Well, the Shawnee Dispatch ran an article about the mayoral candidates. The article also included links to answers that the candidates gave to questions the Dispatch had asked.
The article is here: http://www.shawneedispatch.com/news/2008/feb/12/mayoral_candidates_discuss_property_taxes/
Mayor Meyers’ answers are here: http://media.lansingcurrent.com/news/documents/2008/02/12/JMeyers.doc
Councilman Pflumm’s answers are here: http://media.lansingcurrent.com/news/documents/2008/02/12/DPflumm.doc
Pflumm is in a pfantasy world. To the question “What sets you apart from your opponent?” Pflumm replied “What sets me apart from my opponent is that I have experience selling and managing multimillion-dollar projects and I have the experience to bring major economic development projects to the City of Shawnee”
Who is he kidding? What sets him apart is that he doesn’t show up to as many meetings as the current mayor and when he does show up he is usually ill prepared. Maybe he’ll start showing up more often now, and maybe he’ll be more prepared going forward. Also, his comment about his experience needs to be verified. Using one of his favorite expressions: “Show me” He may have experience selling and managing multi million dollar projects but how successful is he at it? The company he owns is a privately held company. No public reports. Would he be willing to provide 5 years of audited and certified financials to back up his statement?
He gave a very simplified, canned answer to the question “What do you think the city should do about its economic development and efforts to bring businesses to the city?” His answer: “The City of Shawnee should greatly increase our efforts in economic development” Golly gee, a fifth grader could have come up with that. Maybe Pflumm needs to go on that new TV show.
:-) :-)
In reply to another question he said: “………Commercial properties pay a higher tax rate and provide the possibility of added sales tax revenue; commercial properties also attract dining establishments, which are desperately needed in Shawnee.” Are you sure about that? If you are granting these properties abatements, TIFs and other incentives up the old wazoo you are not going to get that income. Tax incentives bring in reduced income but certain infratructure costs have a habit of increasing......that's normal. As for restaurants………c’mon Pflumm open your eyes. Restaurants are one of the most volatile businesses to bring in. Many locations have revolving door effects. The location at SMP & Quivira which houses Bandanas is an example. How many restaurants have been there? Also, the location of Café Song. How many other restaurants have been there. And there are others. Or Kite’s. How many different ones have been there?
Nobody is perfect, and Mr Meyers is no exception. But, between the two of them I’d rather have Jeff Meyers as our mayor than Dan Pflumm. Click on the links above.
Read Jeff Meyers’ answers to the same questions. Well thought out and specific.
Pflumm’s answers remind me of how he prepares for a council meeting……….very limited.
Dan Pflumm needs to get a good spanking at the polls on election day, April 1st. I’m voting for Jeff Meyers
