The purpose of the "Giles Free Speech Zone" is to identify problems of concern to the people of Giles County, to discuss them in a gentlemanly and civil manner, while referring to the facts and giving evidence to back up whatever claims are made, making logical arguments that avoid any use of fallacy, and, hopefully, to come together in agreement, and find a positive solution to the problem at hand. Help make a difference! Email "mcpeters@usit.net" to suggest topics or make private comments.
posted by J. Kendrick McPeters | 8:19 PM
54 Comments:
From the 3rd district, I got back a response from David Adams, Rose Marie Cartee, and Joe F. Fralix. Also responding was David Ross (district 4), Connie Howell (district 5), and Allen Barrett (district 7).
Candidate Cartee didn't actually answer any of the questions. Instead, she wrote me the following note:
"Dear Mr. McPeters,"
"Thank you for your concern for Giles Co. and the people that may or may not have the same values as you. I can not answer all of the questions with a yes or no for many things factor the decisions of a vote. I will have to decline to answer the questions at this time. Again thank you for your time that was used in preparing this."
"Yours,"
"Rose Marie Cartee"
Here are the questions, with the answers given by the other five candidates:
(1) Will you support the adoption of the Financial Management Act of 1981?
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- Yes
David Ross -- Yes
Connie Howell -- Yes
Allen Barrett -- Yes
(2) Will you vote to adopt a wheel tax?
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- No
David Ross -- No
Connie Howell -- No
Allen Barrett -- No
(3) Will you support the construction of a new school administration building?
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- No
David Ross -- No
Connie Howell -- No -- repairing school bldgs first priority
Allen Barrett -- No
(4) Will you vote to sell the ambulance service to a private company?
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- Yes
David Ross -- Yes
Connie Howell -- No
Allen Barrett -- Yes
(5) Should the Hunter-Smith Building be sold?
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- Yes
David Ross -- Yes
Connie Howell -- No
Allen Barrett -- Yes
(6) Should The Hunter-Smith Building be repaired and used as a courthouse annex?
David Adams -- Yes
Joe Fralix -- No
David Ross -- No
Connie Howell -- Yes
Allen Barrett -- No
(7) Will you vote to borrow money to build a multi-million dollar complex of ball fields?
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- No
David Ross -- No
Connie Howell -- No - multi-million no - a simple more affordable - yes
Allen Barrett -- No
(8) Would you under any circumstance vote to increase the property tax?
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- No
David Ross -- No
Connie Howell -- No - it's high enough.
Allen Barrett -- No
(9) Do you have any direct or indirect relatives who work for Giles County?
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- No - that I know of.
David Ross -- No
Connie Howell -- Yes - Phyllis Edwards - sister - 5th Grade Teacher Richland School
Note: We don't talk politics for we get ill at one another.
Allen Barrett -- No
(10) Will you vote for a Private Act to allow zoning referendums?
David Adams -- Yes
Joe Fralix -- Yes
David Ross -- Yes
Connie Howell -- Yes - The LUMP is the same document that was formulated in 1991, and in 1992 a private act was passed by the state legislature to allow G/C voters to have a say. People overwhelmingly voted that they wanted to vote on zoning.
Allen Barrett -- Yes
(11) Will you vote to repeal the Floodplain Zoning Resolution of 1999?
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- Unsure at this time.
David Ross -- Unsure of all the facts of the Floodplain Zoning Resolution of 1999.
Connie Howell -- No - this helps to enable a person to buy flood insurance.
Allen Barrett -- Yes - unless the changes proposed by Pierre Billard are made to the resolution.
(12) Will you vote to repeal the Land Use Management (zoning) Plan of 2003?
David Adams -- Yes
Joe Fralix -- Yes
David Ross -- Yes
Connie Howell -- Yes - The procedure to enact this Zoning Plan was done in error and not properly advertised, public meeting did not meet state requirements, etc... The plan has so many flaws in it that the first company that is denied from locating in G/C will sue the County and will win. The Nuisance Act would moot the need for LUMP.
