Letter to the Editor, Posted: 8/11/04
To the editor:
I have served with Phil Carlson on the Lent Township Planning Commission for the past year and a half. Phil is a hands-on fellow, with an abundance of common sense that is getting rare to find these days. Phil recognizes that the vast majority of Chisago County residents are too busy earning a living and raising their families to pay much attention to local political issues. Some would say this is their problem and they should be more responsible citizens.
As a struggling small business owner, Phil knows that the ìreal worldî imposes many more important demands on the average citizen than keeping up with local politics. Phil believes that serious issues, such as multi-million dollar bond initiatives, demand serious efforts to inform and involve the average citizen. It is not enough to follow the lead of special interest groups and simply post a public notice in the local newspaper.
The recent public library bond should have been brought to the attention of all of the electorate. Phil believes that if the local school district is required to bring bond initiatives to the voters, so should the County. Our present county commissioner made no serious effort to inform me or my neighbors about the pending consideration and vote on this huge financial commitment (the county library bond).
If he were on the county board, Phil would have insisted on an informational mailing to every registered voter before considering this issue, and he would have demanded a voter referendum before committing the taxpayers to fund this project. Lora Walker does not properly represent the interests of me and my neighbors. I believe that she is much too susceptible to the influence of small, but well-organized special interests, and must be replaced. If you feel the same way, vote for Phil Carlson on Sept. 14.
David B. Milles
Lent Township
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