That either meant I was about to be in trouble or complimented for some political position I had taken or it could mean we were about to take on some kind of a political battle. When Mr. Wampler decided to take on an issue, he was going to be all in.

We fought the Lottery, liquor by the drink, liquor stores, illegal beer permits, Wheel Tax and sales tax increases. And when I say all in, that meant his time and money. Even before Harry was elected to city council for his final term, he carried enormous political clout in the city and county because every local politician knew if Harry took up a cause to support or oppose, again he was all in.

This brings me to the point. One of the political battles we took on was to oppose a sales tax increase proposed by the county back in 2008. The county, back then, had also voted to place a half cent sales tax increase on the ballot for the schools. Harry like so many others felt the idea of higher taxes on the citizens wasn't the answer. At his call, he myself and others gathered in his upstairs office to plan a strategy. First thing he said was, we're going to need some signs. He reached in his pocket, pulled out some cash and said, here Shaver, get us some signs. That's just how he did things. Ultimately, that sales tax increase was defeated by a two to one margin. 

In the next few days, you're going to see "Vote No On Sales Tax Increase" signs going up around the city. These are the very same signs we bought back in 2008. I've had them stored all this time hoping we would never need them again but fearing we might. I don't like to predict how someone no longer with us might feel about an issue but given Mr. Wampler's opposition to the sales tax increase back then, I suspect he would not likely have been a supporter of the Rain tax either and in all honesty, I doubt seriously if the council he served on would have ever placed such a sales tax increase on the ballot.  

Jump to the present, the entire city council voted for the current half cent sales tax increase and are promoting it. All the incumbents running for re-election also voted for the Rain Tax. They've all also been falling all over themselves to promote a brewery in down town Lenoir City. My how things have changed.

I consider it an honor and pleasure to have worked with Mr. Wampler on what he felt were such important issues facing our community. I learned a lot from him about what it meant to be a true conservative.

Harry Wampler wasn't just a politician but he was a statesman. When he took a position, like I said, he was all in. I can't say for sure, but given my past history working with Mr. Wampler on issues and understanding how deeply he cared for the city and county, I think he might be disappointed in the direction Lenoir City has gone. 

Are there no statesmen left in Lenoir City? Is there no one to stand for the citizens?