Check out this video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJCiZ7J4Al4&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Ryan P. French
Alderman; City of Manchester,TN
RyansReasons.com
(931) 368-VOTE
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
I've been had! Kinda, lol!
So today many of you will get a flyer in your mail box that tells you "Reasons to Vote for French". The problem with the ad is that it doesn't have support from any element of truth or MY VOTING RECORD. I'm not going to waste my time defending many of the claims but I will share my voting record with everyone.
(By the way the the photo in the flyer is pretty funny, I must give kudos for the creativity).
- As Alderman I VOTED AGAINST the $550,000 peace of property that appraises for less than $150,000.
- As Alderman I VOTED AGAINST building a city police department for $2,500,000 and laid out a fiscal plan that explained why we could not afford it! Later the state agreed and we were not able to build the station.
- I HAVE A PROVED FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE VOTING RECORD.
- I have never cast a vote for Obamacare
- I have NEVER VOTED to RAISE TAXES, in fact the reason the school plan was never brought for a vote to the board of Mayor and Alderman was the fact it included a substantial tax increase.
- I have not received any endorsement from a Coffee-CountyChronic Socialist Party, nor does one exist. However I was given a A rating by the conservative values 9-12 Organization here in Coffee County.
This election is far to important to get caught up in lies and misinformation. The facts are out there, and I choose to stick by them. Thanks to everyone for their continued support and let's make sure August 2nd is the first day of a better Manchester!
-Ryan French
www.RyansReasons.com
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Misinformed, Misunderstood, or Simply Wrong? (Alderman French responds to John Constantine's ad in today's Manchester Times)
Recently I have been targeted by a negative campaign tactic, not by an opponent of mine, but by incumbent Mayor Betty Superstein's campaign. I have expressed my curiosity to Mrs. Superstein as to why I have become a target of her campaign while she is in a very highly contested race of her own, to which I have received no answer.
As I have said before my goal from day one was to run a campaign based on integrity, thoughtfulness, and the truth. While knocking door to door I have spread a message of what Manchester will be, and how we will get there. I have laid out detailed plans on projects that we need to take on, as well as how we can pay for them without raising taxes. My campaign has reached out, responded, and been as thorough as possible.
I can not say the same for Mayor Superstien's campaign however. On Thursday July 12th Mayor Superstein first attacked me with a letter to voters. I briskly responded to the Mayor's attack by presenting the actual facts of the issues on www.RyansReasons.com and it can still be read at http://ryansreasons.
This week John Constantine, whom I've never met, took shot at discrediting my record by painting a picture of what he deemed the truth. However when one takes a closer look at Mr. Constantine's claims in support of Mayor Superstein it is easy to see it is nothing more than meaningless nonsense and a complete distortion of the truth. Mr. Constantine is known however for leading charges against others all the while clearly stepping across the ethical bounds he demands others to stay within. Take Mr. Constantine's vivid attack of the Bonnaroo Music Festival for example. In 2011 Mr. Constantine spent hundreds of dollars on advertisements bashing Bonnaroo "for all the bad they bring to our community", all the while Mr. Constantine continued to request and receive thousands of dollars worth of FREE Bonnaroo tickets.
Credibility is earned through constantly displaying a moral standard that one not only sets the bar for but achieves themselves. Unfortunately for Mr. Constantine the only thing consistent about his attack on myself and others, is the lies he tells through out his ad.
As I have said before I will not get involved in mudslinging contest, but I will however present the FACTS of the claims a candidate chooses to make. In doing so here is a breakdown of the actual FACTS Mr. Constantine regrettably left out of his attack.
Constantine's Claim: 2% raise for all employees this year with NO tax increase
FACT: The city did indeed give a 2% raise for all of it's employees this year with out a tax increase, one can argue however that the raise was not properly budgeted. Rather than actually generating a line item for the employee raise and meeting a criteria in order to present it, the mayor's budget simply CUT FUNDS from the city paving budget. This was a one time campaign season raise plain and simple.
