Councilman Tony Aikens is running for Lenoir City mayor on a platform as a fiscal conservatism. He has stated in the News Sentinel, News Herald and his campaign literature that he has never voted for a property tax increase. This is not true.

On June 23rd, 2005 Aikens along with the rest city council voted for a nineteen cent property tax increase for Lenoir City property owners. This was a 17% increase in the property tax rate.

It is the responsibility of all candidates to be upfront, truthful and accurate with the voters.