A win for clean water
Worthy of a separate is the defeat last night of Pulaski JP Ann McCaleb, who's been on the Quorum Court since Jesus' day. A steadfast opponent of progressive government, she reached the nadir in recent months with her opposition to watershed protection around Lake Maumelle. She'd prefer to bankrupt the water utility by forcing it to buy property -- at exorbitant prices -- from the likes of Jay DeHaven to keep the water supply clean. Curtis Keith (sorry for initial misspelling), a political newcomer and African-American, defeated McCaleb in a light turnout. He's said the right things about lake protection. I wish I could blame the loss solely on McCaleb's politics, but I suspect the changing demographics of Southwest Little Rock also played a role.
Comments
It's Curtis 'KEITH' not Curtis Heath.
Good man, he'll do a great job.
Posted by: JK![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 21, 2008 11:18 AM
Pulaski County Justice of the Peace Annette McCaleb was defeated yesterday. She opposed protecting Lake Maumelle, the primary drinking water supply for 400,000 central Arkansans. Next up is Pulaski Co. Judge Floyd "Buddy" Villines along with any other Pulaski County JP who refuses to help protect the Lake Maumelle watershed.
Next Tuesday the Pulaski County Planning Board may discuss and vote on proposed changes to county subdivision ordinances that would add a section on development within the Lake Maumelle watershed. Its passage would force Central Arkansas Water to condemn thousands of acres of land to adequately protect the lake. Buddy, this is your idea of leadership?
As the ordinance is currently worded, it offers little protection for Lake Maumelle and caters to large developers like Deltic Timber and Waterview Estates at the expense of small landowners. No surprise, since Deltic and Waterview attorneys are the ones who wrote the ordinance. Big developers get the gold mine, small landowners get the shaft.
If Villines is unwilling to help us protect our primary drinking water supply as well as protect the private property rights of small landowners in the watershed, he deserves to be involuntarily retired and replaced with somebody who can get the job done.
Buddy, quit protecting the large developers. They will do just fine without you pandering to them. Start representing the interests of the people who elected you to office and drink the water, not the moneybags who write those big checks.
Posted by: waterboy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 21, 2008 11:31 AM
If you think Villines' Republican opponent - Phil Wyrick - is going to oppose big developers, you need to step away from the kool aid pitcher and do some checking on Wyrick's political philosophy.
Posted by: Rackensacker![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 21, 2008 01:18 PM