Jim Wetzel gives the Aiken Standard Advice

The following letter by Jim Wetzel appeared in the Aiken Standard today. Jim rightfully chides the paper  for its failure to report the Governor's statement of his reasons for not accepting all of the "stimulus." I doubt the Standard will actually give it's readers the opportunity to read the Governor's statement so I have included a link.

Letter to the Editor

For a “news” paper that hasn’t seen fit to report on Governor Mark Sanford’s statement of his reasons for not accepting all of the stimulus package money the Aiken Standard seems quick in rejecting his stand, suggesting a position not arrived at through knowledge or the exercise of reason.

In Governor Sanford’s letter of March 10, 2009 to the members of the legislature he outlined: that his team had carefully examined the stimulus bill and its long term implications on the people of South Carolina; that the $1.2 billion stimulus is short term, would be added to the state budget over the next two years and would raise the annualized state budget by 10%; 75 % of that money is mandated by federal statute for directed uses that cannot be redirected by the state; the state currently is burdened with $20 billion in unfunded political promises; the stimulus added annualized state budget and directed uses of the funds will only compound the state’s long-term budget liabilities; but 25% of that money (approximately $700 million) is for discretionary spending by the state governor; and using that money to pay down the very sizable state debt and contingent liabilities would not penalize the people of South Carolina, would avoid budget shortcomings and ensure the state’s long term economic strength.  Having lived and struggled with a spendthrift legislature this is merit display of concern by our governor for our state and its citizens.

We are in a live-for-today, get-what-you-can and world of irresponsibility where government money is nobody’s money, to be grabbed and used whenever opportunity permits.  But government money is always taxpayer’s money (in this case ours, our children’s and our grandchildren’s).  It is commendable that there is still a person in public office, specifically Mark Stanford, who really cares about the future prosperity of our state and nation, and who would be so diligent and thoughtful as to carefully state his reasons.  I suggest that you read his letter; report it as “news” to your readers and take that opportunity to rethink your position.

Jim Wetzel

There they go again!

Aiken politics came a little early this year! The following article and the one that appeared yesterday regarding Jane Vaughters' plans and businesswoman  Liz Stewart's  intentions to run for an at large seat on City Council were initiated by the Aiken Standard. It appears that the same old crowd of developers aided by the  paper is trying to jump start their chosen candidates campaign so as to discourage others from running. Deja Vu all over again.




From the Aiken Standard

3/14/2009 12:25 AM

Dick Smith won't seek re-election

By HALEY HUGHES
Staff writer

Aiken City Councilman Dick Smith announced Friday he will not seek re-election for his Fourth District seat, joining fellow Councilwoman Jane Vaughters in the decision to step down at the end of eight years of service.

Like Vaughters, who currently fills an at-large seat, Smith said he too believes in term limits. They were both elected in 2001.

"I think it's time to move on," he said. "It has been an honor to serve. Jane Vaughters and I have accomplished quite a bit."

The names of Dr. Bauer Vaughters and wife DeeDee, Jane Vaughters' son and daughter-in-law, have been floating around as possible candidates. Bauer Vaughters said neither he nor his wife will run for City Council at this time.

But the ballot for the City of Aiken's November municipal elections continues to take shape - another Council incumbent will seek re-election and a newcomer has announced he is running for an at-large seat.

Second District Councilwoman Lessie Price said Friday she will attempt to retain her seat on Council, one which she has held since the late 1980s. In fact, she was the first woman to run for and be elected to the governing body.

"We have seen tremendous growth. And I think, overall, it has been well planned. It has had a positive impact. We have dealt with housing, traffic and economic development and have tackled those as a body," she said of the areas she has focused on during her time on Council and will continue to focus on.

And though a formal announcement will come soon, Kent Cubbage told the Aiken Standard on Friday he is running for a City Council at-large seat.

"I decided to do this two years ago," Cubbage said. "I was inspired by the birth of my daughter. I figured I have to get involved because I want her to know the Aiken I love so dearly. I am more youthful than the other Council members and no one will outwork me or outwalk me. I will be the ears and voice of the whole City. I have the skills and experience to help lead the City."

