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Guide can be viewed at:http://www.theballot.org/2006/fortsanders

Fort Sanders Pissed Off Voter Guide

Knoxville, TN

November 7, 2006

This is the Pissed Off Voter Guide for the Fort Sanders neighborhood in Knoxville. It includes information and endorsements for state, Knoxville City, and Knox County elections, as well specific endorsements for House and Senate races in the Fort Sanders neighborhood.

Governor

Howard M. Switzer

Endorsed Vote: Yes

Green party candidate for Governor, running on a solid platform of peace, justice, ecology, and democracy. Check out http://www.h4gov.com/ for more.

Constitution Amendment #1

Endorsed Vote: No

A "yes" vote on this question would amend the Tennessee Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Write homophobia into our Constitution? HELL NO!

Constitution Amendment #2

Endorsed Vote: No

A "yes" vote would allow but not require the legislature to implement a program of property tax relief to people over 65 years old. This is complicated, considering deep problems with healthcare and social security. But really - tax breaks to property owners while we're struggling with our budget and people are starving and sleeping in our streets? Nah.

US Senate

Christopher Joseph Lugo

Endorsed Vote: Yes

Green party candidate for Senate. Freelance journalist and peace activist, running on a solid platform. Visit http://www.chris4senate.com/ for more.

US House of Representatives, 2nd District

John Greene

Endorsed Vote: Yes

Democratic candidate. Don't know much about the guy. From what I can tell he doesn't even have a campaign website. But 1. there are no promising third party or write-in candidates, 2. he's not John Duncan! So here's an unenthusiastic endorsement for Yes.

Tennessee Senate, 7th District

Tim Burchett

Endorsed Vote: No

Running unopposed. Judging from his voting record and the several opportunities I've had to lobby him, he's overtly racist and homophobic. Although there's no alternative, I'll leave you with a confident endorsement of HELL NO! and suggest you refrain from voting on this race.

Tennessee House of Representatives, 15th District

Joe Armstrong

Endorsed Vote: Yes

Democratic candidate. I've lobbied him several times, find him compassionate and thoughtful. He'll even talk strategy with you. It should also be noted he was one of only a handful in the Tennessee House to oppose the marriage amendment last year. A confident YES endorsement.

County Charter Amendment Question 1

Endorsed Vote: No Endorsement

A big, bureaucratic change to the County Charter. No apparent implications to anything relevant or meaningful, no money cost. Whateva.

County Charter Amendment Question #2

Endorsed Vote: No Endorsement

Another bone to throw to the bureacrats. It seems this one just helps them compile the County Charter and all amendments in one place. We don't have that already? Again, no apparent relevance to anything, no apparent cost either. Whateva.

County Charter Amendment Question #3

Endorsed Vote: No Endorsement

Adding a period after the words "in compliance with general law" and deleting a few apparently meaningless words from a section of the County Charter. Really, I've got more important things to think about. Whateva.

County Charter Amendment Question #4

Endorsed Vote: No

Establishes a Uniformed Officers Pension Plan. So get this, directly from the text on the ballot: the Knox County Retirement System has projected the unfunded liability for the Pension to be approximately $57.1 million as of July 1, 2007, and, in addition, the County's expected additional annual cost of the Pension has been projected to be about...$1.6 million the first year..." ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?!?! You want me to spend that kind of money on a pension plan for officers?! HELL NO!!!

City Charter Amendment O-17-06

Endorsed Vote: Yes

Sets up a new check and balance - all proposed charter amendments likely to have a significant cost impact on the pension system have to go through an extra review process. No additional cost to us. Yeah.

City Charter Amendment O-126-06

Endorsed Vote: No

Another something something about more pension benefits for people who already have pension benefits. If this provision is passed, it will cost us approximately $135,000 per year for the next 13 years. Don't think so.