An organized group of citizens has come to light after two direct mail fliers were sent to voters.
The first, titled “What is Dariel Daniel hiding?” addresses two state tax liens totaling more than $14,000 Daniel, who is running for Troup County School Board, owes.
The second accuses Mike Freeland, who is running for county commissioner, of wanting to shut down Little League baseball in Troup County.
LaGrange Mayor Jeff Lukken is listed as the attorney and agent, Citizens for the Future of Troup County, which is registered with the Georgia Secretary of State. Lukken confirmed Tuesday he was the listed agent for the group.
“I am a member of ‘Citizens for the Future of Troup County,’ and I was asked to be the registered agent,” Lukken said. “The group represents a number of good people from all over Troup County that are very concerned about the misinformation and vicious attacks on our local institutions and community leaders. These Troup County residents want to provide the facts and set the record straight.”
The group’s president is Nancy Green. Green, a community volunteer, is perhaps best known as the Troup County resident who filed a complaint against Bill Gilmore, chairman of the Troup County Republicans, when Gilmore tried to get her to write a letter saying she would not vote for President Barack Obama in November. Other listed officers of the group are Vice Chairman Ricky Wolfe, who is chairman of the Troup County Commission, and Drew Ferguson IV, secretary, who is mayor of West Point.
No one with the citizen’s group would speak Tuesday, but a press release was issued.
“Citizens for the Future of Troup County is a group of concerned citizens that assembled together for the betterment of our government,” the press release said. “Too many untruths have been told in the past few years to Troup County, and we are here to display the facts as they are being told to our citizens.
“Our group is legal and being funded by citizens from all walks of life. Our area and country have incurred some very tough financial times. Now is not the time to allow agenda-driven individuals an opportunity to hijack what we have all worked so hard to build here in Troup County. We are blessed to have been afforded more opportunities than most areas of Georgia and the nation as a whole, and we want to make sure the future is bright for all of our citizens.
“We have and will continue to get out the truth for our upcoming elections. Mr. Dariel Daniel has unpaid taxes and, we believe, should be disqualified from running for office. If you are going to be in a position to raise taxes or spend tax payer money, you should have paid your own taxes.
“Mr. Mike Freeland said in his own words in the LaGrange Daily News ‘It does not make moral sense to burden these people with higher taxes to pay for ‘world class’ facilities that benefit only a very narrow and specialized segment of the citizenry.’ These are his own words, not this group’s words. Mr. Freeland is a candidate for county commission and obviously wants to stop funding for our recreational departments and go to a volunteer-based recreational facility. It would be nothing short of a disaster.”
Freeland responded to the accusations on his campaign website:
“I have never held a position of converting the Parks and Recreation Department into an all-volunteer entity,” he said. “I have never held a position that would “shut down little league baseball in Troup County.” Persons making such claims are completely misrepresenting my position. There are continued calls from government officials to spend more taxpayer money on recreational facilities, I am merely providing an alternative and innovative approach to achieving enhancements to recreation without causing further tax burdens upon county residents.”
Daniel responded on his Facebook page:
“I will not explain my taxes and refuse to engage in rumors and mudslinging,” he said. “J.K. Boatwright handles my taxes and that’s all I need to say. I will add that Georgia wants to tax me on money I made in Texas where there is no income tax and we are fighting that battle now.We have filed an extension. Slinging mud and trying to tear my character down will not work…especially when we’re talking about the IRS.
Ask me. Who is behind these wicked mailers? The ones responsible will not want to admit, but I'll wager that less than a handful of people are on this list and they will all be tasteless prigs from a certain element that we don't like. It's their attitude that reeks. It's the idea that they see themselves as super special when in reality, they are self-anointed wanna be blue bloods with nose bleed.
Those days are over. The shadow middle class knows that together, we are a force to be reckoned with and the ballot box will be visited soon.
We refuse to accept crumminess anymore. We are tired of being put down and taken for granted. We know that we are worthy of excellence and why not?
Let me tell you something I don't like. I don't like to be called to a Republican meeting where everything has been cut and dried, orchestrated and a certain element is seeking a rubber stamp approval. That's not my idea of representative government when these players never consulted with me or very many others. We are tired of this oligarchy.
