E-mails, letters to the editor

Goodhues customer asks how to get refund for purchased gift certificate

Vickie Frieling,
McKinney, TX
May, 20, 2009

George Fuller congratulates Loughmiller, thanks voters and takes on bloggers

Letters in support of mayoral candidate George Fuller's bid for mayor

Dear Editor,

I am writing to address George Fuller’s experience and any concerns regarding his potential “learning curve." I know George Fuller, and he is a strong Christian business man that defies “learning curves."

George was in Ethiopia several years ago (during the last mayoral election) when he mistakenly walked into a remote orphanage that did not have electricity, running water or enough beds and mattresses for the 331 children that resided there. The children had only the clothes on their backs and in most cases, no shoes. He left the group he was with, spent several days surveying the situation and returned home. George and his wife, Maylee, returned five weeks later with funds and essentials raised and procured through their local charity efforts.  As a result of their emotional investment and organizational strategies, they were able to change the lives of each and every child in that orphanage.  Without any previous experience and through a “learning curve”, he secured electricity, contracted for a water well and tank, clothed each of the 331 children with shoes and two sets of clothes,  turned an unused building into a library with books,  televisions and educational videos, provided mattresses, and secured better food. 

During this same time, he fell in love with a precious 10 year old little girl. Within the constraints of an orphanage that had never adopted out a child, he managed the system, successfully navigated the cultural and foreign politics, and five months later, brought her to their home in McKinney while working against insurmountable odds half way around the world, in a foreign environment speaking a foreign language. I have no concerns about George Fuller’s ability to quickly and efficiently navigate the “learning curve” required to conquer the present problems in our city!   As a successful McKinney business leader who has the tenacity, heart and passion needed to achieve this same transformation, I believe he possesses the qualities that would serve our city well, and I fully endorse him as our next mayor. So, join me in voting for George Fuller on election day, May 9. Early voting April 27 and on.

Sincerely,
Joy Flavill,
McKinney, Texas

Dear McKinney Update,
It is ironic to me that there is so much discussion about voting records and conflict of interests that are not the most relevant ones of these issues. There has been a lot of talk about Mr. Fuller’s spotty city voting record. But to be fair to Mr. Fuller and the rest of the “apathetic” city voters, let me put this in perspective.  Approximately 4 percent of our residents voted in the last mayoral election.

However, the notion that this makes Mr. Fuller, or any one of the other 96 out of 100 residents with similar voting history, less qualified to address the now pressing issues of our city is difficult to understand.  I am a 4R voter that has voted in every city election since 2002. I get it. If you don’t vote, don’t complain…but getting involved and working toward a solution is not sideline complaining, it is involvement, and that, we should appreciate.   

I for one, am glad to see all the new effort being made to improve our city and even our nation. We are a community of strong and intelligent people that have had enough of politicians serving political agendas and catering to the wants of a few. It is time that we the people, consistent voters or not, get involved and take OUR city back! 

The voting record that concerns me and all residents of McKinney is the one of Mr. Loughmiller and the other previous council members and mayor in their capacity as elected city officials. This voting history has exemplified extreme favoritism to a few, (like Craig Ranch) and has placed our city in a budget deficit, submerged us in litigation, drove property taxes to the highest level of any neighboring Collin County city, failed to capture the retail, restaurant and business component (such as Waters Creek) that now has us exporting nearly 80 percent of our sales tax dollars outside our own city, and produced more “insider trading” than any city in the region. This is the voting history that has impacted each and every resident in our great city.   

The second core issue is that of conflict of interest and “insider trading." These problems have run rampant within our city the last eight years and it is only due to the bold efforts of a few new council members that some of these conflicts and the resulting profiteering are finally being exposed.   

In the last eight years, our council has elected real estate brokers and land speculators to the position of liason between the City Council and the MEDC (McKinney Economic Development Corporation). Could there be a greater conflict of interest? We have had council members purchase property along soon to be developed areas, then profited at the expense of our tax dollars.  

