Harold Cook

[fairplay]

I compare Liemar to Obama and Biden, all real smooth talkers but when they have finished their spiels, I stand back and ask myself, "What the heck did they just tell me?" All three of them (If you wait a while) will tell you something entirely different anyway, so I quit listening. They treat everyone like we are too dumb to understand what they are doing for us. When I pray I don't ask for a particular party to win or lose, I pray people just wake up and look around at what is happening, go and vote intelligent and with correct information. You ain't going to get it in the NGN. I and everyone I talk to have had to pay more taxes every year since Lamar took over. That to me shows tax increase no matter how many times we are told we have the 2nd lowest millage rate. I disagreed with a lot of Cooks moves but he sure watched out for our money and I didn't have to pay for any increase in taxes while he was in office. He didn't conceal records until after primary's like Lamar. Cook is more like McCain and Palin, He made mistakes but you know his whole purpose is to make things better for the people of Union County. Sonny

PS. You can put manape in that first group also

I ought to explain about concealing. Curtis asked for information and Lamar waited 5 months (until after primary) before he complied, Our District attorney would not do any thing except recommend Curtis hire an attorney.

[manape]

Fairplay,

PS. You can put manape in that first group also

"What the heck did you just tell me?", Old Son.

[manape]

I compare Liemar to Obama and Biden, all real smooth talkers but when they have finished their spiels, I stand back and ask myself, "What the heck did they just tell me?" All three of them (If you wait a while) will tell you something entirely different anyway, so I quit listening. They treat everyone like we are too dumb to understand what they are doing for us.

I sure hope you get that parking lot problem fixed, Old Sonny. I'll try not to take advantage of you, Old Son. I don't think you are half as dumb as Liemar thinks you are.

For the record, I'm voting for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and what's his name?

[manape]

I think I just agreed with Sonny on the presidential vote. That's scary!!!!

[sparkey]

don't apes smell their own sh-t.

[manape]

When I pray I don't ask for a particular party to win or lose, I pray people just wake up and look around at what is happening, go and vote intelligent and with correct information. You ain't going to get it in the NGN.

Just where can you get some of this correct information, Old Son?

[manape]

Commissioner Paris informed the public that the budget increased $4,170,000 due to the following increases:

Cost Increases since 2001 Amount
Ambulance Service $500,000.00
Judicial Budget $670,000.00
Public Safety $3,000,000.00
Total $4,170,000.00

On his website, X-Commissioner Cook informed us that his past record shows he can cut $500,000 per year out of the taxes collected, as follows:

"When I went into office the mill rate was 5.86% and when I left office the mill rate was 4.80%. We cut approx $500,000 per year out of the taxes collected. This is an actual tax cut and the numbers prove it."

If elected, where will Cook cut $500,000 per year in the current county budget? Will he cuts be in Ambulance Service, Judaical Budget, and Public Safety?

[shortcircuit]

What did the $500k go towards for ambulance service? They can't burn that much fuel. And I guesstimate that a new fully equipped ambulance would cost no more than $50k and I don't see 10 new ambulances riding around. $670k MORE for judicial services? Lets see, a courtroom, a baliff, and a public defender who's only advice to people is to plead guilty? I guess the judge must have gotten a big raise. And $3 million MORE for public safety? That must be for the overages on the deputies cell phone bills, and for dark window tint for the cop cars. Sorry apedude, just throwing those numbers out there without and supporting explanations ain't gonna impress the smart voters of Union County.

[manape]

Short, I'm not trying to impress anyone. The numbers are from Lamar's Q&A's and as you know they appeared in the NGN and they have already been seen by the public. I will tell you if the public believes the numbers when the votes are counted in November. My crystal ball is out of order and can't be fixed.

What if the cost increases are true? How is Cook going to continue take $500,000 out of our taxes per year after over $4-M increase in the cost of government? It doesn't matter whether we believe them or not. WHAT EVER is REAL is what matters.

Assuming the increased expenses are true, X-commissioner Cook's # 1 problem is, in the unlikely event he is elected, to continue his record of removing $500,000 from the budget each year. That is significant tax reduction my friend, but can he do it? To save taxes, the money has to be taken from somewhere. It is not magic.

Cook Quotes:

I WILL continue to strive to keep our taxes low. I will propose a plan so that Union County property owners are not re-appraised every year, just because several expensive vacation houses have been built in the area, and these are contributing to the increased assessment.

I agree just because several expensive vacation houses contributed to the increased assessment, but I don't think he can do anything about it. Remember the Richardson GREAT PLAN? If Richardson couldn't get tax reform done what makes Cook think some little North GA Commish can fight the State of GA.?


Another Cook Quote:

When I went into office the mill rate was 5.86% and when I left office the mill rate was 4.80%. We cut approx $500,000 per year out of the taxes collected. This is an actual tax cut and the numbers prove it.

Short you said, "Sorry apedude, just throwing those numbers out there without and supporting explanations ain't gonna impress the smart voters of Union County." Tell it to the Commissioner, not me.

