Open Letter to Metro Councilmember Phil Claiborne
Dear Councilmember Phil Claiborne,
Elected officials have a responsibility to those they are elected to serve.
They have a responsibility to listen to their constituents, to work in the best interest of the community and to be an effective steward of taxpayer funds.
Unfortunately, Metro Councilmember Clairborne, you have failed in the most basic responsibility: to be civil.
Recently a number of Nashvillians contacted you expressing their opposition to Mayor Dean’s 53-cent property tax increase. The communications were respectful and focused on the policy.
Unfortunately, the folks who took the time to contact you on an important matter facing the city, received a derisive, wholly unacceptable reply.
Below is one Nashvillians response from your email address:
From: Phil Claiborne <---@bellsouth.net>
To: —@bellsouth.net
Sent: Wed, May 16, 2012 4:24:09 PM
Subject: RE: Cut Spending, Do Not Raise Taxes
If you are going to express an opinion at least use your own words and don’t simply cut and paste someone’s else’s thought
CM Claiborne
Councilmember Clairborne, your arrogance is astounding.
Nashville taxpayers are your boss, and they have every right to contact you on issues facing the metro in any form they desire – and deserve not to be chastised for it.
Remember, you are a public servant. Taxpayers work hard to fund metro government – and should Mayor Dean’s tax increase go through they will be working even harder. Nashvillians should be encouraged, not discouraged, from participating in the political process. And when they do, they should be treated with respect.
Councilmember Clairborne, we are calling on you to apologize to all the citizens of Nashville you disrespected with your flippant replies. We hop you will do the right thing.
Sincerely,
Brad Stevens
Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee
www.americansforprosperity.org/tennessee
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