Constantine's Claim: Mr. Constantine gives Mayor Superstein credit for "Lynchburg Road sidewalk project complete for safer streets near Westwood."
FACT: In 2010 I presented a 4-phase improvement plan for the Westwood area sidewalks and walking paths. Mayor Superstein was not in support of the project stating "we do not have the funds", just a hand full of days later the Mayor supported a $550,000 land purchase for a peace of property that appraises for less than $150,000. The sidewalk project was tabled and later brought back to the Street Committee where Alderman Parsley, Alderman Norman, and myself voted to fund the project.
Constantine's Claim: Both Lynchburg Road and the green way were funded by grants and not tax money
FACT: The Lynchburg Road sidewalk project was funded 100% by city funds within the budget of the street department. In fact after the project was analyzed by Alderman Parsley, Alderman Norman, and myself before it was voted through and it was our determination at the advise of Street Department Head Bret Carter that the project could be done internally to save a great deal of tax payer dollars. This decision saved some $82,000 as the project came under budget at $44,000 rather than the projected $126,000 had the project been contracted out.
The green way projects were in fact in most part funded by a grant, but a MATCHING grant that did require city funds. Nevertheless Constantine claims neither project was funded by "tax money", 100% of grant funds ARE TAX MONEY.
Constantine's Claim: Candidate Lonnie Norman RAISED TAXES when he was mayor in the 90's reaching 2.85. The current rate is 2.2999.
FACTS: While taxes were raised in the 90's it was due to projects such as the idea of the Recreation Center, and improvements to city hall and the police department. What Constantine does not mention is that as Mayor Lonnie Norman did not have a vote on the tax increase, and as Alderman Lonnie Norman in fact voted multiple times to lower the tax rate, including the final vote setting the rate at 2.2999.
Constantine's Claim: "Alderman Ryan French says it doesn't matter how many meeting he has missed", "Missing 26% of work days would get most people fired."
FACT: Mr. Constantine not only left out a large part of what I said, he changed my actual quote. I was asked by Josh Peterson of the Manchester Times, why I had missed 26% of the meetings during my first term. The answer is simple: I do not miss regularly called meetings. Out of the 26% the Manchester Times claims I have missed more than 90% of those meetings are special called meetings held at NOON during the week. The irony of Mr. Constantine's statement of "missing would get most people fired" is the fact I work during the day and can not attend most special called meetings. It is my belief that government should work within the publicly called and scheduled meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. That is what it reads in our charter, and it is how I believe our government should work. Being an elected official should be open to all citizens, including those who have to work a 40 hour a week job to support their family like myself.
Constantine's Claim: When Alderman French "stated that the new ladder truck could not be used to save live- that is a lie." It passed the same test as a $1M truck.
FACT: In my response to Mayor Superstein's letter I stated that the ladder truck could not be used for rescue. The gold standard for purchasing a new ladder truck has always been the ability to rescue from the top of our highest buildings. Kingwood Arms is constantly used as the example for why we needed a ladder truck in the first place. While some claim the new truck can rescue from the top of the Kingwood Arms complex, the math simply does not work out. While the ladder DOES reach the top of the complex it does so ONLY while parked directly beside the physicality. The problem is that when there is an actual fire, the trucks are required to leave 75 feet of space between the truck and the structure fire, when this criteria is met the truck is no longer able to rescue from the top of the building. While I may have needed a bit more explanation for my comment it was in no way a lie, the math supports my statement 100%.
As of this past Thursday our "gently used" truck has been shelved due to a tie rod and now a possible issue with the stabilizer. The problem is the truck sits on a 1974 chassis and parts are not longer available. At this point parts needed to fix the truck must be custom fabrication parts.
Constantine's Claim: Mayoral candidate Lonnie Norman admitted he would like to "go back to how things used to be" when it comes to conducting city business.
