time for 2nd rate status to go

On Saturday, I was asked a very interesting question.  “Why don’t people from Sevier County like those of us from Seymour”?  Stop and ponder that question for a minute.  

My wife and I built a house in Seymour 10 years ago. Since we made the decision to move up on the family land, I have listened to those Seymour High School alumni and others bemoan the fact that the politicians in Sevier County don’t care about us, that all the money in Sevier County stays in Sevierville and even that all of the sports calls go against Seymour.  If I have heard “redheaded stepchild” once, I have heard it a thousand times.  This has been going on a long time.  But why has this been happening?  It is quite simple actually, it is because it is allowed and even encouraged.  It is a reflection of who we ask to represent us.

Up until roughly 8-9 years ago Seymour was a farm community.  Since that time we have grown to a sizable community with a substantial increase in household income.  The problem is that we continue to elect the same people who want to run it like a farm community.  Bill Oakes has been in the 6th district seat for two terms,  Buster Norton has been a commissioner for 23 years and Judy Godfrey was given her seat 5 years ago when her long serving husband Ray passed away.  In sports terms, they are a dynasty.

In order for Seymour to begin earning the respect it deserves we must first move away from the status quo.  To continue on the same path as the last 20 years will mean several things for Seymour and ALL of them are bad.  We will continue to have sub-par funding for our schools.  We will continue to allow developers to have carte blanche over any piece of land in Seymour thus creating more traffic, over crowded schools all the while receiving no funds for road upgrades and budget cuts for our schools thus eliminating valuable teaching aide positions.  These commissioners will continue to make decisions without any regard to how we feel on the matter.  Quite simply put, our county commissioners are no longer capable of leading Seymour.  That is if they ever were.

It is time for Judy Godfrey, Buster Norton, Bill Oakes and Harold Pitner to go.  Their arrogance and sense of entitlement and lack of any clue what their constituents want is what has led others around the county to label us second rate.  If we want to become a first class community, it is time to elect some first class representatives.  

Vote May 4, 2010 at your local precinct.