New BoE chairman must answer publicly
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - 5:44pm
Submitted by Letters to the ...
Submitted by Letters to the ...
Letter to Chairman Presberg and board members:
We Fayette County citizens are dismayed by recent reports concerning how Mr. [Leonard] Presberg found his way onto the Board of Education, how he was designated chairman and by the board’s shocking vote not to defend Fayette County’s district wide voting system versus the NAACP’s lawsuit.
We are further dismayed by Mr. Presberg’s now publicly reported limited qualifications, his background and his involvement with fringe and questionable organizations.
Also, it is shocking and unacceptable that Mr. Presberg has chosen to not respond to these issues publicly and has indicated that he will only discuss them privately.
We request that this matter be immediately and publicly addressed. We Fayette citizens want answers.
Steve Thaxton
Peachtree City, Ga.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 10:51am
#2
Mr. Thaxton
Mr. Presberg was not elected by the people, he was elevated to the chairmanship in a similar way. Therefore, he doesn't answer to you, me or anyone else in this county. There is no reason for him to address anything publicly because the public had nothing to do with his current position.
Until the next election Mr. Presberg has no alliance to anyone, represents no one, and can do as he wishes. This is especially true if he has no intention to run for office following this "appointment". All we know about him for sure is that he is a "free thinker"
I don't believe he has ever taken a position on anything related to public education.
If you want to make certain that this type of event never happens again, then change the rules on how this fellow got into office without public input. Otherwise just suck it up
I hope this clears up any confusion on your part about how our "democracy" works.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 9:58am
#3
Presberg
Presberg's appointment to the Board and the NAACP settlement is a victory for two groups in Fayette, atheists and Democrats. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I think these are terrible people or shouldn't be allowed to hold public office, I just have a different political philosophy then they do. No problem. However, Fayette County is a community with a strong majority of conservative christians, we tend to elect people with like views. There is nothing wrong with this, stop trying to make us feel like we're being rude or ignorant. I want to elect representatives that share my view on political and social issues. This means that Presberg would not have made it to the chairmanship in the traditional fashon. He has won a victory, congrats. Don't get your feelings hurt as we attempt to restore our government to one that represents the majority of people that live in Fayette.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 10:52am
#4
Problem is Concerned Citizen
that when we vote on the entire board, it allows the major population area to elect officials that only advance their interest. It's not that I am necessarily in favor of district voting, but consider how Peachtree City can drive the election to the detriment of, say, Tyrone, or Brooks. It is true that this compromise is to afford greater opportunity for minority representation on the School Board. Maybe it's just time to do so. After all, the minority population is growing and has tended to grow in a specific area. They certainly have concerns that need to be addressed that are different from PTC. As it was pointed out, we are not all Christians, and even we Christians can't agree on who is "most" Christian. But to suggest that Mr. Presberg's appointment was "a victory for two groups in Fayette, atheists and Democrats" is simply unreasonably biased. Your comment intends to say that a "free thinker" must be atheist, and/or a Democrat. And by inference is simply "bad." I am a "free thinker," not a member of any group, not an atheist. Ok, I am a registered Democrat, but I vote independent. I consider myself a fair, reasonable, tolerant, honorable person who considers all sides of an argument or issue and recognizes that every opinion has a certain amount of merit. Take yours for instance. I think in general your thoughts are based in reason. However where you loose me is when you said as you did about the victory. Our public schools are open to ALL citizens, regardless of political or religious beliefs. It is not the School Board's job to insert either into the classroom. It seems we owe Mr. Presburg an opportunity to actually participate in board decisions before we decide his level of "evilness" based on either how he came to hold the job or what group he belongs to. Then if we disagree with his voting record and disagree with his ideas for our school system, we can vote against him. Consider this, though, when you support or oppose district voting... you are more likely to have the concerns of your particular Fayette community represented with district voting. Without, then, as I said, the largest community selects the board with little regard to small communities.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 11:17am
#5
Atheists and Democrats are not the actual problem
We can lump them together under a liberal or progressive label and explain the problem from there. End result of the 2 questionable votes at the school board meeting is that we have 2 tax and spend liberals on the school board that made a virtual unknown and unelected person chairman of the board (which I personally think is meaningless other than the symbolism) and then those same 3 made a very short-sighted decision that drips with liberalism - NAACP sponsored district voting. All done with some collusion and previous thought. All done without public input or any input from the voters and taxpayers.