FACT: Again, Mr. Constantine chooses to leave out what candidate Lonnie Norman was referencing in his statement. During the candidate forum Josh Peterson asked Mr. Norman what he would like to see change in how city business is conducted. Mr. Norman said that he would like to see us go back to how things used to be when referencing how the committees use to reconcile their budgets. Our city budgeting process is suppose to allow the committees that govern each department to speak one on one with the finance director in putting together the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. However under Mayor Superstein's administration this process is skipped, and the budget is simply given to the departments in a take it or leave it fashion. There is no pure budgeting process where elected officials are allowed to have discussions about the direction of the city.
Constantine's Claim: "Does this mean reckless spending on unnecessary items like a $310,000 wood chipper he (Lonnie Norman) voted to purchase that was later sold for half price?"
Constantine's Claim: Mayor Superstein has true business experience managing a medical office. What real business experience do the other candidates have?
FACT: Mr. Constantine, glad you asked. Both Mayoral candidates Lonnie Norman and Claude Morse have EXTENSIVE management
Friday, July 13, 2012
Listen to Candidate Forum NOW!
Listen to the Thunder Radio - Manchester Times Alderman Candidate Forum by clicking the link below!
http://www.thunder1320.com/?page_id=19
http://www.thunder1320.com/?page_id=19
A Letter from our Mayor, and then the Truth
First I would like to express my deepest regrets that a candidate with a 11 year voting record on the board of Mayor and Alderman would stoop to the levels this letter clearly plunges to. Serving you as a Alderman the past 3 years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I have fought hard to ensure each vote is cast with integrity and only after being properly evaluated.
This summer I have campaigned on various issues that I feel are extremely important to the future of our community and I have been very open to the fact we need new leadership. We need leadership with fresh ideas, an open mind, and someone willing to lead with the many rather than be led by a few.
Mayor Superstein's letter clearly shows that her record is not strong enough on its own to bolster a proper re-election campaign. Instead she has chosen a path of misconception and at best a disingenuous twist of the truth.
I am running for Alderman, not Mayor and to this point I have interjected my opinion only on the issues, concerns, and thoughts that will move our city forward. With that being said, I can not in good faith allow the Mayor to spread so many untruths without offering the public the real facts of each matter.
Mayor's Claim: We LOWERED taxes in city from 2.42 to 2.29 in 2010.
The FACTS: While it is true that we did lower the tax RATE in 2010, we did this ONLY after your property values had increased thus the savings for each resident was a staggering $0. While the Mayor's statement is not exactly false, it is designed to mislead voters into thinking we actually experienced a tax cut.
Mayor's Claim: Lonnie Norman, Sam Miller, and Ryan French wanted the city to buy a fire truck for $1,000,000 with no plan to pay for it.
The FACTS: This is simply untrue, and is not supported through the minutes of the Board of Mayor and Alderman. While attempting to smear my fiscally responsible voting record the Mayor fails to mention that the ONLY discussion of a city fire truck on my behalf was during a vote to build a new city police department costing around $2.5 MILLION (that Mayor Superstien VOTED FOR). As the minutes will support I laid out a detailed financial report that outlined why the city DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS to support a $2.5 MILLION dollar project without a tax increase, and my concerns that a new police department was not at the top of our priorities as a city stating that we had needs to address like "sidewalks for children to walk to school on, and a firetruck to secure our safety rating would not be dropped". While I am pleased that we do have a stop gap firetruck right now the fact of the matter is that the truck our Mayor is touting as slightly used is 30 years old, and can not be used for rescue.
Mayor's Claim:We have created 482 new jobs in Manchester/Coffee County
The FACTS: 482 new jobs have been created in the past 5 years in the entire County, however not all 482 jobs have went exclusively to Coffee County Residents let alone Manchester Residents. The reality is that we have seen less than 100 jobs created IN MANCHESTER the past 5 years.
