Mt. Vernon School Levy Passes

Posted 5 May 2010 by Richard B. Hoppe

In spite of John Freshwater's lawyer, R. Kelly Hamilton, speaking against it in a local talk radio interview a couple of weeks ago, the school district's 2.75 mill renewal levy passed today, unofficially 2,697 to 2,489 (52%-48%). Five funding requests on the ballot from other county school districts failed (some only have a few voters in Knox County), as did a Community and Mental Health Recovery Board levy. So the majority of folks are hanging in with the district in a bad time for school funding requests generally. This is the second (of two) renewal levies to pass in the district since the Freshwater affair became public and the administrative hearing has been in progress. The first passed with a larger margin (61%-39%) a year ago, but a pass is a pass. Given the economic situation in this county these days, a situation that's significantly worse than it was a year ago when the first levy was on, that this one passed at all is a strong statement. And I have to note that "Coach" Dave Daubenmire, the guy who pushed Freshwater into going public in 2008, got 16% of the Republican vote in this county in the Congressional primary. Eyeball-adjusted for the proportion of Republican registered voters in the county, a fair estimate of the overall percentage of complete and total wingnuts in the county is about 10%. That's not as bad as I feared. On the other hand, it's a little disappointing. Dave would have been a real entertainment bonanza in the general election.

8 Comments

robert van bakel · 5 May 2010

Sorry to start off topic, but in the 3 May entry at UD (a Dembski plug for his latest bodice-ripper, 'Intelligent Design: Uncensored') a poster going as 'truism' is getting away with murder; go visit before he's chopped. He's just trolling but it is funny in reverse. Bob Byers has also admitted a link between creationism and ID in the same post.

Ralph · 5 May 2010

And don't forget about Mr. Thom Collier's loss (37%) to Kris Jordan (54%) for the state senate race. Thom's veiled support of Freshwater, among many other of his very conservative ideas, may be coming home to roost.

Thank you for your persistence in staying with this school issue, Richard.

Frank J · 5 May 2010

robert van bakel said: Sorry to start off topic, but in the 3 May entry at UD (a Dembski plug for his latest bodice-ripper, 'Intelligent Design: Uncensored') a poster going as 'truism' is getting away with murder; go visit before he's chopped. He's just trolling but it is funny in reverse. Bob Byers has also admitted a link between creationism and ID in the same post.

To bring it a bit more on-topic: This is the 2nd time I have seen a Byers comment on UD, and both times he was completely ignored by following comments. Knowing how UD operates, it's likely that comments that agreed or disagreed with Byers were deleted. Similarly I have yet to hear the DI say anything positive or negative about the Freshwater case. I would imagine that by now they might have complained about how some "Darwinists" reacted. But they can't defend Freshwater because his strategy undermines their more sophisticated one. And they can't criticize him because the big tent needs the hopeless Biblical literalists as well as the evolution-deniers who doubt a literal Genesis too (like Behe).

JRE · 5 May 2010

Bravo to the voters of MVCS! I thank you and my children thank you. I spent the night on pins and needles waiting for the returns and then couldn't sleep from excitement.

I think the numbers are this close due to it being a primary election. No offense to older folks, but there was a line when I voted and I was by far the youngest. Most voters didn't have a dog in the fight except for thinking about "saving" their tax money.

While I'd like to think that Collier's loss had to do with his ties to the Council for Free Expression, but I believe it had to do with the slick mailings by his opponent. Kinda reminds me of a recent school board election that had more to do with slick advertising than facts.

Paul Burnett · 5 May 2010

Frank J said: Similarly I have yet to hear the DI say anything positive or negative about the Freshwater case.

The Freshwater case is mentioned in passing in comment 36 at http://www.uncommondescent.com/darwinism/will-evolution-weekend-sermons-discuss-alleged-murderer-amy-bishop/ - "I could turn around and say, based on the Freshwater case, that conservative teachers are more likely to burn crosses on their student’s arms." - but there was no response.

FSM_Ed · 5 May 2010

I was also watching for the results to see how "Cockroach" Dave did in the primary...it's depressing he got as many votes as he did but thanks for putting it in perspective.

RBH · 5 May 2010

FSM_Ed said: I was also watching for the results to see how "Cockroach" Dave did in the primary...it's depressing he got as many votes as he did but thanks for putting it in perspective.

That 16% was just in Knox County. Over the whole 16-county Congressional district he got 6,221 votes, or 12%. He ran fifth out of 8 candidates.

Ichthyic · 6 May 2010

On the other hand, it’s a little disappointing. Dave would have been a real entertainment bonanza in the general election.

sometimes it's best to forgo the entertainment.