Mike Hogan's claims not adding up

[fieldafm]

Ron Littlepage via TU:
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2011-03-02/silly-season-gets-under-way-local-mayoral-campaign

Some claims made by candidates during the silly season are hard to swallow.

Take the latest television campaign ad by mayoral hopeful Mike Hogan.

Hammering home his anti-tax, anti-waste theme, Hogan intones that the city budget has grown by $600 million, or 55 percent, since John Peyton was elected mayor in 2003.

What the ad doesn't mention is what has happened to the budget of the Tax Collector's Office since he was elected to that post in 2003.

The office's budget for that year was $10.68 million. This budget year, it has increased to $14.76 million, a healthy jump of 38.2 percent.

Hogan will argue that the increase was caused by additional responsibilities given to his office.

But there are reasons the city's budget has increased as well, from higher health care costs to a huge jump in the contribution to the city's pension funds. Hogan ignores those.

Here's another interesting note.

Since 2006, the number of city employees, excluding public safety, has dropped by 726 under the Peyton administration.

Hogan now has 21 more employees in his budget than he did in 2003, and the budgeted part-time hours have increased by 10,000.

In his television ad, Hogan makes an interesting comment about how the Peyton administration paid for the budget increases.

"They raised our property taxes and increased fees," Hogan says. "Now these same folks want four more years."

Since Peyton isn't running, who could "these same folks" be? Do you think that just might be a jab at Rick Mullaney and his long tenure as Peyton's general counsel?

Mullaney has jumped firmly on the tea party bandwagon that Hogan has tried to commandeer, as evidenced by Mullaney's latest finger-jabbing television ad where he advocates "cutting spending" and "not raising taxes."

Interestingly, not that long ago Mullaney was talking differently. I know of at least one City Council member he lobbied to approve the millage rate increase Peyton proposed to balance the budget.

That millage rate increase brought in $45 million.

Hogan has said he would have voted against it, and he also opposes the fees the City Council approved.

In his campaign ad, Hogan says he has a "detailed plan" to cut spending.

Where is it? So far what he has revealed of the plan wouldn't put much of a dent in the more than $100 million in savings he would have to come up with if the higher millage rate and fees hadn't been approved.

There was further proof this week that the silly season is in full swing.

At a mayoral forum, the candidates were asked if they would sell any of the city's preservation property to bolster the general fund.

First, the preservation land purchases were structured so that the property couldn't be sold.

Even if it were possible, Audrey Moran said she wouldn't sell any of it, and Mullaney said it wouldn't be necessary.

But Hogan said he would consider it.

I realize Hogan has the support of the builders, but even they might admit that selling land in this down market wouldn't be a good idea.

[copperfiend]

God help us if Hogan is elected.

[urbaknight]

The latest ad even goes as far as to call the city council "liberal" for raising taxes! They're clearly trying to brainwash the uneducated ignorant redneck population, that otherwise do not care of politics, progressionand/or revitalizing downtown! And since there are so many of them, it is cause for alarm. Hogan has been going church to church throughout the baptist racket campaigning for his election. Correct me if I'm wrong but, isn't that illegal to campaign at churches?

[copperfiend]

If he wants to reach the uneducated ignorant redneck population, he should just post on jacksonville.com.

[Dog Walker]

The latest ad even goes as far as to call the city council "liberal" for raising taxes! They're clearly trying to brainwash the uneducated ignorant redneck population, that otherwise do not care of politics, progressionand/or revitalizing downtown! And since there are so many of them, it is cause for alarm. Hogan has been going church to church throughout the baptist racket campaigning for his election. Correct me if I'm wrong but, isn't that illegal to campaign at churches?

No it is not illegal to campaign in churches.  However, if a church starts actively supporting a particular candidate it could theoretically effect their non-profit status.  I don't think this has ever happened to a church though.  Anybody know for sure?  Scientologists?

[Jimmy]

The IRS and the Justice Department have looked at Scientology.  And there's been a large cry to look at the Mormons over their political contributions.  That never goes anywhere, really.

[copperfiend]

Not sure. Did that voodoo priest endorse Sarah Palin?

[Dog Walker]

The IRS and the Justice Department have looked at Scientology.  And there's been a large cry to look at the Mormons over their political contributions.  That never goes anywhere, really.

But they have sure gone after the Sierra Club and other non-religious non-profits though.  Guess the IRS is afraid to tackle god.