Letter To The Editor: My name is Lauren McMahan
Osky News
Editors Note: The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are not necessarily the views or opinions of Oskaloosa News.
My name is Lauren McMahan. I am your 1st Ward candidate for the Oskaloosa City Council. While I may be new to campaigning, I am not new to this community. I have lived in Oskaloosa for 20 years and was raised on a farm northwest of Oskaloosa. My husband and I believe this is a great place to live, work and to have raised our 3 children.
Although the farm I grew up on is not on land that could be condemned for an airport, there is land belonging to friends and neighbors where I grew up that could be taken by eminent domain. Taking away property is not what we do to our neighbors or to anyone. These people are also your neighbors, as well as part of our community. These families shop, go to church, eat at restaurants, bank at local financial institutions and their children are part of the school system in Oskaloosa. All this and more makes them part of this community and yet they have no say in what could happen to their family businesses. This land is not only their livelihood but for most it is their heritage and will become their legacy to their children. How can taking away someone’s business for the betterment of someone else’s business be considered progress? Progress for whom?
I believe together we can make this a better place to live by not taking land away from our farmers, but by finding alternatives which already exist. Alternatives such as extending a runway 1000 feet at our existing airport, the only one in Iowa that is self sufficient. This is a much more responsible use of our resources for everyone, including the citizens of Oskaloosa. And as for threats of losing a successful business because an airport isn’t built, that doesn’t say much for an employer who would so easily abandon his employees.
I want to be more than just a member of the city council, I want to be your representative. To listen to your concerns and not dismiss them as unimportant as they have been in the past. I will be a good steward of your tax money and not use it unwisely. When I visit with people, one reoccurring concern is as residents of Oskaloosa, we have lost our voice in decisions being made in our city. I believe as city council members, one of the most important jobs we should be doing is to serve all the people of Oskaloosa. On November 5, you have a chance to regain your voice in city government.
Lauren McMahan
1st Ward Candidate
Posted by Press Release
on Oct 24 2013. Filed under Editorial.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
