A Muscle Shoals Taxpayer Speaks - Part II

A second Muscle Shoals resident/taxpayer/voter has sent in a take on the upcoming elections:

As I have watched videos and read Facebook posts of the candidates that have qualified for the upcoming municipal election, I have begun to notice a trend that I am concerned about. So, I have taken some time to investigate some issues and would like to make our citizens of Muscle Shoals aware of them.

My dad was a long time city employee for Muscle Shoals. I am a graduate from MSHS, along with my children and currently where my grandchildren attend school.  My dad has since passed away but I remember the hard work and dedication he gave to our city. I remember him telling us it takes everyone doing their job to keep this city running.

I’ve kept my eye on the candidates that are running and thought about some of the choices they have decided to run on.  All candidates have a good reputation and have done well in life.  It has come to my attention that certain candidates are dedicated to run on a platform that the School System is what keeps our City running.  

My spouse and I called a few friends and asked if they happen to notice a Power Struggle over this issue?

 

Most of the answers we got were...

It seems the School System is having a hard time financially and wants control over who resides in City Hall.  

One friend also said, it was sad to see how the School System thinks they are above others and wants the City to support them financially at all cost.

I did have a friend that thought the school administrators and teachers were some of the best we have ever had. I agreed with them, but they were still upset that the School System is putting certain people to run against candidates.

I have also been told that the School System has created a Facebook page that is a PAC to push their candidates. Purpose: This PAC raises money and submits donations to support certain causes as well as candidates running for public office who understand and support our interest and concerns on the issues facing our local community.

I called and asked a few questions to a City Councilman. He was kind enough to answer my questions without his input. The City of Muscle Shoals has always supported the School System and gives up to 1.5 million dollars yearly to the School System. They have purchased land and helped with bond issues over the years. They were a big help financially when building the new high school, career academy and stadium. There is no way the City will ever pull the plug on helping the School System.  He and I both agree the City will always be great supporters for our School System.

After watching the Mayoral debate Thursday night... I can see where Mike Lockhart wants the job, but can’t find his way out of the hole he has dug by being a lazy councilman for the last 8 years.  He talks in circles and has definitely NOT got a vision for this City. He had aligned himself with SEDA, Shoals Chamber and NexGen. He is also paying Click Sygenry a lot of money to manage his campaign. He has to have all these people to market him, and in my opinion they are doing a very poor job or he's just not got what it takes. I asked some questions about his campaign finances and learned where I could acquire them, they are public knowledge. Let me make something clear about SEDA & Shoals Chamber, they are one of the best assets to our community and we are very fortunate to have them. SEDA was created and put in place to work with each city/community and SEDA is funded by local governments and area businesses together. Shoals Chamber is a membership program and their board of directors are ALL businessmen and women from Florence. Shoals Chambers works hard for those who pay for memberships. I do not think if you, as a political candidate, have not been involved with them in the past will in no way hinder your abilities if you are elected. All our political candidates will be more than glad to get involved with them once elected. As for Mike Lockhart he is trying to show he has "experience" by using a multitude of people, places and things he has not been involved in, but is now paying them for advice. Rumor is... one candidate did not do the Mayoral Forum because NexGen is backing Mike Lockhart and that should be a conflict of interest.

Mike mentioned the School System more times than I could count and even referenced having several meetings with superintendent Dr. Holden recently.  Mike Lockhart has sold himself to the School System for all their votes.  

So why is it the School System has decided to push certain candidates?  I’m still asking those questions and maybe you should too!!!!

As I watched a recent video of a candidate, she stated she is not backed by the school system, but openly told many she had been approached to run and which council seat she needed to run for- Place 2 or Place 5.  What was bothersome is what she went on to say... how our School System is what makes this town what it is.  Basically what she is saying is... the School System keeps the lights on for this City and that the City has profited greatly from the School System.  It has received sidewalks and it has created revenue for this City by people moving here because of the School System.  I agree the School System has brought many families to this area.  It has helped our community greatly and I think our citizens and ALL the candidates that are running will agree to that.  BUT if you knew the City’s revenues and grants that have been received you would know the City itself does quite well and has done well in the past.  Many grants have been applied for and received to pay for the amenities we have here in the city.  Ford and Renyolds had well paying jobs a long time ago, families came to Muscle Shoals then and put this City on the map.  Our School System began a journey to excellence a long time ago from the hard working families that this City has been in the past.  For those people that keep saying “everyone moves here for the School System”, we appreciate you but this City was great before you came.  

Having a father as an employee of the city - the City of Muscle Shoals has always been good stewards of their money and taken care of the City.  Maybe we should remember that our City has been the pillar for our School System not the other way around.   To those that think the School System is the most important aspect of ourCity... the City keeps THEIR lights on and the City has been the driving force behind the community and school.   We are fortunate to have such a wonderful City that dedicates itself to having great employees, city departments, citizens and a school system.  

Our City leadership is important!!  But let’s not get that confused with our School System and keep in mind who should run our City.  We need to see the difference between the two and it should not be a Power Struggle to have our City run by the School System.  

Sincerely,

A Concerned Citizen