That's all bad enough, but what of the future? Going forward we have a $10million budget deficit and several schools that need to be closed. Oddly, 2 of 3 in this new liberal alliance were largely responsible for building schools that were not needed - a classic liberal, big government act. Now these 3 are in charge and we expect them to do the right thing and cut back on government spending and close some of the same schools they built? Are you all comfortable with that?
I can't honestly say some of my best friends are liberal and then go on and insult them, so I'll skip the first step and simply say that having a county that is easily 80% conservative led by 3 liberals (1 unelected) during a period which clearly needs budget cuts is not something that the voters would have created nor does it make any sense whatsoever.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 8:44am
#6
Hey Bob Morgan
you seem to have a typical problem of labeling someone with whom you disagree. You state that 2 of our elected schoolboard members are "liberal" because they voted to build schools. Well I agree that there certainly should have been other alternative looked into, have you ever considered actually asking why someone would vote as they do? And this whole "liberal is bad evil horrid root of all our problems simply round them up and take them away" mentality around here is..... well..... rather Stalinistik or even Nasi-ish. Seems ole' Adolph said the same things about the Jews in the 1930's. Look how that turned out.
But you and I have agreed on a lot of things. So consider this.... Steve Brown is a member of the NAACP. Is he a "liberal?" Sure (according to you). But wait..... Steve Brown is a member of Promise Keepers. Is he a "conservative?" Sure (according to you). But wait, he's anti developer.... making him anti business, making him "liberal." But wait.... he claims to stand up for the average citizen against big business... oh... wait.... that makes him "liberal" too. But wait... he violated the Ethics laws....TWICE.... what does that make him? Oh heck... Steve Brown doesn't know who or what he is. He's just...just.... Steve Brown.
But I digress. Point is, there is value to both liberal and conservative thought. Many, many areas we can agree. Additionally people tend to actually have both conservative and liberal sides to them, depending on the issue.
for example most conservatives believe that govt. should stay out of business, but many believe in Child Labor Laws, Antitrust Laws, and that business should not be allowed to dump toxic waste into our water supply like at Three Mile Island. This is the govt. interfering with business. Or look at Newt in 1994 when he rallied to the cry of keeping the Federal Govt. out of private lives and States rights. Then he tried to pass a Constitutional Amendment to require prayer in public school. Isn't a Constitutional Amendment the greatest form of Federal Law? Wouldn't such an amendment violate the rights of the states to regulate their own school system?
Bottom line, to constantly label someone who simply disagrees with your view, removes any chance of real progress. It's so.... so.....Fox News.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 9:54am
#7
True enough, birdman. Labels are bad
It seems as though every single issue has to pass through some vetting process so it can be labeled liberal or conservative, pro-choice or pro-life, Christian or atheist, big government or small government, racist or tolerant, etc. We label first and then debate, mostly by defending the label rather than actually discussing the issue at hand. We all do it and it is not that helpful. I don't think things were this bad even 10 years ago and I have no idea what caused the escalation, although I suspect the Bush/Gore hanging chad, disqualify the military votes, get the Supreme Court involved, acrimonious election really jump-started that whole process.
And yes, except for the hard core unreasonable on both the left and the right, most people have a mixture of conservative and liberal ideas. You have to be dumb as a bag of hammers to embrace what either party puts out there 100% of the time. Look at JeffC - clearly a democrat, but a very reasonable person who actually understands both sides of an issue and smart enough not to run for office. I have often stated that I am dismayed that people running for office have to pass their party's litmus test on idiotic things like abortion and gun control and global warming and religion - none of which should be regulated by the government, IMHO.
