No one fooled by ‘kill the messenger’ missives
To the editor:
Having been a successful political speech writer for some years in my youth, I was amused by Steven Teuber’s guest opinion just printed, (first, let me state that I have been a faithful viewer of school board meetings for a decade).
Mr. T.’s piece is really a “kill the messenger” effort aimed, obviously, at Bob Chilmonik’s recent “no tax” opinion. Mr. T. asserts that Bob has been coming forth with ideas and suggestion with little or no foundation or supporting data. But I have heard Bob quote reams of data and evidence from state and local public records which openly contradicts board assertions. Bob is usually attacked viciously or silenced with parliamentary trickery, instant adjournments, etc. Fortunately these intimidations are ineffective.
And now Mr. T.’s efforts in Tallahassee to free up construction funds has grown into permission to increase property taxes, a disaster in these desperate times. Bob states that he will not vote for any tax increase until there has been a genuine, in-depth analysis of all current spending. As a constant listener I know that no such study has ever been discussed, just the usual rubber stamping of the Browder dictates.
In one paper’s version of this opinion. Mr. T. asserts that Bob is just doing this for politics and getting his name in the paper, spelled correctly, but, as I understand it, Mr. T. has already stated to the board attorney that he may not vote for any tax increase. presumably has seen the upwelling of negative sentiment against the tax, and presumable considering any re-election hopes, has, himself, become a political animal. And, while his name is unpronounceable, he, too, wants it spelled correctly.
Lastly, if Mr. T. is considering any other opinions, they should begin with the traditional “once upon a time…”
Peter Stewart Hare
Cape Coral