Re-Elect Larry Waters Sevier County Mayor
To see my reply to recent Media Story's of Interest to the County and its Citizens Click anywhere on the red, underlined text below.
Todays Topic: The Lord's Prayer.
Previous Topics: Americans United and the Ten Commandments.
Proudly Serving Sevier County and its Citizens for 32 Years
Well citizens, once again I was spot-on about the final lawsuit filed by those who find fault with my way of governing. Special thanks to Blount County Circuit Court Judge David Duggan for realizing my way of running Sevier county is proper and he was right in dismissing the suit filed by the Public Spirited Citizens as I asked him to do jsut before the May 4th Election. Judge Duggan, unlike the plaintiffs, did not see any problem with the 700+ phone calls between myself and several commissioners during a three month period, nor did even an affidavit from Commissioner Bryan Delius, an attorney, have any bearing on his decision. It was real easy to get the Judge to go along when he got the Call from Justice Wade telling him that there was zero chance of any Court overturning his dismissal. The Honorable Judge Duggan realized that the people of Sevier county needed someone to guide their government, even if it meant travelling into a gray area.
Also, I would like to thank Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Gary Wade for his expected help in the appeals hearing on May 20th, regarding my ouster suit that Judge Duggan also dismissed. It never hurts to have a "home boy" like Justice Wade on board when your attorneys are just mediocre.
To my supporters and those who just don't know any differently, May 4th is the primary election and I expect you to cast your vote for me. I plan to win over Mr. Reagan by a landslide, as this will be the last time we use our current electronic voting machines.
Again, thank you for allowing my family to keep the standard of living to which we are accustomed and to run Sevier county as I see fit.
I would like to apologize for not taking the time to up-date my website these past few weeks. This is the first time I can remember when I have had opposition in the mayoral race, so it has taken up much of the time I should have spent tending to county business having to campaign for the office that is has been rightfully mine for over three decades. I also would like to warn my supporters that there is a fraudulent website out there that has mistakenly been advertised on my re-election signs. These hundreds of signs will be replaced before the general election, so your primary source of information will be on this site.
First of all, I would like to thank The Knoxville Journal for the attention they gave to the frivolous Hatch Act lawsuit that has been filed against my fine commissioners. I'm sure most of the politicians in the circulation area of the Journal realize what it is like to have to "plow around" problem citizens who don't realize their rights are indeed limited. I hear that Sheriff Ron Seals is not as happy about the article written about him on www.theknoxvillejournal.com, but his problems are his own.
As we get closer to the primary elections, American's United seem to be intent on calling my hand on the issue of prayer and the Ten Commandments and are planning a Federal lawsuit against our county. Although I thought they would be just another stump to plow around, they seem to have the Constitution (no matter how over-rated it is) on their side. We had hoped to find an attorney to defend my mis-deeds of ignoring this group in Federal Court free of charge, but so far there are no takers. I plan on turning this matter over to the Knoxville firm who is now representing myself and other officials after the May primary. My daughter, Adrienne, works for the law firm, so she can better keep me up-to-date on how issues are developing.
As for the other lawsuits that have been brought against me and the commission for violating the Sunshine Law, our attorney, Rhonda Bradshaw, seems to thinks Circuit Court Judge David R. Duggan of Blount county seems to be leaning in our favor. His decision should be made any day now about the status of the final suit.
As a peace offering to American's United, beginning with the April 20th, 2010 commission meeting, the first thirty minutes of each meeting will be made available for any Sevier county registered voter to observe their personal religion's version of the prayer we Baptists recite. Hopefully Sevier county won't have a very diversified number of faiths that will delay county business. Please come early on the 20th and help us circle the courthouse and show American's United the stand we Baptists can make.
Don't forget to vote on May 4th!
To the fine folks of beautiful Sevier county, I would just like to say "thanks" for the three decades you have allowed me to guide your home to the place it is now. This position was created for me by a member of my wife, Teri's, family so that I could provide for her in the manner in which she was accustomed. So, for allowing our family to live at our present standard is greatly appreciated by us, and we would like to be able to maintain our present lifestyle for the next four years as well.