Despite my liberal labeling, my main concern on the Pressberg/NAACP thing is how he got elected chairperson without some prior collusion among the 3 of them and if part of that collusion involved the district voting scam from which there is no return. And of course the fact that we had to go to the polls in the 1970's to get at-large voting, but now only 3 people (1 unelected) can reverse that decision. Sure, I see some liberalism in all that, but far more important - and this should transcend labeling - is there corruption, stupidity, collusion and bad planning there as well. And if so, should we be led by these 3 through a school budget and school closing crisis?
Your Steve Brown detour was amusing and your conclusion certainly correct. I suspect many liberals and conservatives would agree that they really don't want their label on him.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 11:31am
#8
RWM, I Agree With PTC
You have an outstanding analysis here. Thanks so much for passing your thoughts along.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 11:03am
#9
RWM - No truer words
"...Sure, I see some liberalism in all that, but far more important - and this should transcend labeling - is there corruption, stupidity, collusion and bad planning there as well. And if so, should we be led by these 3 through a school budget and school closing crisis?"
No truer words have been written here on this blog.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 5:52pm
#10
Smola will get her just come up ins ....in Tyrone with district
voting! No one in Tyrone will vote for her...meaning she is ..OUT! She has used her little 'for your area only' email trees to keep her leaky tiki butt in office so far. But when left to the area that knows her best,Tyrone, she doesn't stand a chance.
Her little email trees have been infiltrated and will be used against her. Not a nice picture at all.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 8:50pm
#11
Leaky tiki butt, sugar?
Sounds like you don't like the diva---err--lady.
Whatever, but you do need to run for school board or help those that do.
No sitting on the sidelines. Contribute money. Make signs. Give her the comeuppance she deserves.
Comeuppance - English term actually. Check it out. Quite appropriate, methinks. What!
Thu, 02/02/2012 - 1:18pm
#12
Speaking For Dr. Tolbert
Sam Tolbert was my brother-in-law for 42 years. He can no longer speak for himself, but I know for sure what he would want me to say.
“If we care about the future of our country, state and county, we will elect open and quality people to our school board. If the Fayette County School System implodes, so will the future of our county and young people.”
If any of us knows someone who would make a great school board member, please ask them to run for the position! You might be surprised what you can accomplish just by asking.
Three current board members have set the entire county on a path of destruction and we are rapidly headed for the abyss.
Thu, 02/02/2012 - 2:03pm
#13
Ginga - Dr Tolbert would be right but-
I understand your sentiment. But after reading these blogs, I would never run for public office in Fayette County. Nor would I ask anyone else to.
Thu, 02/02/2012 - 2:22pm
#14
G35 Dude & Candidate
Wasn't there a lady from PTC named File who ran before? I know I voted for her--maybe she would run again. Seem to remember her name was Nikki. Late addition: confirmed by Sweetfeet's post, which I didn't read before!
Thu, 02/02/2012 - 12:13pm
#15
Robert
I do those things. I was active along with others, in getting wonderful Dr Tolbert to run after he found out he was sick. In past elections in Tyrone, I've gone door to door to help. I decorated 74 with Dr Todd, Mccarthy, and Brown signs. I don't sit on the sidelines.
There is a whole group in Tyrone waiting for this election. My child is out of school, but I have friends with children still in the system. One friend in particular, her kids are very special to me and I will help.
When little Nicky File was a write in, many many people went door to door. Nicky carried Tyrone. Smola lost in Tyrone if you look at the election results.
Now with district voting...I would say she doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell.
It is going to be like the little big horn and the war chant is alreay deafening.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 2:30pm
#16
RWM, Believe It Or Not
We agree on on this issue!!
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 12:26pm
#17
RWM - Attention to detail
We get the kind of government we deserve, when we take no interest in government we have opportunists, special interest groups, and those that pillage the public treasury take control. They care little about those that have to pay the bill for their largess, their goal is to use taxpayer money to increase their power over us. They buy votes with our money but we are too busy to take an interest.....but we are all long on complaints.
It may be true that Fayette is 80% conservative but in a democracy, this makes little difference in what actual political power takes hold in our county. If we want to have a conservative government, we'll have to do more than talk about it. That 80% will have to show up at the polls and vote for those that they think best represents them.
