Editorials, Elected Officials, Elections

Money Talks … The Rest of the Story

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The rest of the story begins with the full disclosure of Melisa Brown’s campaign. In my last editorial I asked the question what happened to the $1,376.74 balance of the previous disclosure on her campaign finance form. I was told by a clerk at the Election Commission that everything was “zeroed out” and she had not spent over a thousand dollars. I later learned that this was inaccurate information, so another citizen took the time to go to Murfreesboro and get the remaining disclosures. Alderman Brown did spend $1,373.64 through Vistaprint on postcard mailers. It is our goal to always give accurate information.

As you recall, the last editorial I wrote focused on the amount of money given to candidates by builders and the ironic timing of the removal of the sprinkler ordinance.  I will not elaborate on the importance of sprinklers in saving the lives of residents and firefighters, but after the last Citizens Forum it sickens me to hear money is the key element that was focused on by each person/builder who spoke.

Meanwhile I did receive the last two pages of the contribution list from the Waldron Campaign. Here is the list of builders, developers, and other people in the construction business:

Stan Glasgow, formerly Outback Builders
Dale Holmes, Holmes Construction
Sandra Russell, Holmes Construction
Randy Holmes, Holmes Construction
Infinity Homes, (home builder Jerry Butler)
Amnon Shreibman, Builder/developer*
Roy Waldron, Builder
Scott Butler, Builder
Joe Morgan, Contractor
Gregory Waldron, Builder
David Waldron, Builder
Charles Waldron, Builder
Scott Butler, Builder
Mordechai Minuskin, Real Estate
Matthew Morgan, Contractor
Chad Ritter, Nashville Marble/Bath
Scott Ritter, Nashville Marble/Bath
Sandra Russell, Holmes Construction
Randy Holmes, Holmes Construction
Dale Holmes, Holmes Construction
David Waldron, Builder
Gregory Waldron, Builder
Charles Waldron, Builder
$200.00
$500.00
$500.00
$500.00
$300.00
$500.00
$200.00
$150.00
$750.00
$500.00
$500.00
$500.00
$300.00
$500.00
$750.00
$250.00
$250.00
$400.00
$400.00
$400.00
$500.00
$500.00
$500.00
7/1/2014
7/23/2014
7/23/2014
7/23/2014
7/7/2014
6/30/2014
6/27/2014
8/22/2014
9/18/2014
9/22/2014
9/22/2014
9/22/2014
9/25/2014
10/2/2014
10/20/2014
10/21/2014
10/21/2014
10/28/2014
10/28/2014
10/28/2014
11/17/2014
11/17/2014
11/17/2014

The total of ALL contributions made to the Waldron campaign was $16,470 and there was an additional loan to the campaign for $3,800, bringing the total amount raised for his election to $20,270.  OVER HALF of the campaign contributions came from builders. These are the very same builders and developers who built out Lake Forest on lots that were too small, installing inadequate driveways, and designing streets too narrow to accommodate street parking.

Do you see where we are going with this?  Do you see now that the city has started the backslide to the old way of cutting corners so that people with money can make even more money?

What is the price of public safety?  $9,750.00.  That’s how much money went to the Dennis Waldron campaign for mayor from people who care more about the almighty dollar than the safety of our citizens and the safety of our firefighters.

Now you can see it in black and white: money talks and we do indeed have the best politicians in La Vergne that money can buy.  And now you know the rest of the story!

*Owes the city thousands of dollars in back taxes. Can’t pay taxes, but can make a significant campaign contribution.

Here are the latest two pages I have and I believe there are more pages that still need to be scanned. I will add them as I get them scanned.

DW Disclosure New 1

DW Disclosure New 2