To: All voters in Precinct 20
From Brett Manwaring, Republican Precinct Committee Chairman, Precinct 20

In this current election cycle – city elections for mayor and 3 council positions – we should all consider a few things:

• Much has been made by Democrats, self-proclaimed RINO’s (Republicans in Name Only) and the Post Register about the Republican Party endorsing candidates for City elections, saying the races are non-partisan. All people, individuals and parties (private organizations), have the right to publicly support who they will. Some Democrat candidates in general partisan races go to great lengths to not mention they are Democrats – what does that tell you? During the runoff election debate, Ida Hardcastle voted against it because of the cost. The City of Idaho Falls, by consolidating it’s election of only 3 or 4 races with the general elections, could save at least $15,000 to $20,000 per election. Why not?

• The City Council candidates are total opposites in philosophy. Ehardt and Creek come from the private business sector, while the incumbents, Cornwell and Hardcastle, believe and act as total bureaucrats. Any real life business experience they had must have been forgotten, but what the incumbents have learned is to denigrate any opponent personally that disagrees with them, rather than debate their views and positions shared by a minority of the City. Creek and Ehardt will vote for less government, lower taxes and real cooperation with neighboring communities – Hardcastle and Cornwell lead the charge against all these, using the City’s checkbook for their favorite projects. We should ask these questions:

1. If the City can purchase property after property and fund project after project – off budget – how much money is there in all City slush funds? Many feel that with surpluses the City must have, taxes are too high. But year after year there is little or no relief. The incumbents feel they can’t go without every thin dime. Hardcastle claims taxes are lower than 15 years ago – but forgets to tell the swimming pool bond was paid off which lowered it substantially years ago, but she has done her best to get it back up. At the Republican Women’s candidate forum Oct. 22nd, Hardcastle seemed to brag that IF isn’t the highest taxed City. It is 16th highest of 191. IF’s levy (rate the city taxes all property) is .0089. Twin Falls – .0066, Boise – .0050, Post Falls – .0038, Meridian – .0026, Sun Valley – .0010, and Eagle – .0007. Eagle operates on 1/12th and Meridian on 1/4th of IF’s income. Both Meridian and Eagle have comparable assessed valuation to IF. Can someone in City government explain these differences? The two incumbents will tell all willing to listen how all zoos, flowers and entertainment will disappear if anyone other than them is elected – that is just not true! We all love the City of Idaho Falls, it’s beauty, cleanliness and services. To question boldly some policies that could be better is an attempt to make our city better, with or without those who defend the status quo. Many surveys have shown that conservatives give more freely of their own money by 2 or 3 times than liberals to the very causes we are told they would destroy, while liberals are very generous with the public’s money.

2. Why not, prior to serious discussions to eliminate the parking on Memorial Drive, solve the problem of where the patrons and employees of the Court House will park when the 200+ spaces are eliminated? Many have heard Ida Hardcastle say “The City doesn’t need to furnish parking for the County employees”. This is the same Ida that tried to ram through the Rec Center bond and other grandiose schemes that would have cost us millions. After the people voted down the Rec Center overwhelmingly, she was reported as saying “We’ll be back”. I think her 16 years on the council are all we can afford.

Why not have a change of view and ideas instead of the same old tired ones?

VOTE FOR CREEK AND EHARDT

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