Allen Barrett -- Yes
(13) Will you vote to petition WKSR to resume live County Commission coverage?
David Adams -- Yes
Joe Fralix -- Yes
David Ross -- Yes
Connie Howell -- Yes
Allen Barrett -- Yes
(14) Would you support the withholding of funds from the school system in order to get a line item budget and more responsible budgets from the school director
David Adams -- No
Joe Fralix -- Yes
David Ross -- Yes
Connie Howell -- No - Law won't allow
Allen Barrett -- Yes
(15) Will you vote to allow citizens the opportunity to address the County Commission on issues prior to the commissioners voting?
David Adams -- Yes
Joe Fralix -- Yes
David Ross -- Yes
Connie Howell -- Yes - always have, always will
Allen Barrett -- Yes
GTC says:
I do not understand what anyone running for Commissioner would want to sell a profit making service? The Giles County Ambulance services is a money making entity. If we sell this service to a profit making private company, the profit will go to that company. all the assets of our Ambulance Service will be turned over to the private company as well as the County (you and me and all taxpayers) providing an annual payment.
Do the numbers, look at who and what are making the County money and do not sell the goose.
GTC
predictions for who will be elected?
GTC says:
Many postings in this and the previous blog site have commented upon the virtues, capabilities and character of those running for office. It is totally amazing to me that there are possibly those candidates who, because of their status in the community or some other criteria they have in their mind, that allows them to be possibly above the law.
Of what am I speaking?????????
Is there not a State law that prohibits election campaign signs, people, literature, etc. from being within (I believe) 100 feet form the polling site?
Historically this restricted distance from the Giles County courthouse has included the interior parking places on the north and south sides of the courthouse.
Yet …. “Judge” Lee, Dameron, and others have parked vehicles with billboards within this prescribed limit. Go out there and look !!!!!!! I believe that the Election Commission has placed a noticed on the pickup displaying “Judge” Lee’s billboard. Yet the vehicle remains unmoved.
WHY?????? I would assume (no jokes please) that a person running for re-election or election to a judgeship would be VERY CAREFUL about not breaking the law; for this may reflect upon their capability to perform the duties of JUDGE.
I realize that I should bow down to those who are long-time county residents and KNOW much better than I. Yet I can not understand why they believe the law does not pertain to all, including themselves.
GTC
This is a dumb comment, but I never have thought anything about the signs because I thought that rule applied to the big election day - I forgot about early voting!
GTC has your facts wrong. Kathy Bassham measured the boundary line and it was determined to be about one car width behind the bumpers of the vehicles on the inside of the island. So the vehicles are within their right to be parked right where they are. What do you think of other candidates currently in office who park their vehicles right up against the inside curb. Since they're already in office and have to work there, should they be allowed to park against the curb? Nope and from what I hear Mrs. Bassham is acting upon each tip or complaint she gets.
To GTC:
Ambulance Service did not cover itself this year by approx $200,000. Should the service be sold in the future, the county or residents would NOT be paying an annual payment to the buyer. It just doesn't work that way.
If you want to talk about the parking at the courthouse-- how about the candidates that are LEAVING the trucks with the signs in these space and taking up spaces on an already overcrowed square-- if all the candidates did this there would not be anywhere for the voters to park so that the could go vote.
Judge Damron thinks that the law does not apply to him. He and all of his campagin members should wear their campaign shirts into Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart has asked them not too. (Thanks to Lee and Tycer complaining) but still the facts are that Wal-Mart did ask them not too. Follow the rules of the game Judge and crew.
I just wanted to get the facts straight about not being asked to wear the shirts in wal mart, there is a elderly gentleman that goes there because he does not have anything else to do and he is the only won that was asked to not wear the shirt there when he stayed there for several hours. None of the others have been asked to take off the shirts, if any of us had been asked to not wear them, then we would oblige them with the request. Thank you,
Judge Damron is fair and follows the rules, he parks his car at the court house at least 100 ft. from the court house to follow the guidelines set forth concerning the election and has instructed anyone that has his campaign information to do so as well.
