Four years ago, Pam Ladd ran a campaign on being a fiscal conservative and advocating for the taxpayers and neighborhoods but her record and attitude has been anything but. Since taking office, Pam has voted to raise my property taxes 19 percent and my stormwater fees by more than 190 percent while chairing a City Council that has underfunded the needs of our essential services, such as public safety and road repairs.
Recently, Pam has failed to lead on the Chattanooga Village project – a key issue in District 3. I'm glad she finally voted 'no' on the project but I can't help but feel hers was a timely political decision to help ensure her re-election among the many of us in District 3 who are opposed to that project. Afterall, until the vote, she had only spoken out in favor of the developer while ignoring the wishes of those of us she was elected to represent.
In contrast, I believe Ken will be a strong advocate for the needs of the taxpayers and neighborhoods. As a long-time businessman and civic leader, Ken has the right experience and knowledge to lead on the key issues. The status quo at City Hall needs to change. I encourage you to vote for Ken Smith for District 3 City Council representative.
Sharon Peker
Hixson