Does Tami Fillmore want to put Light Rail on Main?
The Verdict: Yes
Once again, this issue required some investigation. First, searching for information about Tami Fillmore and light rail on Main Street requires the use of her full name, which she does not always use on the public record (Tamilyn Fillmore).
Also, putting light rail on Main Street has been given different project names in the public record, making it even more difficult to find information on it. For example, it has been called the “South Davis Transit Project” as well as a “Locally Preferred Alternative” for UTA, also as the “Main Street Corridor Plan, as well as the “South Davis Transit Corridor”. The fact that multiple names were used for putting light rail on Main Street made it challenging to track down answers.
If Tami Fillmore says she had nothing to do with light rail on Main Street, then she is not being honest. This is a red flag.
Also, when a candidate combats facts by stating that only they understand what is happening, it is paramount to then turn to facts on the public record, which is what I have done.
The Facts:
In the Centerville City Council meeting dated January 15, 2008, Tami Fillmore expresses interest in being part of the committee for putting light rail on Main Street:
http://www.centervilleut.net/displayarticle2031.html
On the same date that Paul Cutler and the Centerville City Council voted to put light rail on Main Street, March 18, 2008, Councilman Cutler made a motion to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Tamilyn Fillmore to the Planning Commission overseeing putting light rail on Main Street.
On her website, Tamilynn Fillmore states she had “absolutely nothing” to do with putting light rail on Main Street. As shown by the facts, this is not true.
http://www.centervilleut.net/displayarticle2073.html
In all of the city council and planning commission meeting minutes starting in 2008 until present date, Tami Fillmore does not voice one objection to light rail on Main Street.
If she had, this would have supported her claim. However, this is not the case.
In the Centerville City Council meeting dated November 3, 2010, there was a high attendance meeting held about putting light rail on Main Street.
It is during this meeting that Kameron Fillmore, Tamilynn Filmore’s husband, advocated for light rail on Main Street and Tami Fillmore’s hard work to put light rail on Main Street.
He states it is important to defer to Tamilynn’s and other’s expertise. He calls the public outcry opposing light rail on Main Street a “vocal opposition”.
He says, “The City has educated planners and has also solicited help from experts in creating this Plan. It was unanimously adopted in 2008 and the City Council should not reverse that decision because of the vocal opposition.” Here is the link:
http://www.centervilleut.net/agendasminutes.cc11032010m.html
This link goes to a pdf of 2008-09, showing Paul Cutler’s vote to put light rail on Main Street on March 18, 2008:
In my opinion putting light rail on Main Street is not a dead issue. Based on Tami Fillmore’s documented support of light rail on Main Street, and her endorsement of mayoral candidate Paul Cutler who has voted for light rail on Main Street, the verdict is that she does want light rail on Main Street. Look at the facts and let me know what you think.
Does Tami Fillmore want to raise property taxes in 2014?
Verdict: Yes
Because Tami Fillmore is endorsing Paul Cutler for Mayor, it’s important to look for ways to understand her position. Most telling about are her political associations. On her website, she is very fiscally conservative. However, a website mea culpa is not greater than the facts at hand in the public record. It’s important to note that Paul Cutler has given a blanket endorsement to the Centerville City Manager who has stated he wants to raise property taxes for Centerville City in fiscal year 2014. Based on these facts, Tami Fillmore supports raising property taxes in Centerville City in 2014.
The Facts:
First, Tami Fillmore endorses Paul Cutler for Mayor. Here is a link to the Davis County Clipper article quoting the Paul Cutler endorsed Centerville City Manager that property taxes need to be raised anywhere between 10 and 35%; the article cites UTOPIA debt as a factor:
Here is a link to an article in the Centerville Budget Newsletter for Fiscal Year 2014, where it states that the Utopia debt repayment for FY 2014 is $436,251, in addition to Centerville’s share of $163,000.
http://www.centervilleut.net/downloads/administration/budget_newsletter_2014.pdf
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