IT ALL COMES TO YOU, THE VOTERS OF WARD 3

Well my friends the time has come to determine who run represent ward 3 for the next four years.  The early voting period has come and gone, roughly 200 votes cast for ward 3 which is down considerably from the previous ward 3 election.  I can explain why low turnout is occuring, it seems as though turnout is getting lower each ward election cycle, whatever the reason you still need to get out and vote.
I have stated my case to many of of the voters in ward 3 but I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with what others residents are saying about me and hopefully you will see for yourself that our fellow neighbors have placed their trust in me.

"I can advise that Justin Destein has not received anything from builders, developers, preservationist or any other faction people refer to as the special interest groups.



This also applies to Scott Ware but I support Jason for Alderman. He has accepted nothing so therefore he is obligated to no one. His loyalty is to the citizens of Franklin. His is a smart person with a good background in business and an excellent attitude on life. I have hired and managed many people in my life and consider myself a good judge of people. Jason will be sure he completes any job he takes on, will not be swayed by black tie dinners, wine parties, etc and will do what is best for the citizens of our city. If you are looking for someone with no attachment to other groups vote for Destein in Ward Three and Smithson in ward four and you will get away from the reign of terror Jim Chittum talks about."
Bob Buelterman

"Amen to your post Mr. Bob Buelterman, I agree with your comments 100%. We need the candidates you mentioned as being a positive force for this community, and we need them in the worst way."

Robert M. McClurkan

"I asked the question of Mr. Destein, and he has answered it to my satisfaction. If elected, he will vote to borrow money complete Mack Hatcher. Which will increase the debt level.


But, to be fair, he will also not vote for what he considers to be unnecessary capital projects such as additional Streetscape work.

So, as time passes and debt is paid down, his program could lead to an eventual reduction in the City's debt level(if he can muster four other BOMA votes to go along with him)."
Jim Chittum

I hope that by seeing others comments about me will demostrate that others are willing to give me a chance to be a leader in our community.  I can only ask you for your vote and I can only ask that when you do vote that you please cast it wisely as it will have a lasting effect on our community for years to come.  Remember that a vote for the wrong candidate will lead to the wrong direction of Franklin and will be difficult to reverse.

Thank you for your support and your vote.

$2.6 million taxpayer dollars for "decorative touches"

Lately I have been receiving criticism from the Mike Skinner team for my call outs on his spending habits and his stance on the issues. So I fully expect to hear more of that after this post. Anyway, here is the latest that I have put together and maybe someone from his camp can provide us with some answers.

1. In march of this year Mike begins the process of arranging a public hearing meeting with TDEC regarding the Superior Essex plant and the releasing of chemicals and odors coming from the plant. A very worthwhile effort and I commend him for his effort.
2. The meeting was held and many neighbors were able to voice their concerns to the company officials, despite the outbreak of a Skinner campaign rally. Many of the Skinner team were there and threatened the company with a civil lawsuit, some called the area a "toxic soup" saying the area is a major health concern to all, for which I agree.
3. Switching topics to Street scape and the Columbia Ave project, which is located just 2 short miles from the plant. Mike voted to spend $2.6 million dollars to add "decorative touches". “This has always been an economically depressed area as long as I’ve been here,” said Alderman Mike Skinner, who represents a portion of the area being upgraded. “If this is what it takes to get those (businesses) to be viable, provide jobs and tax revenue and sales tax, then it’s worth it.” from the Tennessean article by Kevin Walters.
4. Maybe it is just me but how can we afford to spend $2.6 million taxpayer dollars on an area that is located just 2 short miles from an area labeled as a "toxic soup" plant that is harming our residents. What new jobs would want to come to an area that his campaign team has called a "toxic soup". Who would relocate a company to this area knowing that? Is anyone able to provide us with how much revenue we expect to get back out of this?
5. Then in a later vote he decides to oppose further spending on other projects. Maybe he felt guilty about his first vote to spend money we do not have.