Well I work at wal-mart and I know the facts. Do you work there as well? I am assuming not because you do not have the facts. The only thing that was fact that you just responded with was about the man who stays at wal-mart.
Your comment makes no sense. Please clarify what you are trying to relate to us. BRM
If the comment about working at wal-mart confused you then you need to scroll up and read.
I read the previous comments. Your wording is still of poor quality.
The only thing that I want to clarify and state is that:
I have not been asked or told by anyone at Wal-Mart nor anyone else that has worn the shirt there that I have personally asked,has been told to not wear the shirt again. If I am told to not wear it there, I would respect their wishes and oblige to that. Again, the only fact that I stated is that the gentleman was not asked to wear it there and he has not done so since he was asked. Oh yea, you are right about one thing, I do not work at Wal-Mart. Thank you and have a great day.
To Anonymous:
How about a little cheese with your whine? Character assassination is not becoming of you. Go Janet!
No one has to assassinate Janets' charter. She dosn't have any!
Go Janet, Go back to Lincoln County, Go any where, just as GO!
We can not stand any more of your lies'
Anonymous Friday, July 21, 2006 11:46:50 PM
The responsibility lies with Janet and the best thing she could do, is publicly apologize, but my guess she will never do.
Sandra Ralston has a blue truck that has been parked on the south side of the square for 3 or more weeks with a big sign in the back of the truck. This truck has not been moved for 3 weeks. This is taking parking spaces on the square. She is not an employee at any of the businesses on the square not at the courthouse. However, she did work at Pulaski Electric System but got fired because she "couldn't quite catch on" to 3 different jobs that is.
I really don't know how long Sandy Ralston's truck has been parked on the square. I do know it is taking up only one space though. If we need to be interested in the past work record of candidates, maybe Kaye Gibbons should be asked about hers. I hear she has been fired in the past.
To Anonymous:
Yes, Kay was fired...by Sandy Ralston....by mail. I understand it was merely a personality conflict and not something related to Kay's job performance. Just illuminating a gray area there for you. Kay has my vote along with those of my extended family.
Sandy and Janet are two of a kind.
Neither one of them know how to tell the truth!
Maybe Sandy will go with Janet to Lincoln county.
Before we get too deep in this firing business, you better check with Kay to see if she wants to continue this. She may not feel this would be to her advantage.
I will add to the above post, contrary to your information, Kay was fired for good and just cause.
This is not the first time Kay has been fired from a job.
What was the "good and just cause?" If Kay, the present Registrar, was fired by Sandy, the past Registrar and Kay's opponent, the people need the facts in order to select the better qualified candidate.
From what other job has Kay been fired and for what reason?
If you are going to make so-called accusations where the public can read them, you must give facts to back up your statements. Otherwise, you simply sound like a Sandy Ralston supporter who is just trying to smear her opponent. It would sway many people to vote for Kay, as I will do unless you convince me about what the "good and just cause" was.
Do I sound like a Sandy Ralston supporter to you? Let me tell you that I am. If the people want to get the facts about why Kay was fired, they will have to get them from someone other than me. Maybe the people need to ask Kay what other job she was fired from. You seem to be pretty good at making so-called accusations yourself. I believe the people have seen enough and heard enough to make a choice. Do you not believe the the post above is a smear against Sandy? Maybe you dont care who is the best qualified candidate. Maybe you have other reasons for wanting Kay to win. Just wondering..
I have read on this blog that Sandy has been fired and Kay has been fired. How do I know who to vote for based on that? I don't think any of the above statments should sway voters one way or the other. Just vote for the candidate you like.
To Monday, July 24, 2006 7:32:46 AM,
Pardon me!!! I certainly do “care who is the best qualified candidate.” That’s why I’m asking you for details. I am not making accusations. I only want to know both sides of the so-called story to help me determine who is better qualified. Since you made the remark, you obviously know the details, and if you are willing to make the statement, you should be willing to elaborate, especially since you can wear the cloak of anonymity. The old adage “Put up or shut up” applies here.
