The democratic process

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: July 9, 2008

This letter is written in response to the comments made by Mr. Billy Vestal in the June 25 issue of the Eden Daily News concerning the municipal service districts. It was reported in the newspaper article that on June 17 the Eden City Council voted unanimously to approve the municipal service districts in the old Leaksville and Draper sections of Eden.
I quote Mr. Vestal’s comments as printed in your paper. “There are 60-plus properties down there (old Leaksville). Most of them didn’t even know what they were planning. Eleven people spoke in favor of the tax. Eleven people spoke for 68. I don’t think that’s a very democratic process”.
What Mr. Vestal failed to mention was that information about the municipal service districts has been disseminated for months. There has been no secret as to what is involved. Personal contacts have been made to property owners. There was an informational meeting held at River House, and all involved persons were urged to attend. Mr. Vestal did not attend.
Anyone who wanted to speak at the city council meeting against the municipal service districts could have done so. One person did. All property owners could have appeared had they wanted to do so. Mr. Vestal, that is the democratic process. As a former member of the Eden City Council, Mr. Vestal certainly knew how to appear and address them. He was nowhere to be seen.
Some people work a great deal to promote downtowns, but for years Mr. Vestal has not attended any meetings nor helped at anything that has been done.
The democratic process works when everyone pulls his own weight and participates.

Jean D. Harrington
Eden