Blount Mayor to Citizens: STFU
Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham continues to be uninterested in what the citizens have to say. And has, in fact, been outright hostile:
Mayor Jerry Cunningham apparently believes he must vilify those who disagrees with him. This kind of arrogance towards citizens is inexcusable and can not be tolerated by the citizens.
Here’s a letter that was written to the local paper about the mayor’s antics:
Our Mayor, Sheriff Berrong, Deputy Ledford and Ron Dunn of the Sheriff’s Office have said that our citizens’ group turns facts into fiction. They degrade our complaints by calling them “dishonest and disgusting.” Citizens for Blount County’s Future has never demeaned our duty officers. Our criticism has been directed at top management for excessive expenditures. According to the state of Tennessee’s Annual Audit Report ending June, 2006, well over $80,000 was spent by the Sheriff on travel. Couldn’t some of this have been used for raises for deputies? Couldn’t drug fund money be spent on various purchases, again freeing up budget money for payroll increases? The taxpayers are not to blame for underpaid law enforcement. We do not control our tax money once it’s been turned over to the Sheriff. Now, is that fact or fiction?
I still think a bunch of people should show up with Sharpies at the mayor’s office and ask to look at the budget.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Just be sure to take a camera crew so they can capture his furious indignation and refusal.
Then they can play his invitation and refusal back to back.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Oh and don’t be afraid to question budget items whose names are not self explanatory without actual receipts.
For instance, a $2,000 item labeled Outreach to Improve International Image or OIII, sometimes referred to as O3, could actually be the purchase of a pair of Italian shoes. Don’t know without the receipt or you ask.
That $80,000 dollar expenditure for Motorized Equipment, (Internal Combustion, Diesel) Road and Street, might actually be the Mercedes now titled in the Mayor’s name.
February 10th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Jerry knows how to use the old huffy puffy attitude to shut people up. you just have to hang in there and do the right thing. if you hang long enough they’ll have to give you a job. personally, i think they should do away with cell phones for officers. they could save a 100,000 that way. what’s wrong with the old two way.