Mayor's Claim: We are saving $18,000 by moving the elections to only even years.
The FACTS: We are saving with moving the elections, there are no doubts about that. However our city has NEVER spent more than $13,000 on any election and this is supported by receipts and line item budgeting obtained from our city Finance offices. Also the Mayor neglects to mention that the legislation she pointed out and supported EXTENDED HER TERM 1 FULL YEAR WITHOUT A VOTE FROM THE PUBLIC.
In 2009 I presented a plan to the Finance Committee (supported by the minuets of the finance committee) that would have allowed the city to move it's elections to even years without the extension of terms our officials were currently elected to. My proposal was rejected and the legislation was presented to extend the terms of the Mayor, Alderman Thomas, and Alderman Patton.
Mayor Superstein touts this legislation as cost savings however refused to answer my question as to how the city can save money by requiring a Alderman to step down before running for Mayor in the city.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHDnzN1VBM&feature=g-upl
Moving forward I refuse to get caught in the cross hairs of negative, divisive, and untrue claims. Instead I will continue to knock on doors and spread the word of what I feel can be a better Manchester. This election is far to important to get caught up in disingenuous mudslinging, but I feel the public has a right to hear the TRUTH on these claims.
Ryan P. French
(931) 273-6639
www.facebook.com/ryanpatrickfrench
www.RyansReasons.com
The FACTS: While it is true that we did lower the tax RATE in 2010, we did this ONLY after your property values had increased thus the savings for each resident was a staggering $0. While the Mayor's statement is not exactly false, it is designed to mislead voters into thinking we actually experienced a tax cut.
Mayor's Claim: Lonnie Norman, Sam Miller, and Ryan French wanted the city to buy a fire truck for $1,000,000 with no plan to pay for it.
The FACTS: This is simply untrue, and is not supported through the minutes of the Board of Mayor and Alderman. While attempting to smear my fiscally responsible voting record the Mayor fails to mention that the ONLY discussion of a city fire truck on my behalf was during a vote to build a new city police department costing around $2.5 MILLION (that Mayor Superstien VOTED FOR). As the minutes will support I laid out a detailed financial report that outlined why the city DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS to support a $2.5 MILLION dollar project without a tax increase, and my concerns that a new police department was not at the top of our priorities as a city stating that we had needs to address like "sidewalks for children to walk to school on, and a firetruck to secure our safety rating would not be dropped". While I am pleased that we do have a stop gap firetruck right now the fact of the matter is that the truck our Mayor is touting as slightly used is 30 years old, and can not be used for rescue.
Mayor's Claim:We have created 482 new jobs in Manchester/Coffee County
The FACTS: 482 new jobs have been created in the past 5 years in the entire County, however not all 482 jobs have went exclusively to Coffee County Residents let alone Manchester Residents. The reality is that we have seen less than 100 jobs created IN MANCHESTER the past 5 years.
Mayor's Claim: We are saving $18,000 by moving the elections to only even years.
The FACTS: We are saving with moving the elections, there are no doubts about that. However our city has NEVER spent more than $13,000 on any election and this is supported by receipts and line item budgeting obtained from our city Finance offices. Also the Mayor neglects to mention that the legislation she pointed out and supported EXTENDED HER TERM 1 FULL YEAR WITHOUT A VOTE FROM THE PUBLIC.
In 2009 I presented a plan to the Finance Committee (supported by the minuets of the finance committee) that would have allowed the city to move it's elections to even years without the extension of terms our officials were currently elected to. My proposal was rejected and the legislation was presented to extend the terms of the Mayor, Alderman Thomas, and Alderman Patton.
Mayor Superstein touts this legislation as cost savings however refused to answer my question as to how the city can save money by requiring a Alderman to step down before running for Mayor in the city.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHDnzN1VBM&feature=g-upl
Moving forward I refuse to get caught in the cross hairs of negative, divisive, and untrue claims. Instead I will continue to knock on doors and spread the word of what I feel can be a better Manchester. This election is far to important to get caught up in disingenuous mudslinging, but I feel the public has a right to hear the TRUTH on these claims.
