Ultra Conservative Views

So now the Cindi-clones..AKA "old" taxpayers association...AKA Rick Driver fans have added another title to hide behind to swell thir perceived ranks...

"Members of the ultra consrvative side"

You cant call the same group of people by a different title...

I seriously doubt that any of this group is different from the mmebrship of any of the other groups.... at least those that support positive group and progressiv mentalities dont try and change their name every so often.

“prevail5 hours, 19 minutes ago permalink
Art, This sometimes ultra conservative and sometimes conservative Republican will disagree on some of your findings.
.. We want the King, Joey Ray Preston, fired and run out of town within the first quarter of 2009. We want to keep track of where he moves so we can 'recall' him to answer questions when we get a full audit.
.. Our lack of trust is the same for Ron 'Benedict Arnold' Wilson and King Joey Ray Preston. There is no trust in either of them. That's ZERO trust.
.. I agree with most. Gracie 'Funny' Floyd is beatable and we will do it in November.
.. Agree with balance of your findings.
.. Need to add some more names to those that will be in the unemployment line but I wont do it now.”

Prevail,

Most ultra conservatives in Anderson County do realize that Mr. Joey Preston greatest talent is hiring the right people for the right jobs. If we lose Mr. Preston, we will also lose his team, of the best and the brightest. In addition, good people will not want to work for our county, in fear of the political climate.

I do expect the New Council to be assertive and demanding of greater openness and transparency. However, for the sake of the County moving forward, I do expect them to be reasonably supportive of the County Administration.

In District 2, Gracie Floyd is Royal. However, I am not completely sure that she will run for another term.

Posted: July 26, 13:30.

JDTippett,

The relation between the County Council and the County Administration is a two-way street. Council members have been elected by the people, which is a privilege that comes with mandates and responsibilities. And the County officials have been recruited by the Administrator, who have duties and rights. However, both groups are human beings, who need support and encouragement to function effectively.

For the sake of our community’s future, I hope that all members of both sides will focus their energy and attention on serving, rather than being served. Furthermore, I hope that residents of both political aisles will find a way to settle their differences in a positive manner and examine the issues through facts, not ideology.

I am cautiously optimistic that the New Council will achieve both goals of greater government transparency and a progressive move forward.

A Venter,

My expectations of Ms. Cindy Wilson’s support from the New Council can be summarized as follows:

• Mr. Bob Waldrep support for Ms. Wilson is strong, but not blind. His voting record does not always lock step with Cindy’s votes.
• Ms. Gracie Floyd, if she chooses to run, is the strongest in her opposition to Ms. Wilson.
• Mr. Eddie Moore, who is probably the most conservative member, is planning to demand an audit and greater transparency. His level of support for Ms. Wilson will depend on what the audit will reveal.
• Mr. Tom Allen is probably the most moderate conservative on Council. He is also planning to demand an audit and greater transparency. His support of Ms. Wilson will depend on each issue.
• Mr. Tom Dunn is a member of very conservative values and very progressive ideas for moving forward. His support for an audit and greater transparency is strong. However, his support for the Administration could be just as strong.
• Mr. Ron Wilson’s dislike for Ms. Wilson is deep. So, his support for Ms. Wilson’s positions will be very limited.

The deciding factor for the overall support for Ms. Cindy Wilson or Mr. Joey Preston will depend mostly on how each of them can adjust to the new Council dynamics. Since Ms. Wilson believes very deeply in her position, I do not expect her to change much. However, I do expect Mr. Preston to make significant changes in his methods of communication.

Posted: July 26, 22:00.

I'll just make a quick comment and return to my hibernation. JD made an interesting comment earlier that part of the administrator's job is to get along with the council and do (within the law) as the council directs. That's not a quote - but I think the gist of the point. Right.

And until the council changes direction, he has done just that. Come January if the change everyone expects is realized, he might be much more forthcoming with information. It seems to me that a big part of him "withholding" information has been at the direction of the MAJORITY of the council members.

Ever heard the phrase, "damned if you do, damned if you don't"?

I've basically supported Preston on the grounds of innocent until proven guilty. There have been times where he has appeared a little too smug about Council's decisions NOT to provide certain types of information. But based on Cindy's harassment of him and his employees - it's not surprising that he took a defensive position.

If the council appears antagonistic in the new year, I would expect him to preempt a dismissal by quiting. I would expect many of his staff to do the same. The economy is not that bad in all sectors and people with technical skills like accountants and city managers are not going through a recession.

I am encouraged that people Art is talking to are not still calling for a full, every line, forensic (whatevertheheckyouwanttocallit) audit. But if there are suspected abuses in specific departments or areas - let the audit begin. With the budget overruns in Police in recent years that would be a reasonable area and I would expect a call for a deeper look at Econ Development as well.

I should also say I am enjoying the fighting between Ron Wilson and Cindy and her supporters. I just wish they were fighting for the right reasons.

Bye Bye.

Prevail, you're an a55hole. My appologies to all the decent bloggers here. I am sufficiently educated and skilled to word my disregard for Prevail in a more tactful manner, but I simply don't think Prevail's worth the extra wear and tear on my brain. I have a high level of tolerance for much of the B.S. I sift through on this blog, but Prevail has absolutely no freakin' clue what he's talking about.

Prevail just name one management level person you think is not qualified to hold their position in Anderson County and I'll call B.S. on you. Otherwise, shut your piehole or change the subject to somethng you do know about.

OK Prevail, or is it Prevarication? In your usual form you ducked the question (hint: name one management level person at the county who does not have legitimate credentials to do their job) and tried to discount me as somebody who's supping at the trough. If you must know, I am neither a consultant nor a hired gun. I'm just an ordinary guy who is tired of people like you running down our community for kicks without any basis whatsoever.

Suffice it to say all. I've seen the kind of shameless political organizations you speak of. Places where the Administrator or whomever is in charge rotates his political cronies in and out of jobs: one day you're the personnel director and the next you're purchasing director. That does not happen at Anderson County. Most of the current department heads at Anderson County have degrees in their field or either worked their way through the ranks over many years (the latter is often better than the former). Because of your personal hatred of Joey Preston, you cannot acknowledge that on the whole, he assembled a competent organization. As for a rewards system for those are loyal to the organization and the BOSS, that is endemic in every organizational culture. How many of us reward those who subvert organizational goals and try to cut our throats? All employees at Anderson County have been rewarded with better pay and a more professional work environment during Joey Preston's tenure. Yet, job for job if you compare Anderson County salaries with County of similar size, we still lag behind other Counties. Some employees may be publicly a bit more defensive when confronted by people like you because they are tired of being slandered and having their motives questioned. Or perhaps their just tired of having their friends and their family (including small kids) as why those people on the radio or the newspaper say such mean things about you. For the most part, county employees just want to do their jobs and not be harassed by people like you.