A Pinch of Salt Helps With Campaign Claims!

One month from now we will all know who won the primary elections.  How time flies while you’re having fun!

In this final month, you’re sure to hear a lot from each candidate.  Just remember to take everything with a pinch of salt.  Or in some cases, the whole salt shaker.

 Ward 3 Democrats are bound to see my opponents’ printed material.  In case you haven’t, here are their goals:

“Protecting Lansdale’s Taxpayers” 

Shake, shake.

You should be asking yourself, “protecting them from what?”  Lansdale borough just had one of its healthiest audit results ever.  The borough has attained A+ bond ratings.  Funds have been added to reserves.  Deficit spending has ended. 

So shake that salt shaker and remember this:  some politicians love using scare tactics to win votes.  But the truth of the matter is that we have some of the strongest stewardship of our tax dollars in years.  Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric.

Next they say, “Eliminate overspending by Council.”

Shake, shake.

More of the same scare tactics here.  You know as well as I do that Lansdale Borough residents enjoy one of the lowest local tax rates around.  Don’t believe me?  Check out the millage rates on the Montgomery County web site!  With the low average household tax bill we enjoy, our borough is able to do so much with a much smaller tax bite than surrounding communities.  And, of course, you have to remember that our local taxes were not raised one penny this year.  Overspending?  Hogwash.

They go on to say, “Bring first class jobs and business to Lansdale.”

Okay – I’m not going to bring out the salt shaker on this one.  This is a noble goal.  But savvy voters will know to ask this of Leon & Liz.  “How do you plan to do that?”

Let me take a moment to answer that question.  Businesses and jobs will come to Lansdale when we make Lansdale a more desirable place for businesses and jobs.  And we do that by continuing initiatives like the Main Street street-scaping project.  By investing in our aging infrastructure.  By enticing businesses with our electric rate incentives.  By rejuvenating our core downtown district with the Madison Lot Project.  By partnering with SEPTA for parking improvements.  By investing in wayfinding and signage.  By increasing traffic flow with the Wood-Vine connector project.  By implementing a business improvement district.  And by anchoring our downtown core with a robust arts, film and entertainment center.

These are all initiatives that are underway in our borough.  And projects that will require the support and leadership of our next Borough Council.  You should ask ALL of the candidates where they stand on this.

Leon & Liz end with this zinger, “Make Council more open and honest.”

Shake, shake. Open the top and pour all the salt out with this one.

So what am I to believe, Leon & Liz?  That our current council is dishonest?  That’s a mighty powerful accusation to make.  Do you have anything to back that up, or is this just another scare tactic?  Is there anyone in particular you are accusing of being dishonest? 

With one month to go until Election Day, please be diligent when listening to candidate’s claims and one-liners.  And keep that salt shaker handy!