Ryan P. French
(931) 273-6639
www.facebook.com/ryanpatrickfrench
www.RyansReasons.com
Alderman Candidate Forum 7.12.12
This election must be about what we can do, what our city can be. We can no longer settle for failed policies, we can not longer accept NO. Our government is designed to be for the people, and ran by the people... not just a select few folks. It is time that we elect strong minded individuals that will cast a vote ONLY after it is right in their heart, and their homework on the issue is complete.
I warn everyone that has followed this election in any capacity that the fight is not over, it has just begun. Do not become complacent, do not allow negative attacks on an individual sway your determination. Cast your vote and select the folks you feel most comfortable will lead our city to the prosperity our community deserves.
I encourage each of you to listen to the Candidate Forum online by visiting http://www.thunder1320.com/?page_id=19 and be sure to let your let your friends and family know where to go as well!
Thank you so much to everyone for the great conversations, relationships, and comments that I have had, developed, and heard throughout this election process.
Thanks,
Ryan P. French
(931) 273-6639
www.RyansReasons.com
http://www.facebook.com/ryanpatrickfrench
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Manchester and Bonnaroo... the buck$ dont lie, do they?
There are a number of reasons salestrends are down during the actual festival itself, some of them are obvious andsimple, some not so much. A lot of locals are in the festival be it workingwith a organization or just going to go, and some of them are at home avoidingtraffic. That’s why we have to focus on all factors involved, including asimple campaign to educated residences on heavy traffic times. Why not publishexpectations of traffic: when it will be heavy and for how long. It’s difficultto expect folks to come out in town when your stopped by the Highway Patrol atevery red light, but if local patrons knew a more detailed schedule provided bythe city of when to expect traffic and when not to I think that would go a longway.
MusicTree was a perfect example ofhow local and non-local traffic affects our city in various ways.Thursday-Monday in large part was supported by local and semi-regional crowdsand those days were super successful. Tuesday and Wednesday on the other handwas a unique mix of local and non-local folks. It is important that we recognizeour days of retail opportunity on Bonnaroo traffic is primarily the Tuesday andWednesday before Bonnaroo and the Sunday and Monday at the tail end ofBonnaroo. Obviously pre-Bonnaroo sales will be stronger, so the questionbecomes how do we market the Tuesday and Wednesday before? One example isMusicTree.
MusicTree focused on the lead up toBonnaroo Traffic (Thursday-Monday) just as much as the two days of primarysales opportunity (Tuesday and Wednesday). This goes back to my general feelingthat we need to evaluate our approach to Music Industry as a city. We embraceBonnaroo and that's great, but we can do more. Rather than just embracing Musicone weekend a year we should focus on the total musical experience our cityoffers year round.
As a local government we are alwaystalking about Manufacturing Industry and Retail Industry and while both areequally important more often than not we overlook what I feel could beManchester's long term strong point and that is in the Tourism Industry.Tourism is the second largest Industry in the United States, and only ONE cityhas the opportunity that we have and it’s us! We are not only home to thelargest Music Festival in North America, but we are sandwiched in between majormusic powers in Nashville and Atlanta and growing music powers in Murfreesboroand Chattanooga. Combine that with that fact we are on the Tennessee Jack Trailleading to Jack Daniels as well as having our very own Coffee County Whiskey inGeorge Dickel and a fantastic nature and history experiences with Old StoneFort and Civil War Trails, it positions us well to make an aggressive campaignfor market share in the Tourism Industry.
As a government I think we need to be past thepoint of embarrassing all that music brings and to move to the point ofpromoting all of what music can do for Manchester. As a city we need to takethe next step and become that next Austin, TX type city on a smaller scale. Ourcommunity is ready to take that step; MusicTree was just a small example ofthat. Our local folks supported the days leading up to Bonnaroo traffic just aswell as the Bonnaroo traffic supported it once they got here. Our citizens areready to become part of the music scene, now it’s time for our local governmentto support that transition.