You say, “I believe the people have seen enough and heard enough to make a choice.” If you feel that way, why did you post another of the negative comments rampant on this blog site? You only added fuel to the fire, and you come off as just another mudslinger.
My neighbor had convinced me to vote for Kay because of his praise for her. Yet, he spoke not one negative word about Sandy. You, on the other hand, obviously support Sandy, not by praising her, but by bashing Kay. Not a very convincing way to support your candidate of choice. Since you won’t give any details, your comments cannot be believed. Rather, you sound like some of the other people who have posted BS about candidates they don’t like. I would gladly vote for Sandy if you would convince me that she is the better candidate.
I don’t know either candidate for Register of Deeds. I only know what they look like because I have seen both their photos. I am not biased either way. And NO, I do not “have other reasons for wanting Kay to win,” as you so boldly assumed. You should never assume; you know what you make of yourself when you ASSume.
I simply want to vote for the better candidate. When I read that Kay had been fired from apparently more than one job, I thought that perhaps I should reconsider my decision. That’s why I asked you for details. Since you won’t expound on your knowledge of the situation, your comments can only be written off as sour grapes. However, I implore you to convince me that Sandy is the better choice, and I’ll gladly vote for her.
Anonymous of 7:32am. I tend to react to bashing by bashing back. I will not try to convince anyone to vote for Sandy by bashing Kay IF the other side will do the same. If you are really interested in hearing something other the mudslinging I will try to accommodate you. Sandy served two terms previously a Register of Deeds. Before that she was chief deputy for several years. She has attended many workshops, CTAS meetings, and other meetings to improve her knowledge of and ability to run the Registers office wisely and efficiently. She hired all the employees now in the Registers office, including Kay Gibbons. Sandy supervised the installation of computers in the office for the first time. Later on she fired Kay for good cause. Sandy documented her case as required in the personnel manual in force at the time. There was a hearing held by the grievance committee and Kay spoke her case before them. This all occurred several years ago, because Sandy was reelected in 1998. She lost the election in 2002. I hope this will help you and others base your decision on who to cast your vote for. As an aside, I will say that there is a personal history between the candidates. They went to school at Bodenham, in the same grade. They were friends in school. They remained friends after graduating. Kay was working at Dr. Duggers office when Sandy hired her. Obviously, Sandy was not expecting things to work out like they did. Now Sandy would like to get back into the Register's Office. There are people who will vote for one or the other because they like them or because one or the other has wronged them in the past. If you want to vote for the person who has the most experience, who knows how to meet and greet people, who can run a friendly and competent Register of Deeds office, then I urge you to cast your vote for Sandy Ralston. There it is, flame away.
posted by Bill Ralston
Please go to the part of this blog where candidates can use all the free space they want and read about Terry Hughes. He did not respond to the written questionaire to Mr. Kendrick but he did make a point to speak with him in person. It is also my understanding he turned in the appropiate work to the paper by the deadline, but was told he was late. Read about Mr. Hughes in a different part of this blog.
to anonymous above: the part of the Blog is "Hey Candidates....."
Thank you Mr. Ralston. That's all I was asking for....some facts.
At least one person likes facts. Most of the others on here seem to disregard facts.
anyone voting for wab is out of their mind. he is not what lawbidding people stand for. he is a bully and should move back to murfreesboro is he don't like giles co. his disrespect to bill holt and the commission while holt was making a statement to the court why holt should not vote on education funds shows his disrespect for our system. vanzant had to call him down and warn him that his next outburst would get him relieved from court. i wonder if he would cry that is his rights had been violated. if he is retired from the military, then i saw the military is better off. get you some of this, wab
To Terry Hughes:
They appear to be after your head now...Wonder why? hmmmmm???
One question to Mr. Bill Ralston,
When Kay Gibbons pled her case to the grievance committee after Mrs. Ralston fired her, did Kay get her job back?
Not trying to start another stink, just want to know how the committee settled the case.
She didn't want the job back.
The Election is one week away...let's see some predictions of who will win.
