At the intersection of Bussell Ferry Road and Lee Drive on the banks of the Tennessee River stands the oldest building in Lenoir City. In fact it's older than Lenoir City. The structure was originally built in the early 1800's by the Lenoir brothers and used as a warehouse for freight being shipped up and down the Tennessee River. Over the many years of it's existence, the old building has been used for many, many different purposes.   

In 1990, The Lenoir City Company sold the building to Lenoir City for $1,000.00 or at least this was the value assigned to the property.  In 1993, Lenoir City sold the property to the Lenoir Cotton Mill Association for $5,000.00 or at least this was the value assigned to the property. The property remained with the Cotton Mill Association till 2003.

In 2003, the Lenoir Cotton Mill Association, President Mayor Matt Brookshire, sold the property to local developer, Rick Dover owner of Family Pride Corporation for $500.00 or at least this was the value assigned to the property. No bids were taken no one was allowed the opportunity to buy the property. Dover has now renovated the property and it is residential rental property. 

To say Brookshire sold the property would be misleading. The Lenoir Cotton Mill Association actually sold the property. Just so happens that Brookshire was the president at the time of the sale. It was his leadership that led to the sale, actually, give away of a valuable, historical piece of lake front property once owned by the city.

Besides the foolishness of this deal, the bigger story is once again we see just how lacking Matt Brookshire is in leadership. By any estimates, Brookshire's years as the city's mayor have been a failure. While most of the city's infrastructures water, sewer, streets, have continued to crumble Brookshire has led the city into staggering debt, failed policies and total contempt from the residents. He did lead the charge for a greenway that now has been partially shut down due to poor decisions. He did lead the charge for a municipal pool that was poorly constructed and ultimately cost big money to correct.

The $500 property give away is just one of the many examples of Brookshire's failures. If reelected we should expect nothing more than two years of the same failures. 

This information is not in support of any candidate or in opposition of any candidate. These are just simply some of the facts. Personally if someone put a gun to my head and said I had to pick one of the above, I'd just have to say, pull the trigger.