As for the short term affect of Bonnaroo weneed to start with comprehensive traffic details to locals as well as focus on drivingtransient traffic to our local folks the days leading up to Bonnaroo,maximizing the opportunity to drive sales on those primary sales days. For example:why does the city of Manchester not have bill boards on all major entrancesinto town. We could even do a co-op campaign with local businesses that said “ExperienceManchester The home of Bonnaroo” or "Show your wrist band for exclusivediscounts in these great local shops" We need a marketing strategy as acity rather than depending on folks to just wonder around and stumble on asmall local business. We always hear of shop local campaigns, and that's allfine. But we need to understand that we are a transient city and we shouldfocus on driving transient dollars into our local businesses rather than justdepending on our local folks to support small businesses alone.
MusicTree was a perfect example ofhow local and non-local traffic affects our city in various ways.Thursday-Monday in large part was supported by local and semi-regional crowdsand those days were super successful. Tuesday and Wednesday on the other handwas a unique mix of local and non-local folks. It is important that we recognizeour days of retail opportunity on Bonnaroo traffic is primarily the Tuesday andWednesday before Bonnaroo and the Sunday and Monday at the tail end ofBonnaroo. Obviously pre-Bonnaroo sales will be stronger, so the questionbecomes how do we market the Tuesday and Wednesday before? One example isMusicTree.
MusicTree focused on the lead up toBonnaroo Traffic (Thursday-Monday) just as much as the two days of primarysales opportunity (Tuesday and Wednesday). This goes back to my general feelingthat we need to evaluate our approach to Music Industry as a city. We embraceBonnaroo and that's great, but we can do more. Rather than just embracing Musicone weekend a year we should focus on the total musical experience our cityoffers year round.
As a local government we are alwaystalking about Manufacturing Industry and Retail Industry and while both areequally important more often than not we overlook what I feel could beManchester's long term strong point and that is in the Tourism Industry.Tourism is the second largest Industry in the United States, and only ONE cityhas the opportunity that we have and it’s us! We are not only home to thelargest Music Festival in North America, but we are sandwiched in between majormusic powers in Nashville and Atlanta and growing music powers in Murfreesboroand Chattanooga. Combine that with that fact we are on the Tennessee Jack Trailleading to Jack Daniels as well as having our very own Coffee County Whiskey inGeorge Dickel and a fantastic nature and history experiences with Old StoneFort and Civil War Trails, it positions us well to make an aggressive campaignfor market share in the Tourism Industry.
As a government I think we need to be past thepoint of embarrassing all that music brings and to move to the point ofpromoting all of what music can do for Manchester. As a city we need to takethe next step and become that next Austin, TX type city on a smaller scale. Ourcommunity is ready to take that step; MusicTree was just a small example ofthat. Our local folks supported the days leading up to Bonnaroo traffic just aswell as the Bonnaroo traffic supported it once they got here. Our citizens areready to become part of the music scene, now it’s time for our local governmentto support that transition.
As for the short term affect of Bonnaroo weneed to start with comprehensive traffic details to locals as well as focus on drivingtransient traffic to our local folks the days leading up to Bonnaroo,maximizing the opportunity to drive sales on those primary sales days. For example:why does the city of Manchester not have bill boards on all major entrancesinto town. We could even do a co-op campaign with local businesses that said “ExperienceManchester The home of Bonnaroo” or "Show your wrist band for exclusivediscounts in these great local shops" We need a marketing strategy as acity rather than depending on folks to just wonder around and stumble on asmall local business. We always hear of shop local campaigns, and that's allfine. But we need to understand that we are a transient city and we shouldfocus on driving transient dollars into our local businesses rather than justdepending on our local folks to support small businesses alone.
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