Okay, let me ask Mr. Ralston in this way: did Kay Gibbons ask for her job back? I ask this because the blogger who said she didn't want it back may be somebody in her camp trying to make Mrs. Ralston look bad.
Did Kay request that the committee reinstate her? What did she accomplish in the hearing?
I don't know the answer to that question. I was not present at that hearing
Anonymous said:
The Election is one week away...let's see some predictions of who will win.
I'll go out on a limb, and make a prediction based on past elections.
Here it is: the last "box" to be announced will be the early vote (which, *ahem* is actually the first vote to be counted) and it will go almost completely to the incumbents. Enough votes to win? Maybe.
"Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything."- Josef Stalin
Am I suggesting that the Election Commission is crooked? Not necessarily. But if they want to dispel all thoughts along that line, there is a simple solution--- ANNOUNCE THE EARLY VOTES FIRST!!!
Sorry to put you through this again. I had to copy and paste this.
Anonymous said...
anyone voting for wab is out of their mind. he is not what lawbidding people stand for. he is a bully and should move back to murfreesboro is he don't like giles co. his disrespect to bill holt and the commission while holt was making a statement to the court why holt should not vote on education funds shows his disrespect for our system. vanzant had to call him down and warn him that his next outburst would get him relieved from court. i wonder if he would cry that is his rights had been violated. if he is retired from the military, then i saw the military is better off. get you some of this, wab
Wednesday, July 26, 2006 2:21:39 PM
Sounds to me like someone needs to go back to the school board and ask for their tax dollars back. This is proof that the school system needs to start focusing and spending more time and money in the classroom.
Mr Mcpeters
How DARE you to imply that the election commission is in any way dishonest in its dealings! You and those like you are EXACTLY why so many people in this county are upset and distrustful! I will bet my life on the integrity of the people at the election commission, because I know them personally. Do you?
They never deliberately hold back those early votes. The votes are turned in as soon as the polls close and they have a chance to count them.
Yes, you are suggesting..or at least planting the seed that they are dishonest. But, then again, you and those other whiners are such experts at sowing discord in the name of freedom! Shame on you!
Anonymous said:
How DARE you to imply that the election commission is in any way dishonest in its dealings!
Well, I DARE because it is my First Amendment right to do so. And because election fraud is an important subject, unfortunately overlooked by most people. The US (in general, I'm not talking about Giles County) has some of the crookedest elections going. Go to Google and search for "election fraud" and "black box voting" and "Diebold vote machines" and you'll see what I mean.
Other countries rather sensibly use clear lexan ballot boxes, and paper ballots. WE use mysterious computerized machines which nobody really knows are programmed to count honestly, or not. WE have elections routinely tainted by the votes of dead people and illegal aliens. So anytime that something is done which even SUGGESTS an irregularity in the voting process, it should be hauled into public view and examined.
I am not, by a long shot, the only person who has noticed the strange fact that the early vote is generally, in Giles County, announced last. Lots of people I have talked to view this with suspicion, and many refuse to vote early, believing there to be a chance that their vote will be miscounted. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but these are the facts.
You and those like you are EXACTLY why so many people in this county are upset and distrustful!
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, and a large part of being "eternally vigilant" is to be distrustful of those who hold the reigns of power. If you prefer to put on a happy face, and trust anyone and everyone who holds power, that is your right. But don't expect everyone else to put on a happy face, along with you.
I will bet my life on the integrity of the people at the election commission, because I know them personally.
You'd be wiling to bet your life, but you aren't willing to sign your name to something. Well, that is certainly a ringing endorsement, isn't it?
Do you?
Unlike you, I don't put my trust in men. All it would take to gain my trust, though, is for the FIRST COUNTED early vote to be ANNOUNCED FIRST. Is that asking too much???
They never deliberately hold back those early votes. The votes are turned in as soon as the polls close and they have a chance to count them.
Well, that;s certainly a load of bovine excrement. The machines used to vote early are the SAME machines used on Election Day. And that means that, sometime between the early voting ending on Saturday, and the regular voting taking place on Thursday, somebody with the Election Commission has to READ THE VOTES off the machines, and then reset all the registers to ZERO. So, it is entirely obvious that these early votes are the FIRST votes available for reporting. And yet... you know the rest.
