Dear Signal Mountain Residents,
Do you care deeply about preserving Signal Mountain's natural beauty and small town character? We do. Over the past year, the town has faced requests to rezone residential properties for commercial use. These requests might have been approved by the majority of our council, if not for the multitude of residents speaking out against them.
We believe that these growth pressures will continue to challenge our town and that the upcoming election is critical. We need to elect persons who want to safeguard our quality of life as much as we do. We need to elect leaders who will research issues deeply, listen to citizens' concerns, consider the long-term impact of their decisions, and conduct themselves with transparency and decorum.
These are candidates that we feel best meet these criteria.
Dan Landrum: For the last two years as a council member, Dan has fought for fair process, robust council discussion, adequate due diligence and transparency. Dan improved the sound system and implemented videoing and live streaming of council meetings. As a member of the Planning Commission, Dan has had firsthand experience with the growth pressures facing our town. He supports a citizen-led comprehensive mountaintop growth plan.
Bill Lusk: Bill served as mayor for six of the 10 years he served on the council. Bill has been recognized by the town for his managerial and fiscal leadership, as well as for his advocacy for the town as an executive board member of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia Transportation Planning Organization. Bill successfully worked with this organization and TDOT to restrict commercial vehicles that travel up the front of the mountain to those making deliveries within the town or Walden. During his tenure as mayor, Rainbow Lake and other town parks were protected from development through a conservation easement.
Susannah Murdock: Susannah, a lifelong resident of Signal Mountain, has a proven record of leadership, including as former executive director of Chattanooga Room in the Inn. For the past eight years, Susannah has worked as a tutor/mentor at SMMHS for Signal Mountain Social Services. Susannah worked passionately to defeat the effort to rezone residential land for the Food City and is committed to following the citizen-led Land Use Plan, as well as the development of a long range sustainable growth plan for the town.
Although there are only three seats open on the council, Dun Monroe also deserves recognition for his commitment to the town. Dun has attended council meetings regularly over the last decade and frequently challenges the council with comments and questions. Dun has been a faithful and watchful guardian for our town.
As we have witnessed over the past few years, elections have consequences. We urge you to consider voting for the above named candidates.
Wendi Morgan
Jennifer Ford
Lane Ford
Annette Allen
John Shearburn
Rosemary Varner
Kathy Corley
Jack Corley
Melissa Cantrell
David Cantrell
Anne W. Rittenberry
Pete Rittenberry
Cheryl Carico
Mary Hutson
Dean Hutson
Claire Griesinger
Robert Griesinger
Joyce Smith
* * *
To the Signal Mountain residents whose Oct. 17 letter to the the Chattanoogan's opinion page recommends that voters support Bill Lusk, Dan Landrun, Susannah Murdock, and Dun Monroe in the upcoming town council election, I can only say thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time and having the care to speak out.
You care so deeply about preserving and protecting our town, and you have been so active in that effort, that I know it is a recommendation grounded in fact and your extensive personal interactions with these candidates.
As it did with me, I hope it will speak volumes to all citizens who want to protect our town and its character, but whose busy personal lives often reduce the chance to develop the one on one experiences and interactions with candidates necessary to formulate these kind of meaningful opinions and assessments you have put forth.
Commendations on a job well done.
Dave Evans
Signal Mountain