It's partly our fault that we left politics to this moneyed oligarchy, but there is a new day coming. The working middle class has been ruffled long enough. We now have more educated folks and the ship of the working middle class is sinking because of stupid government policies from local to federal. However, we deign to repair our ship and be afloat.
Here's what we soon face in this world. The economy is shrinking and so is the tax base. It's time for us to wise up and stop borrowing and spending. It's time for us to learn to get a lot of bang for our bucks. It's time to expect teachers to teach usable information. Students must build for good paying careers. It's time for school principals to take charge of the discipline problems and stop abandoning the teachers. It's time for problem kids to be diverted away from deserving kids.
Yes! I advocate a class where the students earn the right to be there and trouble makers get left in a correctional environment. Good students should not be penalized.
Team ABCD is composed of people with fresh perspectives and a background in education. From the mouth of Dariel Daniel, "We have a spending problem."
We must concern ourselves with today. Focus on today. Problem resolution skills are required and the incumbents have played their hands. Do we want more than what they've shown us?
Today is the issue. And let's be certain that our decisions about today will not have a negative impact on the future.
I want more. I want better. I want Team ABCD.
The politics and policies behind The ABCD Ticket are deplorable. The Tea Party policies are BAD for people--not just "tax payers"--but PEOPLE!
I'm not so happy with the incumbents. People want an opportunity to be heard and to speak at meetings. No current school board member has been able to provide what I feel is an adequate solution to the problem.
But the challengers are far worse. For example, what do you think will happen if seniors no longer have taxes that fund the schools? The money has to come from somewhere. It is inevitable that the State will deal out further cuts...and then what? Troup County will again be closing EVEN MORE schools.
It is a bad situation. The Tea Party makes it worse. Don't be deceived by ABCD. They are bad for the schools and bad for Troup County!
Where does Mr Daniel really live ? I am not sure he lives with his mother
I believe he was involved with the hazing at Troup High ,
He has ethics violations due to not paying previous campaigns fees.
He has a bad temper problem as shown by his $ 600 sign fine.
I am beginning to see how this ABCD really is ! I think he might want to go back and hide in Texas
Snoopy79
The city of LaGrange, The Troup County School Board, The Troup County Commission, and The Chamber of Commerce rally to the aid of each other when any of the group is called to accountability.
Here let me sum it up for you folks. You are stupid and have no idea what is best for you therefore those of us in the public sector, being gifted beyond belief, must make decisions that you are incapable of making.
We have the finest ballfieds in the southeast. Does it really matter if they are rarely utilized? We have the great downtown. Does it really matter if there are not any quality stores there?
We have the finest schools and some of the highest paid administrators in the state. Seriously, does it really matter if 4 out of 10 don't graduate and half of those who do have no idea how they got to where they are or where they are going?
Folks in the private sector expect way too much. We in the public sector, being gifted, are entitled to twice the wage you make, great health insurance and retirement plans. We deserve it.
As soon as the T SPLOST is passed we will seeking the S SPLOST. Funds from the S SPLOST will be used to build our version of the Space Needle. People will come from all corners of the earth to see this great wonder. Well, even if they don't, we will still have it.
But honestly folks we have a chance to change the direction of Troup County for the better. An opportunity to take back our county.
I can't wait for the day when I turn on the radio and hear this. " Hi Folks, this is Mayor Jeff. Come on day to ABC Motors. Shelia, Debbie, Buck or myself will be delighted to put you in a new car. We have a deal for you. No Job, No Credit, No Problem. Your employment has never been a concern to us so we ain't going to start worrying about it now. Come in today and test drive a vehicle and you will receive 2 free passes to LaGrange's Space Needle. Do what Buck? You say they got us out of office before we could build it? No Problem. We will give you 2 tickets for a good meal from one of our local eateries. When was the last time you could afford a good meal? That's what we thought."
Gotta Luv It!
I urge the citizens of Troup county to contact these people and let them know we are not going to take this any longer and that we will hold them accountable with our votes.