There is no question that the area of Columbia Ave needs attention, but it is privately owned property. Why should you as a taxpayer have to pay the bill for these private property "decorative touches". Why would we spend that amount of money on an area that is located next to the "toxic soup" that he calls Superior Essex. Superior Essex is a problem and needs to be addressed, Mike should have gone to BOMA and raised the flag there and got them involved sooner. Instead his campaign has gone after other BOMA members saying that they did not care enough to attend the public hearing and they should be voted out. Further saying that "no one should run against Mike because he is the only Alderman who cares." Perhaps someone can also explain why his campaign also claimed they "got lucky" with the timing of the meeting.

I have made the claim that the public hearing turned into a campaign rally for Mike and I will stand behind that. If you say that I am lying I will simply challenge you to provide the transcripts for all to read and let the recorded words be the final say. Since Mike was able to arrange such a difficult meeting he shoud have no problem getting the transcripts to prove me wrong.

For the record, again, I am not challenging Mike's level of concern or his passion for Franklin as I know that Mike is a good man. I will however continue to challenge him on the issues and how they are voted on.

The Coffee Beanery

I just had a wonderful visit to the Coffee Beanery this morning and I was also able to secure the front table every Friday morning from 8am till 9am. For all of those who would like to meet me there for a morning beverage please feel free to do. I am sure that a conversation on the issues will break out. All are invited, even the Skinner supporters, only catch is it must be a civil discussion as this is a place of business. I look forward to seeing you there. Thanks

Superior Essex Town Hall Meeting / Mike Skinner Campaign Rally

On Thursday September 3rd, I attended the Superior Essex Chemical Town Hall meeting and Pubic Hearing regarding the chemical fumes and odor that is coming from their plant. During this meeting a Mike Skinner Campaign Rally brokeout and I found it rather self aggrandizing. Here you have a health and safety issue that is affecting our neighborhoods and the Skinner campaign takes multiple opportunities to self promote Mike and how lucky we are to have him as our Alderman. No less than four times did his campaign team stand up and tell the crowd of 125 or so residents that Mike was the reason this issue is being resolved and his leadership is getting results for us. His campaign manager Richard Berg took the podium twice that night to excoriate SuperiorEssex and sing the praises of Mike Skinner, I am sure that most of the residents that were in attendance did not know that Richard Berg is Skinners campaign manager so it all came across as residents for Skinner. Another Skinner team member who sat right next to told the residents at the end of the meeting the Mike Skinner was the only Alderman with the courage to attend thismeeting and take on a challenge like this as it affects all of Franklin. She went on to say that the other Alderman running for re-election should take notice and should ultimately be voted out, further more that no one should run againstMike Skinner because he doing the job better than anyone could, Mike replied"thank you for the commercial". There were other people from different counties basically to voice concerns over air pollution and one went as far to say that the industrial park was a "Toxic Soup of poisons" to which the crowd agreed as well as Richard Berg who after a few minutes of questioning the TDAC official, threatened the file civil suit against Superior Essex if the changes being made did not meet the residents satisfaction.

Here is what I know:

1. No company should be allowed to continue polluting our air, there were a lot of genuinely concerned residents who had every right complain about the odors.

2. I toured the Superior Essex plant and saw the changes that are being made; I hope they work as does everyone else. If the changes do not work then more must be done no matter what the cost to correct the issue.

3. The Skinner team was in full campaign mode that night, no question they are trying to turn this election into a one issue race, the environment.

Here are a few questions that I came away with after the meeting was over:

First, I received an email from a friend who received an email from a friend which reads:

Date: Tuesday, September 1,2009, 6:17 PM> Neighbors:
>
> Per Mike Skinner, Alderman Ward #3, there will be a public hearing this Thursday, Sept 3^rd at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall re: Franklin Air Quality. This is specifically regarding the plant behind our neighborhood that emits the strong paint/chemical odor. There have been some violations that our alderman is attempting to require the plant to clear up before their permits can be renewed. This is an important meeting for our neighborhood. Please attend and show your interest and support.

