Controversial Pledge Sent to Council Candidates
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A pledge emailed by Madison County Commissioner Adrian Eddleman, to the public about where each Jackson City Council candidate stands on certain issues, is causing quite the stir. However, where Commissioner Eddleman stands on those issues is causing some opposition in the community, as well as among some Jackson city council candidates. Yolanda Nixon, a resident, says, Commissioner Eddleman is over stepping his boundaries in asking every single Jackson city council candidate to sign a pledge. Randy Wallace, a Jackson City Councilman in the 7th district, adds, “The pledge itself was a little over the top with some of the things they wanted us to agree with.” Wallace says he will put his stamp of approval on a couple of the items, such as term limits for city council members. However, he says other things, just do not add up, like agreeing that red light cameras and traffic cameras are unconstitutional. Wallace, adds, “It was a little unusual, some of the things they’re asking us to do. They’re making the assumption that the police department is trying to raise revenue ,as opposed to enforce the laws, which I disagree with that whole heartedly.” However, three of the seventeen candidates agree wholeheartedly. Evelyn E. Keeley, Frank Neudecker, and Vicky Foote already signed the pledge. Commissioner Eddleman, who runs a Jackson business, and pays sales and property taxes here, says, he has a right to raise his voice. And that is why, in part, he drafted the pledge, with help from the group, Tennesseans for Liberty. Commissioner Eddleman, says, “Our hope was to provide the opportunity for all of the candidates to be able to commit themselves to the principals that our founders really intended for the governing of our country.” With those principals in question, Wallace, says, he will probably end up signing it, but will cross off items he does not agree with. Commissioner Eddleman says that is fine with him because bottom line, he wants to publicly display the signed documents, so people know who they are voting for the in May 3rd election. According to Commissioner Eddleman, he will soon post a copy of the signed pledge’s on the Tennesseans for Liberty website.
