

jbr's picture

Duncan's biggest PAC

Submitted by jbr on Sun, 2007/02/04 - 5:54am.

Duncan's biggest PAC contributors seem to be from transportation

(link...)
CID=N00003209&Cycle=2006

rikki's picture

Had the Republicans held the

Submitted by rikki on Sun, 2007/02/04 - 4:24pm.

Had the Republicans held the House, Duncan would likely be chair of the transportation committee. Those donors were banking on it.

Not sure what this has to do with the subject of the thread other than to reinforce the notion that politicians listen to monied interests, not citizens.

cdthomas23's picture

Be able to offer some solutions

Submitted by cdthomas23 on Sun, 2007/02/04 - 4:37pm.

R. Neal:

I just read the article that he wants people to be able to offer solutions; not just point out the problems and parade for the cameras.

Cunningham decries "harbingers of gloom and doom" who harp about taxes and county spending practices but decline invitations to "come in and look at the budget and give constructive ideas."

I certainly don't think the public should be banned, but I agree that those that criticize consistently should be able to offer solutions, especially when they are invited to "look at the budget."

Craig Thomas
(link...)

Tamara Shepherd's picture

In a third interpretation...

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Sun, 2007/02/04 - 5:04pm.

How interesting that we all summarized differently! I thought I heard a frustrated mayor lacking the backbone to implement a needed tax increase, pitted against a citizens group prone to pushing unpalatable budget cuts. I noted:

Citizens' Group: "We look for waste and abuse of money," she said, "and if he thinks people shouldn't do that, I have a problem with that."

Mayor Cunningham: "Tennessee is the lowest-taxed state in the nation and that Blount is in the bottom third of the state's 95 counties in terms of tax burden."

jbr's picture

Mayor Cunningham: "Tennessee

Submitted by jbr on Sun, 2007/02/04 - 7:15pm.

Mayor Cunningham: "Tennessee is the lowest-taxed state in the nation and that Blount is in the bottom third of the state's 95 counties in terms of tax burden."

I have seen us 47th and 48th the last few years. Here is one source. Although its 2005 I assume it hasnt changed much.

(link...)

I dont think having a low per capita tax burden compared to other states is in itself a reason it should be higher.

Some more state tax info

(link...)

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Follow-up to Randy and jbr...

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2007/02/05 - 12:57pm.

I meant to jump back over here earlier, to make a couple of follow-up comments to Randy and jbr, both.

Randy, I didn't fail to notice your background info about this mayor (pushing to strike public forums and remove cameras, dodging debates, etc.). When I indicated that I saw a "scarce-revenues" bent in the news story, I might have explained that that's what I would have thought *absent the background* you supplied on this guy. He's clearly not real big on public participation.

jbr, your data were inticing, too. I can "go long" on the subject of Tennessee's taxes and tax structure (Randy and others on this forum can tell you), so I resisted an urge to digress too much from the conversation. Consider posting your blog on the subject sometime soon, and we'll have lots of fun!

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