If they don't they have nothing to complain about. They get the kind of government they deserve.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 1:18pm
#18
Brother, you be preachin' to the choir
I have ranted about that since before Brown's first election. We celebrate 20% voter turnout, seem satisfied that 10% is the new normal and let people get elected with a few hundred votes - in a county of 100,000 people! Ludicrous!
Sure special interest groups work in getting their people to vote in their own self-interest and in some cases a paycheck. What we need is a special interest group that gets government off our back and keeps them out of our pockets. Thought the Tea Party was headed in that direction, but like most outraged people - they lost interest after a few months. What we really need is a Revolution. Might actually happen if the 20million unemployed stay unemployed.
And I certainly see the district voting infection - which is certain to spread to the county commission seats, making the hand in the cookie jar thing worse in Fayette County.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 2:23pm
#19
RWM - I know
but what are you going to do about it?
Seems if you are not happy with the outcome of Fayette politics, you need to get like kind people organized to fight back. Otherwise, it seems to me it's simply "ranting" in the wind.
BTW, the Tea Party is alive and well. We'll hear more about them after the election. They are well past the rally stages and in the trenches working for candidates that reflect their philosophy. There's no way they will get any press, this is the last thing the media wants to do. The media's attempt to make fun, then disparage, then report false claims, didn't work, now it's "pretend their not there" maybe they'll go away. It won't work. The 2012 election will be historical and the power in Washington will change. Although, I believe Mr. Obama will be re-elected as he has the most money, state power and influence. Then we need to worry a lot about the SCOTUS.
IMHO
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 3:00pm
#20
Can't do anything about it
God knows I have done enough - or at least tried to do enough in the past but the apathy never goes away. I've been on appointed boards, I've run for office (elsewhere), I've managed campaigns, formed PAC's, donated money, hosted meet and greets for candidates - still get that same pitiful turnout on election day.
Of course you are right about 2012. Gonna have a big turnout that day because the 47% who don't pay taxes want it to stay that way and tax the rich rhetoric is the icing on their cake. Romney won't make much difference even if he wins. SCOTUS is the least of our problems if Prezbo II is rolled out. Most of those judges will last longer than the country.
I hope you are right about the Tea Party since that effort is the only way to keep the House and take the Senate, which is essential under Obama II.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 3:32pm
#21
RWM - Tell
us when and where, I am sure you'll get a turnout bigger than you might expect.
Tell us your goals, what outcome you would like to achieve by meeting.
Otherwise, I guess you just keep blogging and make no difference at all. ;-)
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 10:55am
#22
oops... double clutched the
oops... double clutched the enter button.
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 6:41pm
#23
BoE chairman
Dear Mr. Thaxton,
I am a Fayette County citizen and you do not speak for me. I happen to know Mr. Presberg, and I think he is a badly needed breath os fresh air in this county. We are not all WASPs.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 10:01am
#24
We're not all WASP's
No, just the vast majority of us are. Who cares what the majority wants.
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 1:12am
#25
Support for Mr. Presberg
I do not know Mr. Presberg but as a voter, I support him. When is being a "Free Thinker" a fringe group? What other qualification is there to be a member of the board other than to be able to draw a breath? In another topic many of us could question at least 2 other member's qualifications. Or where is your outrage on what occurred w/ the board of elections? When did being the chairman of any of these bodies mean more than wielding the gavel? He's new on the board and unfortunately his 1st vote is on some obviously "old business" on district voting. Gee, what a radical, commie pinko, atheist; that follows the paid board's lawyer and votes according in the best interest of the public purse. MY purse. I might add, I am still holding my breath for our elected representative that is also an attorney to step up and start defending the county against this assault on republican democracy 'pro bono'.
Really, ConcernedCitizen? "stop making us FEEL bad..." (whoever is "us" anyway? I live and pay taxes in Fayette County, and I feel okay about pointing out how narrow and small-minded are my fellow Fayette Countians that just can't stomach a minority's (i.e., atheist AND democrat) opinion, much less his Cal Beverly-pronounced association with a "fringe" group. Truly comical...
Maybe we'll get a sitcom modeled after us!