Yes, you are suggesting..or at least planting the seed that they are dishonest.
As I pointed out, there is a simple remedy: ANNOUNCE THE EARLY VOTES FIRST. Do that, and any "seed" I've planted won't be able to take root.
But, then again, you and those other whiners are such experts at sowing discord in the name of freedom! Shame on you!
Shame on you for taking such a "business as usual" attitude toward a situation that smells so very fishy. Don't you even care that the votes are tabulated honestly? Shame on you! It's people like you that allow tyranny to take root, and destroy our freedoms.
Why are the early votes not announced first? They should have had plenty of time to count them shouldn't they?
What an idiot you are! The more you talk, the more I'm convinced. But you are dead wrong about the election commission employees. Most of the commission itself are devout members of their respective churches.....of course people like you scoff at that anyhow, so it's a moot point, right? Such a pity they aren't those lofty thinkers and men of great character like you and your intellectual buddies!
Why don't you go ahead and name the ones you feel are crooked...then they can sue the hell out of you!!!!!!
...and since you are so smart, why don't you call one of the election commissioners and find out why those early votes are not immediately counted when early voting closes? hmmmmmm?
No, it's people like YOU who are creating the tyranny! Thank God you and your select group of smart people are not in charge of us.
To: Mr. Bill Ralston
Are you running for political office or is it Sandra. She evidently cannot answer for herself on the blog.
Re: Election Commission and early voting...
Hey, thanks for all the kind remarks, but I've already figured out on my own that the long standing rumor about early voting is without merit.
See my retraction and apology, posted under the topic "Stop the Presses! Blogmaster Wrong About Early Voting!" Thanks...
Anonymous said:
No, it's people like YOU who are creating the tyranny!
You aren't too hip to the meaning of certain words, are you? "Tyranny" is an all powerful government, with power typically concentrated in the hands of a few.
Over the course of my life, I have opposed every expansion of government power that I have been made aware of. I believe in the rights of free Americans, so I have opposed everything from the "PATRIOT ACT" to the LUMP.
Tyranny does not come from people, like me, who oppose on principle the expansion of government power. Rather, tyranny takes root because certain people are willing to accept, for alleged safety and other such reasons, the restriction of freedom. People like YOU who are asleep at the wheel, and willing to compromise with Big Brother, are the ones who usher in the rule of tyrants. Not me...
Thank God you and your select group of smart people are not in charge of us.
What makes you think I want to be in charge of anything? Is this a case of projection, I wonder???
I believe that direct democracy, in the form of the "New England Town Meeting" is the best form of government ever invented. Giles County is too large for that to work, alas. So I endorse the "second best" form of government, which was invented by the ancient Athenians: representative democracy, with the representatives chosen by random lot, rather than conventional elections. How could this work in Giles County?
Well, everyone who was 18 years or older, and who had either a diploma or GED equivalent, would have their name entered into a pool, and from that pool, we could draw a hundred or so names. These would be our representatives. How would such a large group meet? They would listen to the Commission proceedings over the radio, and vote by the internet. We could still elect 21 Commissioners, but the randomly chosen representatives would have the final say. It could be structured like a bicameral legislature, with the elected commissioners attending meetings, and developing bills which are put on the agenda if a majority of commissioners vote for them -- and then the random representatives would actually cast the deciding votes on all of this.
We could improve on this further, by electing, say, six commissioners per district, and then having them draw straws to select the final three that get the job of "Commissioner." Why? Because the element of chance would serve as a damper on overly ambitious politicians seeking the job of Commissioner.
Anyway, I've detailed this little plan simply to point out the absurdity of your thanking God that I am not in control of Giles County. I don't want, and never have wanted, to be in control of anything other than myself. As for Giles County, my dearest wish is for the people to control it! Which helps explain why I've worked so hard to bring us a referendum on zoning, now doesn't it?
Nor is Roger Reedy the power-hungry, lying thief you portray him to be.
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