WakeUP Wake County just announced their leadership team for 2009 and lo and behold, who comes out on the top of the ticket as Chair but former County Commissioner Yevonne Brannon.
Those new to Wake County may not remember her, but those who have been around since the late 90s certainly do.
Brannon was clearly recognized as the most liberal member of the Wake County Commissioners - on a board that had six Democrats and just one Republican.
What citizens remember well and what cost her any credibility then and now was her infamous flippant disregard for the impact tax increases in the hundreds of dollars would have on Wake County families.
At a 1999 planning retreat, Brannon pushed for a property tax increase of 13 cents - the largest increase among various proposals being considered by Wake Commissioners.
As the News and Observer reported, Republican County Commissioner Herb Council finally agreed to the highest property tax increase proposal on the table - 13 cents.
From the News and Observer:
The more the commissioners talked, the higher the proposed increase got. The figure reached 13 cents when Commissioner Betty Lou Ward was told that was roughly what corresponds to a $200 average tax-bill increase.
"Sold!" Brannon yelled as she leapt from her seat in a meeting room of Wake Forest University's Graylyn Conference Center. "Hey, you guys - the bar is open!"
"Sold!" Brannon yelled as she leapt from her seat in a meeting room of Wake Forest University's Graylyn Conference Center. "Hey, you guys - the bar is open!"
(News and Observer - February 20, 1999)
What will Yevonne try to sell us as Chair of WakeUP Wake County? Hopefully she'll step away from the bar and sober up. But we doubt it.