Is that an issue more worth discussing?  Either you were on council and participated in these acts of abuse or you sat quiet while others did, either way, you let down those that elected you and should not ask us to trust your leadership.  Mr. Loughmiller has a proven record of voting for things that are not in the best interest of all McKinney residents and I believe these are the voting records that require scrutiny today as we look for leadership tomorrow.

Flora Brands
McKinney, Texas

Editors' note: McKinney had a 5 percent turn out of voters in the 2006 mayoral election, according to Sharon Rowe, Collin County Elections Administrator.

Letters in support of Brian Loughmiller's bid for mayor in the May 9 city election

Editor,

There is something sinister about a builder running for Mayor of the city in which he currently has a huge, multi-million dollar unfinished commercial construction project that has stagnated for years due to an economic slowdown. (See McKinney's "Croatia Village"). Oh, did I mention that Fuller's campaign is being hugely funded by Jeffory Blackard of the Blackard Group, developer of Croatia Village?

Call me paranoid, but I can't help but at least consider that Mr. Fuller has a parallel agenda that may not be motivated strictly by some benevolent desire to “put McKinney families first.” The fact that Mr. Fuller’s sudden interest in becoming mayor coincides with the abrupt dry-up of commercial business loans should raise some red flags in the mind’s of McKinney taxpayers. The fact that he has an axe to grind with the existing City Council because of building projects the council apparently impeded speaks volumes for his true motivation for running.

Mr. Fuller’s slogans sound awfully wonderful and promising though, filled with inspiring words such as “families first” and “lowered taxation.” But so far, as I slice through his sugary slogans, I find no cake beneath the icing. One of Fuller’s cornerstone stump speeches is that McKinney’s political decisions should be decided by its 100,000+ residents, not a “vote of four,” meaning not only by four of seven City Council members. Since our city council members are voted into office, is Mr. Fuller implying that democracy isn’t working in McKinney? Is he implying that each vote should count, but each voter's representative is thereafter suspect? Or, is Mr. Fuller simply saying that the voters of McKinney are just plain stupid, that we vote for representatives who don’t represent our best interests?

Peter Litwin
McKinney, Texas

Dear editor,
I have been a licensed attorney for 19 years, lived in McKinney for 18 years and have maintained a real estate practice in the city for the past 11 years. I have known Brian Loughmiller and his family for 17 years. Through those years I have observed a person who, unlike others, has dedicated himself to the service of the city of McKinney.

Others utilized positions obtained to promote interests of their own above those of the city and its residents. During Brian’s two terms as City Council representative to District 4 and as Mayor Pro Tem from 2004 - 2007, I often wondered where the intense dedication to serve the city was derived, especially
given the fact that Brian was not a developer, a commercial or residential builder or a land investor.
Actually, the answer to this question is very simple, Brian is someone who does not participate in anything without full devotion to the task at hand. I know this statement to be true because of our families personal relationship, our working relationship as two attorneys in this fine city we call
home.

I have known of Brian’s goals to serve the city for many years and I knew once elected to the City Council that the needs of District 4 and the consideration to other city districts and projects would receive his full attention. I knew that no avenue of development, taxation, infrastructure or
long range planning would escape his detailed approach. His detailed approach is one of the reasons
this city has moved forward with as much foresight, planning and thought as we now enjoy.

The city Mayoral election is but a few weeks away. There is one, and only one, candidate that has worked for this city, with nothing but the interest of McKinney in mind. This person has given of himself for no apparent reason other than his love of where he, his family, his friends and the residents of this city live, work and play.

This person has served in the trenches for years while others have failed to darken the door or floor of the City Council. This person knows
how this city is governed and knows what this city needs; others, well, they only think they know how, why or what the city really needs. There is only one person who is running for mayor of the city of McKinney that deserves your support and that person is someone I am extremely proud to say is my friend, someone I know I can count on, someone who I know has the city of McKinney close to his heart, my friend is Brian Loughmiller and he should be your only consideration, your only choice, and your Mayor, should you live where I do.

