| According to the previous News Herald story, the Home
Builders Association Of Greater Knoxville is pouring tens of thousands
of dollars into three commission races because of what the three
candidates, Eddie Simpson, Julia Hurley and Mark Matlock, said to the
HBAGK members at their annual meeting back in March.
Even though all three candidates have now changed their
talking points due to public opposition to mass development, the three
can't change what they had already said. So what did they say?
From
Eddie Simpson:
Eddie Simpson, candidate for District 5
Seat B on commission, said growth is
inevitable and necessary. He said he
had experience promoting growth
during his years on Lenoir City Council.
“I
want to grow the tax base and I think
most people want that,” he said.
Simpson said limiting all new
subdivisions to just two units per acre
is too restrictive. Simpson said
he doesn’t want broad restrictions on
PUDs, noting each development must be
looked at carefully. Some higher density
developments have proven quite
successful and property values have
risen, which creates more tax revenue,
he said. News Herald
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From Mark Matlock:
Commercial developer Mark
Matlock, who is running for
District 6 commission, said he
is very pro growth. He
said he has seen lots of changes
in the county, including an
increase in tax-producing
commercial real estate. He said
the growth of commercial
business requires a balance of
residential development.
“We go where the rooftops are,”
he said. “I can’t do what I do
in a desert.”
Matlock said he would like to
see the county follow a growth
plan based on a structured
vision.
“We’ve been running by the
seat of our pants,” he said.
News Herald
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From Julia Hurley:
Commissioner Julia Hurley, a
Realtor running for District 2
Seat A, is on record opposing
the moratorium. She said she was
at the meeting to hear what
homebuilders thought.
“They build here and create
jobs,” Hurley said. “Their voice
matters.”
Hurley also said she was
concerned the moratorium led to
a lawsuit against the county
from a homebuilder. She said the
county was now at risk of
losing millions of dollars.
News Herald
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Very
clearly, these three plan to remove all barriers that would
protect Loudon County residents and communities from the
disastrous over development that's taking place all around us,
all for the sake of a small class of people who want to make
money.
What
promises have these three candidates made to the
Home Builders Association Of Greater Knoxville?
There's one sure way to stop
them, go to the polls on election day Tuesday and vote. Just
don't vote for these three if you want to preserve Loudon
County.
Vote Van |
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