While watching HGTV, I saw a commercial in which a smarmy-sounding voiceover told viewers that Minnesota House District 27A candidate Shannon Savick deserves to be called “Spending Shannon Savick” because she raised property taxes while serving as mayor of Wells.

While Savick was mayor, Murray and his Republican buddies in St. Paul ignored Gov. Mark Dayton’s campaign promise to raise taxes on millionaires and instead took away homestead credit and cut aid to cities. Savick made up the first $250,000 cut in Wells by enforcing the following common sense measures: cutting her own salary and those of City Council members, turning down heat and air conditioners in city buildings, refinancing bonds at a lower rate, leasing a new police car rather than buying one, turning off every other streetlight and closing the city pool a week early. Raising property taxes was the last thing she wanted to do but like every other city official in Minnesota dealing with state cuts, she finally had to do something to make ends meet.

Is it a lie when someone on behalf of Murray tells viewers that Savick has a reckless disregard for money? I think we all know the answer to that question.

 

Joan Claire Graham

Albert Lea