Election signs are suppose to have printed on them who paid for the signs. Not these. But before anyone starts contacting the election commission office, they're not the ones who enforce election sign laws, the would be the district attorney's office. So for now, it's a mystery who's behind the signs. By the way, all mine are clearly marked that I paid for them.

The signs have the Lenoir City panther logo, so did the school board pay for them? Hope not, that would be illegal. Ms. Barker got into a little spot back in 2018 when she was using the school system's resources to promote that tax increase, in violation of the Little Hatch Act. Did the city council or mayor Aikens pay for the signs? We may never know. What we do know is, not mayor Aikens nor a single council member has said they will be voting for the sales tax hike. Nor have we heard any school board members saying they will vote for the sales tax hike. I have checked all their social media pages, even mayor Aikens official Facebook page, nothing. What we do know is, most city hall employees won't be voting for it because they don't live in the city. As to that matter, the most vocal supporter of the tax hike has been Lenoir City director of schools, Jeanne Barker. But she can't vote for it either, she lives in the county too.

Most of the people who would have to pay the additional tax don't live in the city but have no voice in the matter except through those we know who live inside the city limits. In Lenoir City, there are 6,001 registered voters. In the March 5th election, only 993 city residents actually voted in that election, and that was a presidential primary election.

Now with mayor Aikens decision to hold a special election, estimated cost $20,000.00, the theory is, the voter turnout will be very low and Aikens can get just enough people to vote for the tax hike to get it passed. Election day is even on a Saturday. If history is any guide, there may be less than 500 people vote in this election. In reality, thousands of people should vote in this election, big money on the line. 

If not one city official is willing to publically support their own tax hike, why would anyone else.

If you're a city voter, please take 10 minutes and vote against mayor Tony Aikens sales tax hike.

Below might be a better statement for the support signs.