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PRESS RELEASE ** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  R.E. Sutherland, M.Ed.
DATE:  November 9, 2006
EMAIL:  becworks@aol.com

SUBJECT:  Victory in Burnettown Tax Rebellion

       Last year, the Town Council in Burnettown, South Carolina, voted against the wishes of the constituents and the voted in a Business License Ordinance.  The citizens met with the officials to ask that it be repealed, but received no cooperation.  Then, they gathered petitions from the entire town to ask for a referendum per State Code. The Town Council brought in an attorney who used his wiles to circumvent those petitions.

       Finally, in desperation, the citizens declared "political war" on their Town Council representatives.  They worked to pay for signs and went door-to-door to get out the word.  They wanted to oust the upcoming councilmen in November elections. 

       It worked.  On November 8th, the three councilmen who were up for election lost their seats.

       The incumbent Mayor Wayne Benson was defeated by C.H. Williams.  Also, Earl Couch and Chuck Mason were elected to serve on the Town Council.

       It should be noted that the upset business owners decided to create an organization which they called The Horse Creek Merchants Association.  They formed a tight coalition and backed the people who they wanted as their representatives . . . and the will of the people prevailed.  All the candidates backed by the merchants won the seats.

       For details go to their website:  www.horsecreekmerchantsassoc.com

       Go to the website . . . read a story about some Americans who fought City Hall . . . AND WON . . . so can you . . . [end]

PRESS RELEASE ** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:  June 28, 2005
Contact:  R.E. Sutherland, M.Ed./sciences
PHONE:  803-471-3316

PRESS RELEASE:  Burnettown, SC -  Merchants submit 55 paged petition


       The Horse Creek Merchants Association formed in Burnettown, South Carolina, as a response to the Burnettown Council's decision to raise its business license fees.  The businesses in the town searched the State's code and discovered they have the right to petition their city's government for a referendum, which if passed will allow property owners to "un-annex" themselves.  Burnettown is literally coming apart, because the citizens do not want it to exist anymore. 

Let the record show that the citizens action in Burnettown (i.e., the Burnettown Rebellion) is equal to the Boston Tea Party . . . and revolutionary in every respect.

       Last night, the Burnettown city officials were presented by its merchants with 54 pages of petition signatures.  A man in the audience asked to add one more page, which brought the final total to 55 pages.  They asked that the Council to certify that they had received the petitions.  A copy of the Minutes will serve as that evidence according to the discussion that ensued.

       The city's legal adviser, Mr. Larry Brown, was seated apart from the citizens and the Council . . . and two armed guards sat with him.  During the meeting on several issues, the Council refused to discuss what they would do.  Instead, they chose to go into secret meetings (i.e., the Executive meeting) where they would discuss "legal issues" with their attorney.

       One must ask  . . . if the Law is for everyone, then why would they need to meet in secret to discuss it?  Obviously, something is going on behind closed doors concerning legal advice. 

       Executive privilege heretofor has been reserved for personnel issues and ordinarily protects the rights of an individual.  Not one individual was under discussion last night.

       Something is wrong in Burnettown when the elected leaders choose to hide a discussion of legal recourse concerning a citizen reaction to what is considered another form of taxation without representation.  END

"The Marlboro Station Night Club of Aiken SC totally supports the Horse Creek Merchants Association's
preamble of small government and low taxes."   -Bruce

 

 

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