9-1-1 Board Approves Spending

"9-1-1 Board Approves Spending" was the headlines to an article found on page A8 of the Pulaski Citizen dated 22 June 2010.

What the article reports is that the Board, made up of Fire Chief Jimmy Thompson, Sheriff Kyle Helton, Postmaster Debbie Underwood, Ambulance Director Roy Griggs, Pulaski Mayor Dan Speer, County Executive Janet Vanzant, Pulaski Police Chief John Dickey, Minor Hill Mayor Tracy Wilburn and Emergency Management Director Barry Witt, voted to give a 3% pay increase to employees. To his credit Mr Witt abstained from voting because of a conflict of interest.

This is a slap in the face to every department that has been asked to "cut back" their spending; every citizen who has to cut back on their personal spending; every commissioner who is having to tell other county employees there is no money for a raise; every county employee who has to watch their spending power decrease with no raise in sight; every citizen who is having to pay more and more for less and less.

To add insult to injury an additional $10,000 was approved in an amendment because of an "oversight" by management.

Allen Barrett

Response To The Critic Claiming I Am The Worse Choice For Commissioner From The 7th District.

In the thread topic “Rally For Scott Stewart” a poster made some rather odious and untrue statements about me, this is my response.

To 7:36 and 7:09 You stated, "But I think your lack of self-control and poor temperament, your intolerance of those who disagree with you, an unwillingness to accept blame or to admit making a mistake, your somewhat arrogant outlook, and total inability to accept criticism make you the WORST choice for 7th District."

How does a person with "a lack of self control, poor temperament and intolerance" manage a successful career in the military and then another career as a minister along with being married to the same person for over forty-five years? It seems each of those accomplishments require a tremendous amount of self-control (discipline), temperament (ability to adjust) and tolerance (indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own).

You seem to put a great deal of stock into what other people are saying about me (gossip) instead of you talking with me yourself, how about you ask people, you know, who are retired military, ministers and married to the same person for many years just now much "self-control (discipline), temperament (ability to adjust) and tolerance they believe one must have to have accomplished such things in their lives?

You also continue in that same statement, "an unwillingness to accept blame or to admit making a mistake, your somewhat arrogant outlook, and total inability to accept criticism make you the WORST choice for 7th District."

If these things were true why would I sign my name to every post I make? I could easily take the route you have chosen and remain anonymous while making all kinds of accusations and never have to admit to a mistake, accept criticism or responsibility for anything. The thing you fail to accept is by taking responsibility for my posts and signing my name to them I have voluntarily opened the door to the very things you claim I have an unwillingness to deal with.

You claim I'm the worse choice for commissioner from the 7th District.

That claim simply is not supported by the facts. Already the criticisms you claim disqualify me have been shown to be groundless with no evidence presented other than your very prejudiced "feelings".

Here are some facts about why I am the most qualified candidate.

I have far more experience in leadership roles than any of the other candidates in my district. Except for Tommy Campbell I have far more experience with the Commission having attended and taken part in more committee meetings than the other two candidates combined. Commissioner Terry Harwell has attended two committee meetings this year, both in the last thirty days he has attended only three committee meetings in the past year. Mrs. Coleman has never been to a committee or commissioner meeting. While both Mrs. Coleman and Commissioner Terry Harwell have lost or missed opportunities to be connected with the issues the commission is faced with Commissioner Campbell has a good understanding of the issues but has lost touch with the people he represents, his only solution to the county spending it's self into bankruptcy is to continue the spending and raise property taxes and get a wheel tax. I oppose both those solutions and have offered a number of alternatives to the Budget Committee to control the escalating spending.

I am not one to sit around wringing my hands while waiting for others to do something about important matters. I will seek out and pursue every legitimate opportunity to bring jobs here and keep the ones we have with the same intensity that brought about the defeat of the largest proposed property tax increase in the past fifty years, that brought about the accountability of the Financial Management Act of 1981, that brought about the opportunity to create “Homerule” a Charter Government for the county and that has consistently sought more accountability in the way the School system and county government operates.

You have several times made claims that I have tried to trash my opponents, this is absolutely untrue. What I have done is present some factual evidence of their records and involvements. I stand firmly by the claims I have thoroughly researched and will do so until someone proves me wrong, (feelings are not proof).

I have presented my positions on this blog, in the newspaper and in person. I have asked people to judge me by my record not by promises alone. If a person hasn’t done anything significant in the past why should you believe their promises about what they’ll do in the future? I have strongly opposed any new or increase in taxes and fees and will continue to do so in the future with the same level of opposition. I have spoken out against wasteful, excessive spending and will continue to do so. You will never have to guess where I stand on an issue and you can depend on me sticking with that position after it is stated. My word is more valuable to me than the temporary good feeling one might get from a lie.

I have been a consistent voice advocating for citizen involvement with the county government and I will continue to support an open interaction between government officials and the citizens of the community. I will never stand idly by while a citizen is denied the Constitutional right to address those elected to serve. I have not nor will I stand by and watch any citizen mistreated by an official using and abusing their position or office.

I have a long history of being a genuine conservative, actively involved in government affairs and have shown a solid dependability in keeping my word.

The basic thing is I believe strongly that trust is earned through truth, individual integrity and openness and as a commissioner I will actively seek and listen to the concerns of every citizen and will restore that trust and openness to all areas of our county government.

I’m Allen Barrett and I seek your support in the upcoming election as your commissioner from the 7^th District.