Council Member Lynne Mason’s Dilemma
The Question: At the recent forum for the candidates sponsored by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, the candidates were asked, “Have you received any contributions from a special interest group or a political action committee [PAC]?” Most candidates gave straightforward answers with the exception of incumbent Lynne Mason, who had difficulty crafting her response.
Lynne’s Response: Rather than answering the question directly, Lynne strongly denied receiving support or campaign funds from the Citizens for Change. Despite the protest of several of those in the attendance, Lynne would not answer whether she had received support or funds from any political action committee or special interest group. Instead, she used her allotted time to avoid the question by attacking and condemning the Citizens for Change.
What Does the Evidence Show? Campaign finance records obtained from the state of North Carolina Board of Elections clearly show that in the past election a PAC entitled 100 Women and bearing the signature of a Pam Williamson donated $800 to the campaign fund for Friends of Lynne Mason. Lynne avoided answering the question because she could not admit to receiving this $800 contribution from Pam Williamson’s PAC without incriminating herself and exposing her hypocrisy?
What Does this Mean? Through emails obtained from city hall, one can see how the influence of Pam Williamson affected the votes of certain council members during the viewshed debacle. Pam’s e-mail to Lynne and other council members before the public hearing contained phrases like, “after years of recruiting candidates,”---- “did not have the ba _ _ s to stand up” etc.. She ended one message by saying “you promised you would and I am not the only one counting on you to make good”. The record shows that Lynne Mason, Bunk Spann, Janet Pepin and Rennie Brantz voted as instructed, thus demonstrating Pam’s influence over some of our town officials.
Who Should Care? Hopefully the voters who value honest government will show they care by going to the polls on Oct. 9th.Lynne’s evasive and hypocritical answer is an example of the deception and abuse of the public trust many citizens have come to expect from Clawson, Mason and Spann. It is a prime example of the type of behavior the Citizens for Change was organized to oppose.
Another Example: Prior to the viewshed hearings, Lynne Mason sent e-mail responses to some of her supporters saying “Come early to the meeting and pack the house, you don’t have to say anything.” The clear implication here was that those who support Lynne’s position should come early and fill the seats at the public hearing so those citizens opposing the regulations could not get in. Her supporters could count on her to take care of the outcome and Lynne did just that. This insult to fairness and the democratic process by Lynne Mason is just another of the many reasons why Citizens for Change was organized and why so many have joined this non-partisan effort.
Citizens for Change is not the problem: The problems are and have been, incompetent leadership, a failure to listen to the concerns of the people, and the apparent domination of Loretta Clawson, Lynne Mason, Bunk Spann, Janet Pepin and Rennie Brantz by Pam Williamson’s political machine.
The Solution On October 9th, the voters of Boone will decide which candidates can be trusted and will best serve the citizens of Boone. The Citizens for Change urge voters to help take back our town government. Elect Tim Wilson, Dempsey Wilcox, Ethan Dodson and Stephen Phillips on Oct. 9th.