I am concerned about a lack of propriety I have seen in Chris Howley, a candidate for Signal Mountain Town Council.
When Mr. Howley first heard about the conservation easement agreement he posted on his FaceBook page a scathing letter he had sent the current council accusing them of having a "hidden agenda" and asking questions indicating a complete lack of knowledge about the issue.
Next, at the candidate forum at the MACC, Mr. Howley's answers were obviously intended to paint the current council as irresponsible people who can't take care of their basic duties. When Mayor Lusk in a letter to the editor countered the worst of Mr. Howley's statements, Mr. Howley posted on his FaceBook page that he stood by everything he had said.
One specific point he emphasized in the forum was that he thinks the town should get out of the way of business, yet in a letter to the editor, a citizen has written that in a published interview Mr. Howley praises the use of regulations to exclude independent parking lot owners from competing with his company, Republic Parking, for which he serves as an executive vice president.
Next we hear that Mr. Howley has failed to follow the regulations of the Election Commission by not printing the source of financing for his campaign signs. Now we hear that Mr. Howley has violated Hamilton County regulations and School Board policy by advertising his political campaign on Hamilton County school property by erecting banners and allowing plugs from announcers during football games to the effect that he "...is the only candidate for town council who represents the schools."
Do we want a town council member who makes knee-jerk assumptions, is willing to say anything to get elected and who thinks he is above the rules that most of us live by?
Rachel Miller