I've been thinking about my opponents motto for the upcoming election, Change Is Good. The problem I see is he fails to state what he wants to change in Loudon County government. I guess all we can do is look to his council voting record to see what he wants to change.  

Lenoir City councilman, Eddie Simpson. has a very long and disturbing voting record as a councilman. He has voted for multiple property tax increases, most recently, July 2021. He voted to implement a Rain Tax on all city residents, businesses, schools, churches and non-profits. He voted for a gas tax increase and a sales tax increase. Mr. Simpson has voted to permit every mass, residential development that wanted to locate in the city with no consideration on how they will impact the city and county school systems. He has voted for millions in property tax breaks for developers while voting for major tax increases on city residents. If elected to county commission, Mr. Simpson plans to also continue to serve on Lenoir City council. As you can see, Mr. Simpson is a big fan of higher taxes developers and special interest.

There couldn’t be two candidates that are more opposite than Mr. Simpson and myself. While he has voted for every tax increase a city councilman could vote for, I have never voted for any tax increase of any kind. While he sponsored a resolution to raise the gas tax, I sponsored a resolution to oppose raising the gas tax. While he voted for higher sales tax, I campaigned against the higher sales tax. While he has voted for every mass development in the city, I am working to control over-development in the county. While he has voted for massive property tax breaks for developers, I have never voted for any tax breaks for any developers. The choice between us could not be clearer.

Given our polar opposite views on everything taxes, developments and tax breaks for developers, what does Mr. Simpson want to change?

Loudon County currently has the lowest county property tax rate in the state. No general funs property tax increase since 2007. Given his voting record, I guess he wants to change that by raising the county property tax.

Loudon County doesn't have a Rain Tax. Given his support and vote for the Lenoir City Rain Tax, I guess he wants to change that and pass a county Rain Tax.

Loudon County is currently holding the line on over-development. Given that Mr. Simpson has voted to permit massive over-development in Lenoir City, I guess he wants to change that by permitting massive over-development in the county too.

Loudon County commission has given no property tax breaks to residential developers. Given that Mr. Simpson has voted for multiple residential developers to receive millions in tax breaks, I guess he wants the county to change and give developers property tax breaks.