Councilman Ken Chambers -- Personal Convictions

This page will explain my personal convictions and opinions on some of the burning issues currently facing Midlothian.

Early voting ended Tuesday night at 7:00 pm. Records indicated that approximately 692 votes were cast for candidates for the Midlothian city council. Election Day is Saturday, May 8th, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, at the Midlothian Conference Center.

By all indication this election will make Midlothian history regarding the number of people voting. The analysts are expecting 1500 plus votes will be cast.

The question…….why are so many citizens voting this election? The answer is…… Mayor Whatley would like to see me defeated and replaced with someone who will share his way of thinking, not what’s best for the citizens.

I have stood firm on many issues involving spending, growth, vendor contracts and leadership. My firm position has brought considerable hardship on my family, personally and financially, but I’m a man of many principles, and I don’t back down and I don’t give up.

There is a political machine in this city that has convinced many honest and sincere residents to support the views of the current administration. These views are going to drive this city into a financial disaster, and this statement is supported by facts. You need council members with “common sense” and who will think about the citizens and the financial hardship everyone is going through.

The city manager made a statement during the Public Safety Subcommittee last week that the revenue for this upcoming budget is “Worse than expected.” If the spending and the views of the current administration for Midlothian are not re-directed immediately the citizens will pay the price through a property tax increase, loss of city services and possible lay-offs of city employees.

You have candidates campaigning for council promising the citizens new soccer fields and parks. I enjoy sports and support new parks and soccer fields, but if you don’t have the funds to build, then the citizens are being misled with false promises. There will be a day when the economy improves and the city can build new parks, trails and soccer fields, but now is not the time.

We have enough to worry about on the federal level with Obama talking about a new tax program, “Value Added Tax” (VAT). If this new tax program is approved, this economy will go further into a recession. In simple terms, an item is taxed during each transaction, i.e., manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to the consumer. The consumer could pay up to an additional 100% for the taxable item. Click the Link above for additional information.

We need to focus on Midlothian right now and elect the right individuals for city council. I am asking for your vote on May 8th so I may continue working for you and protecting your hard earned tax dollars.

I am also supporting Mr. Duff Hale for Council Seat, Place 4. Mr. Hale shares similar views and beliefs with me and Councilman Dr. Hank. We are the conservative members of city council and will work for you. Our goal is to reduce the city debt through conservative planning and, hopefully, reduce the property tax burden on our citizens.

Please vote to re-elect Ken Chambers, Place 3 and Candidate Duff Hale for Place 4.

It’s hard to believe that we are approaching another city council election on May 8, 2010. This May, I will have served three years on the city council. Now it’s time for the voters to decide if my representation of their views/beliefs, protecting their tax dollars, and most importantly their Constitutional Rights, has met their expectations.

I have stood firm on many issues involving new ordinances, expenditures, property rights and questionable practices presented to this council. I have voiced my opposition regarding unnecessary spending, enforcement and questionable contracts. My stand on these positions has created considerable controversy between me and the current city administration.

Council members are slowly being replaced with new members with each election. Newly elected council members are viewing items more closely and asking more questions to prevent questionable practices. I feel this is a positive change, and it’s my opinion the current administration is not accustomed to this type of scrutiny.

I seek to be re-elected to the Midlothian City Council, Place 3, on May 8, 2010. I would like to continue representing the citizens of Midlothian and do what I do best: question, probe, research and seek to improve city government. There are many challenges ahead and pending responsibilities that still need to be addressed. With new council members and my re-election, pending and future issues will be addressed and handled accordingly. Click here to view voting schedule.

There will be several “Meet the Candidate” forums during the election, sponsored by certain Midlothian organizations. Please try to attend. I will keep you posted on the date, time and location.

Several Midlothian citizens will be hosting coffee parties for my re-election throughout the city and inviting the citizens of Midlothian. This will give you the opportunity to meet me and ask questions regarding past, present and future issues. I’m looking forward to meeting citizens and sharing my beliefs, concerns and what I can do to improve the City of Midlothian and the current local economy. See my website in March for party scheduling.

Midlothian is at a very crucial state. Even though our nation's economy is very bad, and many people are unemployed or underemployed, the city continues to make expenditures that aren't crucial at this time.

There are many things that would be "nice" to have, and in a better economy, perhaps certain expenditures could be justified. But, when many citizens are having trouble making their house payment, putting food on the table, paying their utilities, and paying their taxes, it's time for the city to buckle down and cut the unnecessary expenditures. We often hear, "it's for the kids," and they're right, it is for our kids. Our kids would rather have food on the table and a roof over their heads, than for the city to have fancy computers or state-of-the-art security systems.

"Some have so much money, they support spending lavish amounts of money for extravagances. They think it's great to have everyone else help pay for them. Others are tied in a financial way to the city."

Many of your city councilmen are very well off, and I'm very happy for them. But, when someone is living a luxurious lifestyle, they don't understand the needs of bread winners who are having problems, or the senior citizens on a fixed income. They simply can't comprehend the real-life problems that most of us face. So, while we are concerned with feeding our family and putting a roof over our heads, some on the city council are raising taxes, restricting businesses who would otherwise increase our tax base and lower our property taxes, and spending tax money on items that are not essential at this time.

Midlothian is not Highland Park, and I don't think most of us would want it to be.

Like many of you, I work for a living, and my own employment has been uncertain, as the company for whom I work is going through some severe financial problems. I make car and house payments, just like you do. I fear getting caught in a lay-off, just like you do.

"This isn't rocket science -- If I were just a nuisance, an uninformed "nay" vote among the others, they would just ignore me. The problem is they know I'm spreading the truth; this was evident when Dr. Hank Miller was elected, and was even more evident with the turnout in the last election. With Dr. Hank, there are often two "nay" votes."

Why do so many people support the "tax and spend" attitude of the majority of our city council? Some have so much money, they support spending lavish amounts of money for extravagances. They think it's great to have everyone else help pay for them. Others are tied in a financial way to the city. Some do business directly with the city, others can benefit from which ordinances are passed and which are not. When the city restricts the parking of boats and recreational vehicles on our property, the people who rent storage spaces for those items benefit. When the city makes it difficult for a certain business to come to Midlothian, those in competition benefit. When the city requires us to pave our driveways, those selling driveway materials benefit.

Just like our federal government, there are so many people who benefit from the "tax and spend" philosophy, it's difficult to put a "regular Joe" on the city council. Yet, the city council is supposed to be representative of the people, and most of us are "regular Joe's."

Political races are too expensive for the "regular Joe's" to win. Yet, the special interests have plenty of money to spread their candidates' propaganda.

The citizens of Midlothian are hearing two different stories, and I ask you to consider this: This isn't rocket science -- If I were just a nuisance, an uninformed "nay" vote among the others, they would just ignore me. The problem is they know I'm spreading the truth; this was evident when Dr. Hank Miller was elected, and was even more evident with the turnout in the last election. With Dr. Hank, there are often two "nay" votes. While they can try to make me out as as fool, Dr. Hank is too well known for them to try that on him. We expect Ms. Wickliffe to be an independent thinker, and feel we may often have three "nay" votes. You see, while they are saying I'm just a nuisance, they're proving the importance of my independent thinking by fighting me so hard.

This is our city, and it's time to have our own "tea party." You can protect Midlothian by supporting those who only want to serve their neighbors, and by exposing those who have business interests with the city or city officials.

Only YOU, the people, can bring family values back to the city council. Please attend city council meetings, write letters to the editor, call or e-mail your councilmen, and make your voice heard.