Who's Greener?
I had some of their answers, and now Grow Green Athens has released its candidate scorecards and given Athens-Clarke County Mayor Heidi Davison high marks, which isn't terribly surprising.
It also isn't a fan of Charlie Maddox, which, again, isn't surprising. Maddox favors relaxing the vast majority of policies in this town - like the stream buffer one, as well as the Greenbelt - so it's logical the organization would oppose him. Plus, he's acting as a hired gun for the Chamber, bashing Grown Green Athens as a special interest group.
Honestly, I didn't mind Tom Chasteen's answers. I had some disagreements, sure, but his appeared to be rational and well-formed. Out of all the candidates, my opinion has changed the most on him from the beginning of the campaign to today.
What is surprising is the low score for Andy Rusk. Now Rusk actually is in the construction business, so I wouldn't expect to see him with a perfect score, but this was kinda weird. Even weirder, and a bit disconcerting, is the fact that many of his statements and positions are, as the organization described them, 'factually incorrect.'
I'm not supporting his candicacy for mayor, but he's a sharp fella who've I chatted with before. Still, this isn't the first time I've heard those criticisms.
Even more interesting was Grow Green's dismissal of Ed Vaughan.
From the Banner-Herald:
Grow Green also criticized District 9 candidate Ed Vaughan for "a fundamental misunderstanding of the workings of local government," for example, by saying publicly that part of the commission's monthly agenda is crafted behind closed doors, when in fact it is done at public televised meetings and is available for citizen review at Athens City Hall and online. Vaughan scored one-and-a-half stars.
From Athens Grow Green District Nine Summary:
At a campaign rally on Sept. 12, he made a speech containing numerous inaccurate statements about the workings of local government. For example, he described the stormwater utility fee as a tax used to replace revenue lost when the commission lowered development impact fees – but ACC has never charged development impact fees (although we have suggested that they be explored as an option). He suggested that the Commission had raised the millage rate, but during Mayor Davison’s term the Commission has lowered, not raised, the millage rate. He also claims that the Commission’s “consent agenda” is crafted behind closed doors as a way to make controversial decisions without public scrutiny; in reality, the consent agenda contains non-controversial items that commissioners agree are likely to pass unanimously, and is put together at a televised public meeting where public input is taken.
I've had a couple of folks who I respect and trust urging me to take a closer look at Vaughan, but this kind of thing - even from Grow Green Athens which, admittedly, is a bit more intense than I am with regard to environmental policies - doesn't exactly fill me with confidence.
It also isn't a fan of Charlie Maddox, which, again, isn't surprising. Maddox favors relaxing the vast majority of policies in this town - like the stream buffer one, as well as the Greenbelt - so it's logical the organization would oppose him. Plus, he's acting as a hired gun for the Chamber, bashing Grown Green Athens as a special interest group.
Honestly, I didn't mind Tom Chasteen's answers. I had some disagreements, sure, but his appeared to be rational and well-formed. Out of all the candidates, my opinion has changed the most on him from the beginning of the campaign to today.
What is surprising is the low score for Andy Rusk. Now Rusk actually is in the construction business, so I wouldn't expect to see him with a perfect score, but this was kinda weird. Even weirder, and a bit disconcerting, is the fact that many of his statements and positions are, as the organization described them, 'factually incorrect.'
I'm not supporting his candicacy for mayor, but he's a sharp fella who've I chatted with before. Still, this isn't the first time I've heard those criticisms.
Even more interesting was Grow Green's dismissal of Ed Vaughan.
From the Banner-Herald:
Grow Green also criticized District 9 candidate Ed Vaughan for "a fundamental misunderstanding of the workings of local government," for example, by saying publicly that part of the commission's monthly agenda is crafted behind closed doors, when in fact it is done at public televised meetings and is available for citizen review at Athens City Hall and online. Vaughan scored one-and-a-half stars.
From Athens Grow Green District Nine Summary:
At a campaign rally on Sept. 12, he made a speech containing numerous inaccurate statements about the workings of local government. For example, he described the stormwater utility fee as a tax used to replace revenue lost when the commission lowered development impact fees – but ACC has never charged development impact fees (although we have suggested that they be explored as an option). He suggested that the Commission had raised the millage rate, but during Mayor Davison’s term the Commission has lowered, not raised, the millage rate. He also claims that the Commission’s “consent agenda” is crafted behind closed doors as a way to make controversial decisions without public scrutiny; in reality, the consent agenda contains non-controversial items that commissioners agree are likely to pass unanimously, and is put together at a televised public meeting where public input is taken.
I've had a couple of folks who I respect and trust urging me to take a closer look at Vaughan, but this kind of thing - even from Grow Green Athens which, admittedly, is a bit more intense than I am with regard to environmental policies - doesn't exactly fill me with confidence.
posted by Jmac at 5:29 PM
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