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Archives |
| May
9, 2006 Pete Smyke Letter to the Editor Over the last several elections, Alpine’s voters have strongly rejected the concept of a small elite running the city for their personal gain at taxpayers’ expense. Now disturbing patterns emerging from state campaign finance reports show that the campaigns of Mayor Mickey Clouse, Diana Asgeirsson, Manuel Payne and Annabel Holguin have received financing from the same six persons totaling over $3,700 dollars. Multiple donations to different candidates in the same amounts –some as high as $500– reveal what appears to be an effort by a small group of people to take over Alpine’s city council. It is worth noting that all of the candidates mentioned above found reasons not to face the public at the recent Vision for Big Bend forums, although now the question of whether or not they were ordered not to attend begs an answer. Monetary support for candidates is entirely legal. However, this level of support from so few people along with candidates who avoid public scrutiny, raises serious issues of public accountability, especially if these candidates get into office. Several of the contributors have also benefitted from previous controversial council decisions. While these contributions may be legal, they are hardly ethical or neighborly. Alpine suffered through decades of horrible discrimination precisely because a select few felt justified in controlling everyone else’s lives. We can’t let that attitude return . As voters we must send the strongest possible message to those who would control our city council, our future, and our tax dollars for themselves, and reject these puppet candidates who will only represent the people who finance them. Besides, the current city council must be doing something right to so completely p-- off these “self-interested six”! Vote on May 13 to keep our current city council members and change the mayor. Sincerely, Peter A. Smyke 303 N. 1st St. Alpine, TX 79830 432/837-9087 politburro@sbcglobal.net |