Karl, Suzanne, Lindsey, and Drew Hunter of McKinney

Dear editor,
I'm encouraging everyone in the city of McKinney to vote for Brian Loughmiller, a dedicated, caring public servant and the superior mayoral candidate. Several years ago, McKinney annexed a large parcel across from my rural ranch neighborhood. The developer's initial plan would have placed a busy road on my and my neighbors' land, taking a large swath of our yards and putting traffic too near our front windows. We attended a number of McKinney City Council meetings about the issue. Several council members were sympathetic, but only Brian Loughmiller stepped forward and got involved. Brian invited us to his office and spent his own time discussing the issue with us. Brian encouraged the developer to work with the homeowners, inviting all parties to the table to reach a fair compromise. The developer was wonderful and everyone walked away satisfied by the agreement, which the council later approved. Brian impressed me with his kindness, sense of fairness, commitment to his council responsibilities, and willingness to reach out to property owners who didn't even live within McKinney city limits. McKinney deserves a mayor who cares enough to delve into issues and work for equitable resolutions. Brian Loughmiller has already shown he is willing to do just that.

Sincerely,
Holly Becka
McKinney, Texas

Letters of support of Don Day for McKinney City Council seat, District 1

Dear editor,

My name is Tom Meredith. I own and operate the Pantry Restaurant in downtown McKinney. I also own the building at 214 E. Louisiana Street, in which the business is located. Since my business and property are located in District 1, I believe it is critical that we have a strong an experienced individual in the District 1 council seat. With the downturn in the economy District 1 needs its city council seat to be held by an experienced individual, who can get things done. There will many competing interests in various parts of the city for the limited funds available for needed improvements.

If District 1 does not have a strong voice on city council it may miss out on a lot of opportunity for economic development, neighborhood improvement and improvement of city services. I believe Don Day is the best candidate for the District 1 council seat. With his experience on city boards, such as the Planning and Zoning Commission and Main Street, Don knows how city government works, knows the people involved and knows how to get things done.

In the eight years I have known Don Day one of the things I am most impressed with is the way he gets things done. On many occasions I have seen him take an idea or suggestion and in no time at all he has taken action and made an idea reality. We need more of this in city government, leaders who can listen to our ideas and act on the best of those ideas. I believe the east side of McKinney has tremendous opportunities in coming years to improve neighborhoods, create more jobs and improve the overall quality of life. That is why I believe it is critical we elect Don Day for city council, District 1.

Tom Meredith, owner of The Pantry Restaurant in McKinney, Texas

Meredith is also Day's campaign treasurer

Dear District 1 voter,

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Don Day and recommend him to you as your District 1 representative. Don has worked over the past decade without distinction or fanfare for the betterment of District 1 and the City of McKinney as a whole. Through the initial efforts of prior city managers Don Paschal and Isaac Turner, Don Day lead the McKinney Housing Opportunities Corporation in its development of affordable houses east of McDonald Street.

His experience as a builder of commercial and residential units helped us keep our houses affordable. These houses were bought and occupied by some of the working class of McKinney. And we did not sell the houses for fair market value. Other community leaders stood on the sidelines and spoke negatively about our efforts. We forged ahead with our developments and other for profit developers followed our lead.

You can see the results for yourselves. Don Day will drive the vehicle of change for District 1 as follows:

Now Don Day is asking for you to lead him to city hall where he can work in your behalf, and improvement in District 1 benefit the city of McKinney with increased tax revenue and quality of life. Don has the business acumen that is needed for a community with reduced economic activity.

Leonard McGowan Executive Director, McKinney Housing Opportunities

Letter in support of Curtis Rath for the at-large council seat

Editor,

This letter is to express my unconditional support to Curtis Rath for City Council.

Curtis has my support for City Council because we share a similar vision for our community, and because I know him to be a man of ethics and integrity.

His business experience and global perspective will certainly make him an astute member of the Council, but more importantly his integrity will guide his decisions. Curtis has no secret agenda or need for power. He simply and sincerely wants to make a difference in the place that we live. The issues our community will face in the future are important, but when integrity drives decisions, you can be assured of the best outcomes. That is why I will vote for Curtis Rath on May 9.

Sincerely,

Lynne Sipiora,

McKinney, Texas