For the last six weeks or so, I've been out knocking on doors in the 5th district. I've been on the porches of thousands of homes. I've probably been recorded on more doorbell cameras than a UPS man. If there's one thing I've learned, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the voters in the 5th district do not want run away, out of control, over development. They also don't want higher taxes. So that brings me to once again compare the voting records of myself and my opponent, Lenoir City councilman, Eddie Simpson. 

There's probably never been two candidates, in a local election, who's voting records are more different. 

Mr. Simpson has been on the Lenoir City council for twenty-three years. I've been on the Loudon County commission for twelve years and served a four year term on the county school board. We both have clear documented, recorded voting records to review. I'll stick to just the facts.

• Mr. Simpson has voted for four property tax increases on all city property owners, most recently, July 2021.
• I have never voted for any property tax increases.
• Mr. Simpson voted to implement the Rain Tax on all city residents, businesses, schools, churches and non-profits.
• I have never voted for any tax increases.
• Mr. Simpson voted for a sales tax increase.
• I actively opposed the sales tax increase and it was ultimately defeated by the voters, overwhelmingly.
• Mr. Simpson sponsored a resolution for and voted for the gas tax increase.
• I sponsored a resolution to oppose the gas tax increase.
• Mr. Simpson voted for gun control, banning legal permit holders from carrying their weapons in all city buildings.
• I passed a resolution to remove the gun ban from all county buildings.
• Mr. Simpson has voted to permit every mass, residential development that wanted to locate in the city with no consideration on how that will impact the city and county school systems and infrastructures.
• I have voted to deny mass developments on a number of occasions to prevent over development and preserve communities.
• Mr. Simpson has voted for millions in property tax breaks for residential developers while voting for major tax increases on
  city residents.
• I have never voted for any tax breaks for any developers of any kind.
• If elected to county commission, Mr. Simpson intends to continue to serve as a Lenoir City councilman.
• I have no intention to do anything other than represent the residents of the fifth district.

During this campaign, I've tried to stick strictly to the facts. I have tried to highlight our different records without making it personal. Mr. Simpson, on the other hand, has been very negative and angry and told a lot of down right lies. He's insulted the entire county commission claiming the commission votes in lock step when nothing could be farther from the truth. Mr. Simpson is the one who never votes against what Lenoir City mayor Tony Aikens tells him to vote for.  He's accused me of being a bully, while threatening to punch me in the nose. Mr. Simpson has totally avoided any discussion of his disastrous voting record as a city councilman. He has even tried to take credit for the county's financial success and low property tax rate. We don't have to guess how he would be voting if elected to county commission, we've already seen him in action for twenty-three years. He told us himself, he wants to bring the same development policies to the county he has supported in the city. As the old saying goes, a leopard can't change it's spots.

I'm sure Mr. Simpson has friends and family that feel compelled to vote for him. I'm also sure many of those friends and family are property owners who don't want to pay higher property taxes and I'm sure many of those friends and family do not support the massive over development and tax breaks for developers Simpson has supported in Lenoir City and says he wants to bring to the county.

The stakes for Loudon County couldn't be higher. If Mr. Simpson and a couple of others were ever to get elected to county commission, Loudon County, as we know it, is doomed.

I again ask you for your vote if you live in the 5th district. If not a 5th district resident, I ask that you share the information on Simpson's voting record and encourage anyone you know in the 5th, to consider voting for me. Loudon County has come so far and done so great to go backwards now.

Thanks

Van