He worked for an environmental consulting firm when he first moved to Aiken during which he said he learned the ins and outs of zoning, green space and adaptive property reuse issues. He is also a graduate of Leadership Aiken County, a 15-year Aiken resident and currently works as the biology program coordinator at Aiken Technical College.

"My motto is 'vision we need now,'" Cubbage said. "The City is at kind of a lull. When we come out of the current economic situation, I think growth will reach a peak again. And we could lose the Aiken we've come to cherish if we don't have the vision we need now. A vision both in favor of the citizens and businesses. Fostering and promoting entrepreneurship will get us through this economic situation. Small business is what is going to get us through this."

Cubbage will run as a Republican.

The City's other at-large seat is currently filled by Councilman Don Wells. Wells said Thursday he will run again.

Aiken Planning Commissioner and business woman Liz Stewart has also declared her intentions to run for an at-large seat.

City Council Update

AIKEN CORPORATION WORK SESSION – The work session on February 23rd with the Aiken Corporation began with a lengthy briefing on the history and accomplishments of this non-profit community organization. They have every right to be proud of what they have done for the Aiken community since their founding in the early 1980s. After their briefing, Council had an excellent discussion which focused on several matters of importance. Issues related to the Railroad Depot and African American Cultural Museum were discussed along with several concerns I voiced about the Fiscal Year 2008 Audit. If you are interested further in this item, please refer to the minutes of the work session which are not yet available. I will post the link on the next Aiken Journal entry.

APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS – I am please to announce the appointment of Stephen Mueller, who operates the Rose Hill B&B, to a position on the Accommodations Tax Committee and the reappointment of Pat Andringa to the Arts Commission and Robert Besley to the Building Code Appeals Committee.

CONVEYANCE OF CITY-OWNED LOTS TO HABITAT – At Monday’s meeting we will have First Reading of an Ordinance to give four city-owned lots to Habitat. Each year as they build houses and use these lots, we would replenish them with additional vacant lots.

AIKEN'S 175TH BIRTHDAY- This is an unusually light session for a City Council meeting so this posting will be very brief. I do want to let everyone know that planning is active for celebrating the 175^th birthday of the City of Aiken during the 2010 year. Bill Reynolds, who is the Chair of the Planning Commission, was nominated and elected as Chair for this massive planning event. Mayor Fred Cavanaugh is the Honorary Chair. Richard Pearce is the Staff Representative so please call him if you want to volunteer to serve on one of the Committees. He can be reached at 642-7657.

Local hospital care at risk if University comes to Aiken

Posted below are the beginning paragraphs of a column written by Dr. Ansemo Arthur a highly respected Aiken cardiologist. The Aiken Standard published the column today. Medical treatment everywhere is a highly subjective matter and most negative comments are either based on a single “bad” experience or hearsay.
City Council members are still receiving many comments from citizens who are either for or against the proposed new medical complex in Aiken. The Council unanimously rejected the University Hospital’s original request for a change in the concept plan based on the amount of traffic that the proposed 72,000 sf would create. What most citizens do not know is that the current concept plan for the land allows the University to build at least 30,000 sf. of office space so long as the building architecture is consistent with the original design.My understanding is that University Hospital might submit a new down-sized request for a change in concept plan that would permit them to build just one 17,000sf building. Any subsequent buildings would have to come to Council for approval.



"Local hospital care at risk if University comes to Aiken

2/23/2009 12:37 AM
By DR. ANSERMO ARTHUR

Guest columnist

As a current resident and practicing cardiologist in Aiken for the past 13 years, I, like many of you, have read with great interest the ongoing debate concerning University Hospital's foray into the Aiken medical community.

I will summarize what I believe to be the most salient points concerning this issue from a physician's point of view.

Everyone has a story. Whether it is about good or bad service, most everyone can remember and come up with at least one anecdote detailing some experience they may have had in the doctor's office.

I, as well as my partners, see patients from Augusta with similar stories detailing bad experiences they may have had with a doctor or hospital in Augusta. The fact is that all of this is irrelevant to the matter at hand. Just like those individuals who make a conscious decision to cross the river and choose me or any other doctor in Aiken, so too may a person living in Aiken make the choice to go to Augusta for the same purpose. It is about convenience and not choice! Competition notwithstanding, what price will we really be willing to pay in the long run for convenience?" more