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| Lloyd best choice for Mayor. Economy and taxes may be deciding factor by Executive Vice-Chairman Michael Hassel As the 2000 presidential election illustrated, the issue predominately on the minds of average American voters is economic health. Indeed, Al Gore was able to ride the coattails of his boss who had presided over Reagan�s excellently built economy. The economy is also likely to be a deciding factor in the Evansville mayoral election between Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. and Jonathan Weinzapfel. As the new millenium approached, Indiana had a budget surplus of almost two billion dollars. Yet, predicable the Indianapolis elite did not take the advice of economic experts and give the overcharged taxpayers some of their money back. Instead the checkbook was taken out, and spending went through the roof. So here we are, in the year 2003, and the projected surplus has turned into a deficit. Instead of taking more responsibility, the state government raised taxes, further pulling Indiana�s economy down. Yet as the entire state suffered through an economic downturn, one area stood out. Normally ignored as the �stepchild� of the state, the southern portion around Evansville was the only part of the state not to be negatively effected. That is what will be in the minds of voters as the go to the polls this November. Mayor Lloyd has been a true friend of taxpayers in Evansville. He managed to stand against raising property tax throughout his term, and we defiantly have something to show for it. With the overall low tax rate (compared to the state) Evansville looks more and more attractive to business and retailers. Brining more jobs into the area. Indeed, even when his controversial stadium project threatened to force a property tax raise, he halted it completely. Although it is disappointing that the projected had to be canceled, it is important that Evansville not take the position of raising taxes in this critical time of the economy. Through all of this Weinzapfel has been quite. He stayed quite through the stadium as an issue. He does not have nearly the record that Lloyd has on taxes, yet we hear little from him. Last mayoral election was the most expensive in Evansville history, and this one seems to be coming out much the same. With each candidate already raising around 200,000 dollars it is sure to be a bloody fight that will earn the Evansville name. Voters will choose in November to continue the amazing economic drive that Evansville has started, they will most surely re-elect Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. Like what you see? There is more from Executive Vice-president Michael Hassel here. |