Some of my supporters have asked me about the problems that I have been faced with in the last couple of years. They are referring to a minority of "wacko radical" Tea Party types that think that the minority should be heard in county government. They have filed lawsuits seeking my ouster from office, but I assure you this can never happen. My dear Daddy, who used to visit us from Cosby when I was little, always said "life is simpler when you plow around the stumps". This is the advice I have always followed until this group of "stumps" got involved in our business. They are claiming to want transparency in the ways of our county government, so that is the direction I think we should go. I have been told by our county attorney, Jerry McCarter, that the transparency should be on a "need-to-know" basis, so there will be limitations.
Our current President campaigned on change, but my platform will be things staying the same. I am Chairman of the Deacon body at First Baptist Church of Gatlinburg, so I should know what is good for the voters of Sevier county. Although recently I have looked like I am northbound in the southbound lane and not doing a very good job as Mayor, it is due to this group of people who think they have a right to influence my thinking for this fine place. They are in my thoughts every waking hour, and it is hard to function. Please pray for me.
As for the many issues facing me as we enter this election year, I plan on addressing all the issues that have been brought to the public's attention as of late. This will include my wife doing a huge business with the county, the TBI investigation into my transgressions and any other matter that you may want to email me regarding. As the days progress, I plan on being as transparent as any politician.
Well I suppose it was bad timing to ask for comments to be emailed to me regarding problems with our county government. The very first one I received was regarding my best friend and advisor, Director of Schools Dr. Jackie Parton. Jackie and I have known each other all our lives and made a vow to take care of one another when we got into politics. I personally have a strained relationship with a couple of citizens who live on opposite ends of the county, but they keep me busy putting out little fires they light on a daily basis. One is currently running for a position on the school board, but Dr. Parton sees problems ahead if he should win. This candidate has already investigated into whether or not Dr. Parton's special interest group had repaid the county the $46,000.00 for the sales tax referendum. I knew that the money was nearly a year over-due to be repaid, but thought that if no one caught on, the group could keep the money. The county would never miss it. But it was discovered that the money was missing along with a sizeable portion of the sales tax money the school was to receive, and Dr. Parton's folks had to pay up the very next day.
People like this have become a cancer on our county. They don't realize that we have run a successful operation in this county for over thirty years without their becoming involved and thinking every dollar should be accounted for. The fact is, Dr. Parton, Road Superintendent Jonas Smelcer and myself control all three checkbooks for the county. We do not need anyone questioning how our money is spent. We take care of all our bills and keep relatives off the welfare rolls. What more could the voters want from us? Again, please pray for your Deacon Mayor and Deacon Parton, to help them fight these cancers who want more information about county matters than we know they actually need.
Well, once again as I face a tough re-election, there is yet another threat of a lawsuit against our county. We have received a letter from a group called "American's United" stating that there has been a complaint filed by a citizen regarding the Ten Commandments being posted in our commission meeting room and that we open the meetings with the Lord's Prayer. I'm not sure about the placement of the Ten Commandments or what the display actually says, but being Head Deacon of the First Baptist Church of Gatlinburg, it is expected of me to lead our citizens and commission with the prayer before each meeting. If I should back down to these threats of a lawsuit, my supporters at church would not be very happy with me.
Although I now have realized I was wrong denying Commissioner Max Watson and the public from being heard by our county government and am facing a jury trial for my wrong-doings, I have no desire whatsoever to be a defendant in yet another lawsuit by a group of atheist radicals. Although my daughter's law firm benefits from defending my actions in court, the voters of Sevier county are getting tired of seeing the Sheriff and myself on TV defending their wrong-doings.
Again, pray for me and our county as we come under attack from yet another group of, as Stan Voit calls them, "wackos".
Email Larry@larrywaters.com
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