If Harold Cook wants to get elected, the burden is on him to prove the $4-M + cost increase figures are false, non-essential, and hidden in Lamar's Swiss bank account. However, the alleged non-essential spending is only a figment of Republican's imaginary reality.

[manape]

What did the $500k go towards for ambulance service?

You will have to look in the Q&A's. Oh, here it is (JULY 16, 2008):

Q. What arrangement did the county finally make with the hospital?
A. We negotiated for almost a year and came up with an agreement that was fair to both sides. State law requires that a county must provide ambulance service to its citizens and can not make the hospital provide the service. We finally agreed to a rolling scale that has helped the hospital and saved the county from the huge loss we would suffer each year on operating an ambulance service. The final agreement allowed that the first year (2006) the county would supplement the service $250,000, the second year (2007) $300,000, third year (2008) $400,000 and the following years $500,000 and holding at that level until 2013 at which time the agreement will be re-negotiated.

[shortcircuit]

Just remember Mr. Ape, just because Normie boy prints it in the No Georgia News (no abbreviation intended) doesn't mean that it's accurate. I believe actions speak louder than words, and I know under Cook our county had no debt and we still had an increase in services, new fire stations, a new jail, and big improvements at Meeks Park. Under Paris our taxes have more than doubled and all the county has to show for it is a posh office for the commissioner and a new gas guzzling vehicle for him to drive. And I am sure that Mr Cook would have had enough foresight to keep businesses and residents from being cut off thanks to the "bog bridge". I can almost guarantee you that if Cook were commish there would be a new bridge being built alongside the old one and the old one would remain open until the new one was finished. Evidently Liemar didn't want to build a new bridge to the south of the old one, where there were NO bog turtles, because it would involve having to use eminent domain on a property owner who is a paris supporter.

[manape]

Eminent domain has become an excuse for stealing land from private citizens. If Harold Cook would have used eminent domain to take land away from private citizens, he has earned my contempt right there! That is reason enough for me NOT to vote for COOK!!! However, I would luv to pay lower taxes without reducing essential services and incurring debt.

If Harold Cook can produce a plan to show the voters how he can remove $500,000 per year from over $4-M in essential services (costs increases due ambulance services required by law, judicial budget, and public safety) without decreasing the effectiveness of these services, it is his opportunity to shine.

Harold Cook is an honest man. I have never heard anyone say any thing to the contrary. I believe he has been ill advised. Any fool can prove anything with numbers. For example, Cook states:

Paris has said that he lowered your taxes. However, going from $2,412,517 to a total of $6,553,634 in taxes collected is not a cut, but an increase. During his term, there has been a 124% increase in taxes per person; averaging, 17% a year. This is far more than inflation and salary increases. Source: Harold Kook's website.

DUH!!! Yes, taxes increased. Tell us voters something we don't know. Cook implies in today's economic conditions he can "reduce the budget by $500,000 dollars per year and his numbers prove it." I quote:

When I went into office the mill rate was 5.86% and when I left office the mill rate was 4.80%. We cut approx $500,000 per year out of the taxes collected. This is an actual tax cut and the numbers prove it. Source: Harold Cook's website.

If Cook can reduce $500,000 per year from today's essential services, then he needs to tell us poor, uneducated, uninformed, low-IQ voters HOW he is going to do it. Show us the money you can save us in the future, don't just brag how you did it in the past. Is he going to take back the $500,000 dollars per year from ambulance services, judicial budget, or public safety?

Voters and taxpayers it is your money that you pay indirectly to your landlord or for the property you own, and you need to know what the plan is!!! You need to make your decision in November based on facts, not what others believe. Don't let people intimidate you by calling you names like liberal. If it is liberal to want to base my vote in November on facts and real information, then I am most liberal and I wear the badge proudly. I label myself as an American and I VOTE.

[bubbadebubba]

I'm not Harold but I can cut over $500,000 a year from the budget----------

A functioning purchasing department with accountability would save the County tens of thousands of dollar a year.

Eliminate employees credit cards, again saving tax payers untold thousands of dollars a year.

Eliminate cell phones, except for department heads.

Eliminate future tinker toys or any tax money supporting present tinker toys,(i.e. GPS for golf carts)( this also goes for any money wasted by the Golf Course, their budget is the peoples budget whether they turn a profit or a loss).

And no telling how many millions sunk into road building that no one in the county seems to be able to locate.

Gas guzzling county owned vehicles driven on personal business.

and the list goes on and on, etc. etc.

Lots of Americans vote but too few Patriots; ask the National democratic Party who turn tail and run at the first opportunity.

I'm a Patriot and I VOTE.

[bubbadebubba]

Ape shows his colors::::::


""A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.""

A Liberal's viewpoint is to LEAVE Religion out. The National trend by liberals is to eliminate Religion and institute Socialism. Socialism evolves into Communism and creates a fear of punishment and NO hope of reward after death.

[bubbadebubba]

And the democratic shrill screaming has reached into Union County. In the Union Sentinel all one has to do is read the VERY LIBERAL viewpoints offered by local democrats.

In the NGN fishwrapper all one has to do is read the lies by put out by the commisars office and his supporters.