At Least We Know Britton Watson Can Abstain

Britton Watson

At the recent vote on Florence City Schools superintendent, two members abstained from voting on the issue. One was perennial odd member out Britton Watson. So she won't abstain from voting on a UNA issue even though the university pays her for public relations work, but she'll abstain from voting yea or nay for Dr. Jimmy Shaw because...we have no idea why.

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We've learned that the town of Lexington has a relatively new water department clerk. The previous long-time clerk who generated so many complaints left two years ago after being questioned by council members concerning bookkeeping irregularities. We're happy to clarify that we've received no complaints about the current clerk.

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Rep. Ed Henry is running for U.S. Senate? Perhaps now's a good time to remind voters that Henry is an admitted "murderer." No, we don't think he actually murdered anyone; we simply think he's more than just a little batty on several subjects.

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Here's a chance for readers to chime in: How do you feel about part-time employees (who don't receive benefits) being paid more per hour than full-time employees? It's a fairly common practice, and we don't oppose it. Yet we have a feeling it's about to become a local issue.

Readers? We await...

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We hope everyone remembers our blog gives you a voice. We don't have to agree with you to publish your comments. Just remember no vulgar language, libelous statements, or incitement to violence.
 

Britton Watson's SEI/Definitely "Junior"

A Statement of Economic Interest, or SEI, must be filed yearly by each office holder in Alabama. Here is a link to Florence school board member Britton Watson's:

Britton Watson's SEI

Since the SEI doesn't list her clients or how much they pay her, it would require the ethics commission to dig further into her finances to establish just how firmly she's aligned with the University of North Alabama. Yet just a quick glance reveals some glaring omissions. Why state that her husband's parents' business interests are "N/A?"

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Watson's business Blue Olive must not be booming. It moved from a large independent structure on the outskirts of downtown to a much smaller building on Court Street to an even less expensive building on North Wood Avenue. Not exactly traveling up the corporate ladder...

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We had to laugh when we looked up Greg Watson Jr.'s LinkedIn listing. Apparently he thought it looked more...hmmmm, we're not sure what he thought, but most think redneck...to call himself the "second." For any who may be confused as to when to use "II" in naming a child, here's a great article:

Junior or II?

What Is WRONG With Britton Watson?

Today Britton Watson voted against accepting a Craig Construction bid and starting work on the new middle school. Watson was the only board member to do so. She suggested it would be cheaper to keep students in the modular classrooms for a while. We have no idea how long she thinks these modular structures will suffice.

We will stress that Watson was not on the school board when it voted to tear down the old Coffee High building that was being used for a middle school. Perhaps that was a bad decision. Whether bad or good, it's too late to go back; the old building is gone.

This is tornado alley. Sure, there's advanced warning and shelters, but just how comfortable would you be sending your children to school in what amounts to fancy trailers when it's not a necessity? Perhaps we should just pull these children out of school and send them to work in a 19^th Century Welsh coal mine?

Again, we say what is wrong with Britton Watson? Sour grapes that she didn't get her way to sell UNA the property? The same university she's contracted to write PR for? Does anyone trust Britton Watson at this point?

Kudos to Bill Gullett for abstaining from voting on the construction bid due to the company he WORKS FOR doing business with Craig Construction. Did you get that one, Britton? A company you OWN does business with UNA, and you've voted against the citizens and children of Florence in order to appease your client. Why haven't you resigned yet? Waiting for the ethics complaint?

Calling for Britton Watson to Resign

A few years ago, an extremely caring and efficient Florence School Board member resigned. Why? It wasn't because he had committed some sexual indiscretion or ethics violation. No, it was because he felt something he had been quoted as saying had adversely affected his ability to serve the citizens of Florence. We disagreed with him, but it was his choice.

Now we're asking for Britton Watson to resign. She has a tremendous conflict of interest about which she's not been forthcoming. Yes, her ad agency works for UNA, or at least was working for the university when it issued this press release in December of last year:

UNA Press Release

How many on the board knew of this conflict? How many in the professional news business? How many in the general public?

No, Britton Watson cannot ethically work as a contract employee for the university and then sit all innocent on the school board and suggest that giving in to UNA is in Florence's best interests. Any caring parent in the city of Florence should demand her resignation effective immediately. Any concerned taxpayer should demand that she step down.

Britton Watson, we would love to hear from you. Have you anything to say concerning your behavior?

Apartments on Old Coffee Property?

Florence developer Eugene Sak currently owns 19 incorporated businesses in Florence. Several are connected to property/construction endeavors. At the most recent Florence School Board meeting, assisted by board member Britton Watson, Sak offered 6.5 million for the property. Was he just whistling Dixie?

As far as we know, the multi-acreage property isn't zoned for apartments...and most likely wouldn't be...ever. So why does Britton Watson now favor Sak's suit? That we don't know. Watson, presumably a New York native, owns, along with her husband, Blue Olive Advertising. We're not aware of a connection between the agency and any of Sak's companies, but that's not to say there isn't one. We appreciate all comments (just keep them clean).

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For those who are concerned or have simply inquired:

1. The Waterloo Road property long rejected by UNA is immediately adjacent to the campus.

2. There are no homes or businesses located there.

3. The property between the campus and Wildwood Park measures one to two miles in length and is of similar width, all undeveloped.

4. Many members of the West Florence community have been begging UNA for years to purchase and develop this tract of land.

5. Florence says it wants to move west; why doesn't UNA?

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