Now allow me this: IF and I repeat IF you are happy/ content with being taxed to the max for most of the past two (2) decades, than re-elect him. He has been part of the Vienna Council for at least 11 of those 20 years. If and I repeat IF you are happy with the massive spending over the past three and a half years, re-elect him. IF and I repeat IF you are happy to be a victim of the Deceit, Deception, Misinformation and Misdirection from the City Council for the past years re-elect him.
Your other choice is Mr. Azinger, who as I have noted before is as bad as Mr. Rapp. So far, he has managed to hide his spending behind/ or with the rest of the City Council. But if one looks at his championing of the $1.35/ hour or 5% increase last year for the City Employees and his pushing this year for yet another $.15/ hour ($312/ year) on top of the already to be paid $.35/ hour ($728)/year (which would then be a ($1040/ year increase) in longevity pay, than vote for him. His filing rhetoric that he wants to stop/ slow down the spending does not match his actions as he rushes to buy votes along with the rest of the City Council.
And remember his last attempt to get a bill passed as the Delegate from this District that would have required each and everyone of us to go to a Doctor or the ER to get a prescription to buy an over the counter item for stuffy noses such as Sudafed. Why? Well here was the ONLY good part in his effort and Mr. Ellem the co-sponsor on this poorly thought out bill; to stop people making Meth from getting the ingredient in so many of these types of items. Fortunately, the bill bit the dust NOT because of the massive inconvenience to ALL the innocents but the cost to the State of another $146 Million in Medicaid costs.
Then lastly but for sure not least, you have me; more on that later in the weeks/ months ahead. But, I am running; I am serious and I am asking for your votes.
Going back to the two (2) lawsuits. The City Attorney has as would be expected came out big time to have the cases dismissed as frivolous and improper. Sure, if breaking four (4) different Ordnances/ State Laws is funny? It is not funny to me and after eight (8) years of dealing with Mr. Rapp, enough was enough. So after I filed the second suit and watched how for five years, YOU the taxpayers/ Residents got no Tax relief, I decided to step up for those of you in the City and I mean ALL deserve better. Should anyone want to see the documents going back to late 2011 when I asked year by year for Tax Relief, I will show you. What did I get and by extension everyone in the City? The infamous single middle digit from the Finance Committee each year and the double middle digits from the City Council each year. In defense, in 2015, Mr. Stephens stepped up and got stomped on for trying also.
All of what is in the following is a part of the Record in the Filings at the Circuit Court Clerk's office so no secrets here if one wishes to look at them.
The City via its esteemed, highly educated and experienced Attorney has made numerous allegations against me for everything he could come up with. Of course the Frivolous Law Suit defense. I do NOT take or find the Rule of Law in any sort of funny context. This is an understandable act as the City wants to make me pay for the suits if I lose. And is trying hard with this defense against me.
Than came the arguments that I failed to follow the Cities FOIA instruction that I need notify them within five days of an answer if I disagree with the response I get. There is NO provision in the State Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), for this extra time/ exemption or exclusion. It is very, very exact on the obligation of the Government Entity (in this case the City), requirement to the requester. That being with a maximum of five (5) days upon the receipt of the request EXCEPT for Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, a response must be provided. The City wrote their own FOIA Ordnance which was so contrary that any prudent person reading it, would have to ask "how the Hell did they do this"? They have so far refused to answer this because they have nothing. It was and is a feeble effort to delay, decline, deny and defer the obligated responses by asking for more time/ delay. Or better yet, the requestor gets tired of trying and just goes away.
Now a little "Truth in Advertising" here. I did try once to work with the City on this extra five day thing and it took a total of three (3) FOIA requests to get some information on what I asked. I did NOT get the two documents that I referenced in my FOIAs, but did get some numbers that without the documents could not be verified. In fact, the City denied having the a location in the Budget for the monies I was asking about until the third request. Those being the first and now second Sales Tax Revenue payments.
In the second suit that has received NO notice from the local media at all except for a delay in putting it in the Civil Cases filed section of the paper two weeks after filing and buried in a two week listing so it would be easy to pass over and YOU folks not realize what was going on, there has been nothing. And you can ask but what the media is protecting Mr. Rapp?
As in the first case from 27 October 2015 filing, I have requested that the three (3) Wood County Circuit Court Judges all recuse themselves as well as the ADA/ City Attorney for the strong potential of the facts they are all connected via interpersonal (Social) and professional (Legal) connections. As you all know, Mr. Waters lives in Vienna. When I was advised he had asked for the first case, my radar went off and I became quite concerned for my rights under the 16th Amendment to the Constitution. That in essence of equal treatment under the Law. When he also ended up with the second case, I was even more concerned.
So in response to the ADA/ City Attorney again asking for a dismissal I for a second time requested the three Judges recuse themselves as well as the ADA/ City Attorney. To date MY requests for the dismissal have to my knowledge received no response. I have even filed a Motion in the first case to try and get it heard sooner as I believe it is so important that it be resolved and should I receive a positive decision that YOU understand better the mindset that makes up the head of the Vienna City Council and how he, Mr. Rapp abuses his position, power and authority.
I have constantly commented on three of the most precious words I know. Duty, Honor, Country. Then three more that should be the obligations to each of us, but most importantly myself; Morals, Integrity and Ethics, by any who have or are serving in any Government Entity to those they took an Oath to serve.
There will if I am able too post more on this in coming days. The ADA/City Attorney is if I understand his argument trying to silence me from saying anything.
You folks need to understand and I hope remember; I am just the "tip of the spear". It is my wish to help each and everyone of you get reduced Taxes; protect your rights and have an open and transparent City Government. So READ, THINK and COMMENT. To your neighbors, friends and family. Not important that you agree with me, just be open minded to what I write. 'nuff said.
(Paid for by the Candidate- Lawrence J. Wilson for Mayor of Vienna).