Right & Wrong
It is simple to choose between candidates when their stances
on issues are analyzed on a right or wrong basis. For
instance: it is wrong that 80% of the Marines killed in Iraq
would be alive today had they been given proper body armor;
it is wrong that Halliburton supplied unsafe water for over
a year to our troops and their contractors electrocuted our
soldiers in their showers; and it is also wrong that County
Commissioner McCay voted to raise property taxes four times
and give himself three pay raises all
during his first term in office. It is wrong that he voted
to bail out a private property developer's project with
taxpayer funds; and it is wrong that he voted to renew the
contract of a man that bribed a Amarillo Sherriff -
all in his first term of office, what a legacy!
Taking ownership of
your government means knowing the difference between right
and wrong and proactively choosing between the two.
You can re-elect him or choose to
replace him. Choose more of the same or elect someone new.
But do it without mudding the issue with "R's" and "D's"
being the basis of your decision - do it based on facts and
your pocket book.
Real
Differences
“Change” is achievable and not merely an abstract concept.
Arrogant politicians that do not represent our interests and continually
make negative news can be booted out on November 4th. Lubbock County needs a Commissioner with
the courage to stand up for what is right for the citizens
of the county and against
special interests.
Veterans
When Governor Perry decided to spend almost three-quarters
of a million dollars in Texas taxpayer funds to pay
Washington-based lobbyists, Rep. Jim Dunnam (D) offered an
amendment that would have committed half of that money to the Veterans Commission budget to assist Texas
veterans. The budget would have ensured that all veterans,
their dependents, and survivors receive their due benefits.
Incredibly, however, Delwin Jones (R) and Carl Isett (R)
voted against veterans’ needs and in favor of the
lobbyists. Furthermore, while the county has a Veterans
Affairs office, we do not budget for any services from that
office. As Commissioner, I will work with other elected
officials to voice my concern that they step to the plate
and care for our Lubbock County Vets, one of the highest populations
of veterans in west Texas. We find homes for illegal
immigrants, yet, over half of the individuals seeking shelter in
Lubbock from the Salvation Army are American veterans. There
is something wrong with that
and I intend to work to fix it.
Healthcare
While we live in one of the richest states in the country,
the current leadership has allowed too many children in
Lubbock to go without healthcare and to go to bed hungry.
Why do our parents and grandparents suddenly find
themselves having to decide between heat or food and
medicine to live? Could it be because their property and
sales taxes have risen faster than their income? Why
does Lubbock County have more children living below the
poverty level than national or state averages?
Why
are we raising property taxes to pay for healthcare of
illegal immigrants at UMC and providing them other tax
supported assistance?
Community Values
Why do we permit the rising STD and teenage pregnancy rates
to continue their alarming rise since implementing
abstinence only education in Texas? Why do two senior
citizens have to die in their homes from lack of heat when
we have a County Assistance Budget for indigents? Why do
conservative leaders preach values, yet, vote against
programs which implement these values and instead vote for
developers’ pet projects?
Are
these the community values of Lubbock citizens?
I
simply believe Jesus expects more from public servants.
Have elected Appraisal District Boards.
We have all felt the bite of rising tax rates. The 2002
County property tax rate was 0.1911000 and the 2007 rate was
0.3061480 -
over a
60% increase!
In 2008, we see their intent to raise more tax dollars with
artificial and large increases to our property valuations
yet again! It is pointless to have politicians raise
property taxes AND have your tax bill raise because of
increased evaluations. To truly get control of property
taxes we will need elected officials that will not
participate in the blame game of passing the buck to
Appraisal Boards - these boards are appointed by those very
same elected officials so they can thump their chests and
claim they are holding the line on new taxes. The current
Precinct 1 Commissioner has voted to raise property taxes
twice in his first term in office while giving himself three
pay increases. Do
you want to give him more opportunities in a second term?
According to the
fourth quarter report on cost of living (COL), Lubbock
ranked 10th for the lowest COL in the nation with an index
of 86.4. Accordingly, Lubbock ranks low in wages as well.
Therefore, it is wrong to equate salaries in Lubbock to
those in other metro areas. Those areas naturally have
higher salaries because they have higher COL. Our COL will
increase and we could join the ranks of the highest if we
play this game of comparing our salaries to the other metro
areas when taxes pay those salaries.
Lets stop this madness on November 4th.
Lets stop the arrogance by our elected leaders failures to
listen to us. We sent a message to City Hall - now lets send
one to the Courthouse.
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