SURPRISE? CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE STILL EMBEDDED IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY GOVERNMENTS!
Future Real Estate Office of our former interim mayor and
newly elected alderman. This was the Marusa family home
that was finally sold by Mr. Dugger as a real estate agent
to Ken Kelley Real Estate. Kelley quickly got the property
rezoned commercial courtesy of our former interim mayor.
Now Dugger is moving in his new real estate offices thanks
to Ken Kelley Realtor. Opps, forgot to mention the realtor
fee paid to Dugger while serving as interim mayor based
on some $300,000 as the final selling price. Very nice and
tight working realtionship...no conflict of interest here?
Franklin and many other cities in the county are afflicted
with the same or much worse conflicts of interest here's
a recent post in the FranklinKoolAid Blog.
filings show elected officials' own stake in votes
Staff Writers
In pertinent part:
At least 18 elected officials in Davidson and
In pertinent part:
At least 18 elected officials in Davidson and
three of Middle Tennessee's fastest-growing
counties -Williamson, Rutherford and Sumner
have development or real estate interests, a
Tennessean review of hundreds of ethics dis-
closure shows.
The Thompson's Station mayor ushered in a
controversial sewer-system deal that benefits his
housing development.
A Sumner County commissioner approved a
high-end sub-division just months before he
bought into it.
And Franklin's mayor has faced criticism from
those who say his votes favor companies con-
nected to the major developer who signs his
paycheck. More builders-, developers- and real
estate speculators-turned-politicians
are likely as the suburban counties continue to
expand, said Vanderbilt law professor Stefanie
Lindquist, who has taught ethics in politics.
Those people seek leadership roles because they
have a lot at stake in the political process, she said.
"It has a stink to it. It looks like a small group of
people are benefiting," said Lindquist ,Vanderbilt
Law Professor.
Vicious Circle:
Franklin Mayor Tom Miller works for developer
Franklin Mayor Tom Miller works for developer
The Parks Group .Competing companies have
accused Miller of forcing them to improve a road
that would benefit a subdivision developed
by The Parks Group's sister company, which also
employs Miller's wife. Miller has said he doesn't
see a conflict of interest because he didn't gain
personally. (Goes pretty deep!)
Worst part of the whole mess is that voters cont-
inue to re-elect these people to office. When will
voters ever learnhow much this reflects on each
local town government?
Tell us how you all feel about this good ole' boy
system?
posted by Guest Writer at 12:25 AM
11 Comments:
What is wrong with Alderman Dugger moving his insurance company to a more visable location, probably at cheaper rent? Sounds like a smart business move.
He is but one vote and could not have passed the rezoning himself.
Since many, many people are at least indirectly involved with development in some way, governments would have a hard time finding qualified candidates willing to run for an unpaid or poorly paid office that takes up so much of their time if they excluded everyone involved with real estate in some way.
An overwhelming majority of people have voted Dugger back into office again and again. Can it be they
think he is an honorable person who would not let his few real estate sales interfer with his integrety as a person and duties as an elected official? It is doubtful he would jeopardize his standing in the community for a few thousand dollars of commission.
Just because there are a few unethical persons elected to office, does not prove all are bad, or that the vast majority of voters know less than those who are always quick to criticize others.
Hello 12:00 PM...sorry nice try, but we think the blog is right in using the term "embedded" meaning ONCE..THESE politican/relators get in you cannot get them out. Voters vote them back in because in some strange,twisted way of thinking they feel they owe them for favors, etc. Bottom line who can explain voters' reason for doing anything??? One thing for sure the county is overrun with this kind of conflict of interest.
12:00 PM..It is obvious you have never seen Dugger in action at a BOMA MEETING. He repeatedly votes for himself...totally ignores correct procedure...refuses to admit mistakes and won't correct them. He protects new home developers...refuses to collect any impact fees...stonewalls support for expansion of fire dept and police budget. Protects his "guaranteed majority" vote on everything...and finally pulls all the strings of his puppet-mayor. Now talk about Dugger's honorable
integrity as an elected official.
Most voters are blind because they don't attend any meetings.
Wrong on your first observation 12:07
Have observed Dugger for years, but haven't seen the actions you state.
I don't agree voters are blind, but you are right on that not enough attend any meetings.
Say what 9:39 AM? If indeed you have observed Dugger for years you must have been asleep, absent or totally blind. Where were you when Dugger totally lost control of two BOMA meetings trying deperately to stonewall giving the fire and police any money??? Dugger has continued the Knapper kind of local government..."don't tell the voters a thing and don't let them speak out!" Don't bother to attend any more BOMA MEETINGS you are a blind supporter of Dugger. Enough said.
Sorry 12:49, I will attend many more BOMA meetings; I don't need your permission.
I was there when Dugger and the 3 other Aldermen asked repeatedly for Curtsinger to postpone the vote so that an alternative site for the fire hall expansion could be DISCUSSED FIRST.
Curtsinger was the only stonewaller. He clearly orchestrated those outbursts.
Dugger did not lose his composure, but the audience did. He probably should have, but I am glad Mayor Dugger did not order all the misbehaving people out.
That was no way to act out in a public meeting, and probably the main reason Curtsinger lost by a huge margin.
One of Mayor Dugger's first changes from the Knapper regime was to change the way citizen comments were done and at each meeting personally tell the answers to several questions he knows the community is curious about; lawsuits, rumors, etc.
VERY, VERY few town governments allow citizens as much freedom to ask and have questions answered in meetings as Nolensvillians have.
In other towns, citizens speak a few minutes if they behave, and are listened to; no more than that.
Every BOMA cannot disentegrate into a meeting like the one in the gym, or the Public Q & A Workshop Mayor Dugger held.
People don't understand why a few are still so down on Dugger. He stepped up when the job was dumped in his lap. He pleased an overwhelming majority of people with his performance as evidenced in the November election.
How do you know people vote because of favors. Have you talked to all voters? I didn't vote for any of them because of any favors.
Dugger and the others won because there weren't a lot of candidates. Of the ones there were, the best came out way on top.
We moved to Bent Creek last year. Friends of ours moved into new subdivision off or Sunset. Both of our families witnessed Dugger's total demise in those famous BOMA MEETINGS mentioned above. After reading the comments we are convinced more than ever Dugger and friends orchestrated the last election with his puppet-mayor selection and the outrageous hate mail campaign against another candidate. Thank God we don't have to attend these awful puppet meetings. Sad to say voters usually get what they deserve.
Go for it 10:58 how right-on you and your friends are! Look at 7:15 still trying to twist the truth. Motion was on the floor to expand the fire hall...Dugger tried everything he could to cancel it. Too Bad...we will stand with our Volunteer Firemen and Policemen. Dugger was so mad he could have exploded. He later offered a "lame" apology. Curtsinger was the only alderman who backed up our Fire Chief and Policemen. There are many people here who are "full-up" with people like
7:15. Please peddle your fairy tales somewhere else.
We have seen this pseudo government in action and are very upset. As a new resident in Bennington and a person with experience in some of these affairs, I suggest it won't be long before this system spirals into the pits. And then dugger will blame it all on lothers as he and alexander count their loot.
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