tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post568030946709825479..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-91900217200894357602007-12-31T15:54:00.000-05:002007-12-31T15:54:00.000-05:00To quote a line from "Coming to America"<BR/><BR/><I>if you want to keep working here, stay off the drugs</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-4765378835707253452007-12-31T15:41:00.000-05:002007-12-31T15:41:00.000-05:00I'm very curious. Was there any data collected after Ballard won as to exactly why people voted for him?<BR/>Obviously, taxes got a lot of attention but Peterson was slipping long before people like me got their tax bills?<BR/><BR/>I'm just not convinced that taxes were the driving force of Bart's defeat.<BR/>The election day turnout was about the same as in years past and Ballard received only 13% of all possible votes on election day.<BR/>One helluva lot of people did not bother to vote. In effect, Ballard's total support amoung all potential voters ended up at only 13%. That's certainly not a mandate but a win nonetheless.<BR/><BR/>So, what were the Top 5 Reasons that 13% of all potential voters supported Ballard?<BR/>My property taxes went up 65% and I was hit with the COIT but that's not why I voted for Ballard.<BR/>In fact, nearly everyone in my east side ward picked the following for voting against Bart.<BR/><BR/>1) Crime<BR/><BR/>2) Deteriorating neighbohoods and abandoned houses and businesses<BR/><BR/>3) Over the top tax sbsidies for Downtown.<BR/><BR/>4) Corruption, real or percieved<BR/><BR/>5) Property taxes and the COIT <BR/><BR/>Taxes didn't increase the voter turnout nor was it the driving force behind Bart's defeat. My take is that Bart lost because of quality of life issues with crime at the top.<BR/><BR/>Can Ballard effectively govern when only 13% of the potential voters cast a ballot of support for him?<BR/>Time will tell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-48685699439034657642007-12-31T14:55:00.000-05:002007-12-31T14:55:00.000-05:00"Daniels and a few key Republicans will make sure that Peterson does not face a serious, well-funded opponent for mayor."<BR/><BR/>Hell hath no fury like a taxpayer scorned!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-64532674215574526572007-12-31T13:54:00.000-05:002007-12-31T13:54:00.000-05:00And your predictions for '08?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com