County Council (May 20)

These 3 pm meetings need to stop. Michael G. Thompson and whoever is advising him (it's obvious who it is but I don't want to spread things I cannot verify) are making a mockery of county government and not even attempting to pretend that there is any openness or accountability.

This is a coordinated political effort to shut out debate and any political opposition. Thompson needs to go. Any of his challengers would be a better councilmen than him or the rest of the county arrogance caucus (Thompson, R. Wilson, McAbee and Greer).

public meetings held before 600 are a common occurance all over America..

how does holding them accomplish any of your claims to the contrary?

Ive already asked for justificationon how we get away with taking away the right of thousands of our fellow citizens to be heard at a public meeting by holding them at 6:00 at night.... when we know for a fact that thousands of Anderson County residents cant..and never will..be able to attend such a meeting

and the only apparent response i received was essentially..because we've always done it that way...so it must be the only way..

and besides...who cares what those people think anyway..

if its important to you..you will be at a 3:00 meeting...same as with a 6:00 one..

gripiong about the start time is irrelevant and petty..and nothing more than yet another "thing" to try and slow down local government..

I like the 3:00 meetings. I do not think they limit anyone's ability to address council. Be there if you wish.

I do think that this new schedule is aimed at limiting the ability of certain people to hurl insults, grandstand, and campaign, in the case of Freemantle.

Perhaps if the CAVE group were more gentlemanly and lady-like, the old schedule might do the job. But we all know that's not going to happen.

It's not "opposition" that is the question. It's "disruption". I'm tired of it.

I have to agree . . .

I don't see how having a meeting at 3pm limits speech or accessability. If anything, Mr. Thompson has DOUBLED the availability of County Council by holding two meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.

While I freely admit I was never a math major in school, 2x2 still does equal 4. Four is twice as many meetings as what we were holding before Michael came up with this BRILLIANT idea to hold two extra meetings.

Granted, that 3pm meeting isn't always called, but, the precedent exists now ... four meetings a month.

Kudos to Chairman Thompson! More accessability to council in a formally called meeting at no additional cost to any of us.

BRILLIANT!

- SSHM

Notions that the majority of working adults are precluded from attending the 3 PM meeting unless they lose time from their job is wasted on most of you here. It does no good to point out the obvious.

However I will tell you this. I live in District 5. Most of my friends live in District 5. Not one person I know is voting for Michael Thompson this time. The only problem is their vote is split by the three challengers. So I don't know if Thompson's core following will get him re-elected or not. If he is to be re-elected he had better win outright (over 50%) on the first primary count. Because if he doesn't, he will be overwhelmed when backers of the three challengers unite behind his runoff opponent. I will do everything I legally can to see he is not re-elected!

There is a reason most of Michael Thompson's signs are at intersections and in front of vacant lots and fidelds. Whereas Tommy Dunn's signs are in yards in front of homes with people willing to show their preference and work for their candidate.