VICTORIA CHERRIE
Transit tax supporter Pat Mumford touted the results of Tuesday's Republican primary, saying voters consistently chose candidates who support the half-cent sales tax. But those trying to repeal the tax said the results are meaningless to the debate that will be settled in a Nov. 6 referendum.
"It was real easy to pick the winners of those races the day filing ended," said Jim Puckett, a former county commissioner whose group launched the petition drive to get the transit issue on the ballot. "To draw these conclusions is a real stretch." But Mumford, a Charlotte city councilman and chair of Vote Against the Repeal Committee, said anti-transit-tax voters had a chance Tuesday to show their disapproval.
"They did not do that," he said. "And I think you would have heard a different response (from the opponents) if the numbers were closer." A day after Mayor Pat McCrory and other transit tax supporters swept to easy victories, forces on both sides of the issue talked about the primary that drew only 5 percent of eligible voters. Both groups are knee-deep in drawing residents into their corner by November.
McCrory handily defeated Ken Gjertsen, a first-term school board member who made his anti-tax stance the center of his campaign.
In the City Council's at-large race, four candidates who supported the tax prevailed, while two who opposed it lost. Warren Cooksey, also a supporter, won the chance to compete for the District 7 seat. Though some people probably cast votes against McCrory and other candidates because of their support of the transit tax, Puckett and others said, voters more likely picked candidates who could beat Democrats in November.
Gjertsen was a good candidate, but he didn't raise nearly the money or campaign like McCrory, Puckett said. "You have to be willing to give up some things to get others," said Larry Bumgarner, a transit tax foe who said he voted for McCrory. "I want a Republican in office."
Many repeal supporters couldn't vote because they don't live in the city or are registered as Democrats, Puckett said.
Bumgarner also said the losing candidates who supported the repeal weren't "heavy hitters," or well-known candidates. Still, he said he talked to lots of voters who are fed up with problems, such as cost overruns, with light rail. "I think we'll see a much larger turnout for the transit issue in November," he said.
Choosing the mayor based on transit issues could be a challenge for voters since McCrory and his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Beverly Earle, both support the tax.
"We believe the tax itself is a good idea in the sense that it shares the cost with people who live outside Mecklenburg County," Earle said. But she said she is concerned that the mayor has mismanaged transit projects, adding, "There seems to be a lack of accountability." McCrory said his goal is to "take the burden of transportation off the property tax payer of Charlotte and have people throughout the region pay." Decision 2007
Transit tax supporter Pat Mumford touted the results of Tuesday's Republican primary, saying voters consistently chose candidates who support the half-cent sales tax. But those trying to repeal the tax said the results are meaningless to the debate that will be settled in a Nov. 6 referendum.
"It was real easy to pick the winners of those races the day filing ended," said Jim Puckett, a former county commissioner whose group launched the petition drive to get the transit issue on the ballot. "To draw these conclusions is a real stretch." But Mumford, a Charlotte city councilman and chair of Vote Against the Repeal Committee, said anti-transit-tax voters had a chance Tuesday to show their disapproval.
"They did not do that," he said. "And I think you would have heard a different response (from the opponents) if the numbers were closer." A day after Mayor Pat McCrory and other transit tax supporters swept to easy victories, forces on both sides of the issue talked about the primary that drew only 5 percent of eligible voters. Both groups are knee-deep in drawing residents into their corner by November.
McCrory handily defeated Ken Gjertsen, a first-term school board member who made his anti-tax stance the center of his campaign.
In the City Council's at-large race, four candidates who supported the tax prevailed, while two who opposed it lost. Warren Cooksey, also a supporter, won the chance to compete for the District 7 seat. Though some people probably cast votes against McCrory and other candidates because of their support of the transit tax, Puckett and others said, voters more likely picked candidates who could beat Democrats in November.
Gjertsen was a good candidate, but he didn't raise nearly the money or campaign like McCrory, Puckett said. "You have to be willing to give up some things to get others," said Larry Bumgarner, a transit tax foe who said he voted for McCrory. "I want a Republican in office."
Many repeal supporters couldn't vote because they don't live in the city or are registered as Democrats, Puckett said.
Bumgarner also said the losing candidates who supported the repeal weren't "heavy hitters," or well-known candidates. Still, he said he talked to lots of voters who are fed up with problems, such as cost overruns, with light rail. "I think we'll see a much larger turnout for the transit issue in November," he said.
Choosing the mayor based on transit issues could be a challenge for voters since McCrory and his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Beverly Earle, both support the tax.
"We believe the tax itself is a good idea in the sense that it shares the cost with people who live outside Mecklenburg County," Earle said. But she said she is concerned that the mayor has mismanaged transit projects, adding, "There seems to be a lack of accountability." McCrory said his goal is to "take the burden of transportation off the property tax payer of Charlotte and have people throughout the region pay." Decision 2007
Round and Round we go where it stops, well nobody knows. However, we can debate this subject and those of you who do wish to know the facts, here is where to go on September 19th, 2007:
Repeal It? Keep It? Transit Tax Debate in Charlotte
When: 8:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Where: Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Government Center
600 E. 4th Street, Charlotte, NC
(Directions are available at www.JohnLocke.org/events.)
Price: Free, but registration is required
Who this affects: The people of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County face an important vote in the November election. They must decide whether to keep or repeal the half-cent sales tax for mass transit.
The John Locke Foundation hosts a free, public debate on the topic.
Jeff Taylor of the Meck Deck blog and Sam Staley, director of urban and land use policy at the Reason Foundation, will speak for the tax’s repeal.
Pat Mumford, chairman of Vote Against the Repeal Committee, and Todd Litman, executive director of Victoria Transport Institute, will speak in favor of the tax.
0 comments:
Post a Comment