I am sorry folks but this email is troubling to me on several fronts. If this is an issue that affects so many of us, why was there not a better effort to let all of us know? It seems as though only the Skinner supporters really knew about this meeting. Secondly, the permit in question is going to be renewed, Mike did nothing to stop this process, even though the email above says he is making requirements before the permit is issued, and now his campaign manager is threatening a civil suit against Superior Essex if the changes do not work. On top of all of that, if this industrial area, which is located next to Colombia Ave, is a "Toxic Soup" as it was referred to then why did he vote to spend $100,000,000.00 over the next 20 years on Street scape? It makes no sense to me to spend that amount of tax payer dollars on an area that people are now calling "toxic". If this facility is such a toxic problem something should have been done two years ago when Mike was appointed to BOMA.

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Let the mud fly!

It seems as though I have struck a nerve in the Skinner campaign. On another Blog it seems as though is surrogates are worried about my campaign and are set to do everything they can to stop it. Here is a snipet of what they are saying

"JTD
You really are something.... (So now you would imply by your last 6:22pm post) that because of your "Party" identity that your core principles would somehow relate to how you spend "our" tax dollars. Well all I can say is "God save us" from politicians who call themselves fiscal conservatives and Republican in the same breath..... as if only those two things go hand in hand. Most Republicans these days appears to be social conservatives on issues but run wide open spending "our" tax dollars like drunken kids on leave at spring break.We have had a belly full of that over the past several years and look where it has left us a nation. Goodness the boys comment earlier was really more about "Good Ole Boys" not youth. But it might have been better placed for yourself as young. With age comes wisdom JTD and you bite way too easily. But as KA says it will be fun to watch it all Unfold....And we are watching and yes my money is on Skinner for the fiscal conservative vote and responsible development planning vote. It will be interesting when all of the four parties file their reports before the election to see who is giving whom money. And since there was no filing for you JTD and Skinner appears to be the only one in Ward 3 to file a report in the election office and the only other report we have is that where K-walt calls people on the phone and says where did you get your money from....(thanks K-Walt it is appreciated but the reporting should be there for the "serious person running" would be on file every time for all to see in DETAIL - yes playing with deadlines, filing deadlines and so forth is not needed in a local election), so we can only guess where the money is coming from in each campaign. And as a watchdog I like taking a look at all the Facts"

Not sure what there is to worry about, if I have nothing going for me then you should really be focused on your campaign.

Growing gangs in our neighborhoods

Here is an article about the growing gangs in our community and the cost that we will now have to take on in addition to the other costs being imposed on us. Some possible solutions we may consider are and I agree with Dana McClendon that if these offenders are caught that they should be made to clean up the graffiti as a part of community service. Second, we need to lift he hiring freeze on our Law Enforcement department and get more officers on patrol. Instead of spending $55K on a new website, lets invest in our children and give them other opportunities rather than joining a gang. My point is that there are alternatives than just saying make the homeowner clean up the mess.


Graffiti in our neighborhoods

A great day on the campaign trail.

So I spent Sunday on the campaign trail walking through the neighborhoods and I must say it was very productive. I have the pleasure of meeting so many people and listening to what you have to say. For the most part my message is being well received, there are a few exceptions which is OK, but I am being told that people want better communication and to have their voice heard in a bigger way. I am hopefull that the turnout this year will be bigger than previous years and that what you are expressing to me on your door steps and living rooms will translate to you getting to the polls on Oct 27th. Turnout is the key and is the first step in getting your voice heard. Thanks to all the people I spoke with on Sunday and I look forward to speaking with other nieghbors in the upcoming weeks and months. See you soon.

Jason Thomas Destein

Water rates increasing again

It's a good thing we spent $55K on a new website so residents can easily view how much our water rates will rise again this year and next year and the next year and the well you get it......

Water rates to increase....again

A GREAT CAUSE

If you have not read or heard this story please take a few minutes to read this well written article. Hopefully it will touch your heart and allow you to open up your wallet for a donation to this organization. Thanks.

Williamson County Child Advocacy Center

Here are the candidates

So here are your choices Ward 3, if you haven't seen the article written by Kevin Walters here it is.

Hopefully you will see a clear distinction between myself and the other candidates that are running. The current incumbent is not representing us well, no communication to any of us outside of his circle, another candidate who proposes to cut spending to help grow our city, and another candidate focused on recycling.
I hope I am setting myself apart from the other candidates in this race, I do not doubt that they are good people with good intentions, but we need to get this election right and can not afford to get it wrong.