Who is part of this Rowlett conspiracy?

I just read the funniest "local" blog post I think I've ever read. It's also kind of sad. Sad that anyone could write such nonsense and actually be serious about it.  Rather than try to explain it I'll just post a link to it and then ask a couple of simple questions after you've had a chance to read this lunacy....

Go here.

Finished reading?  OK - here are my thoughts - short and sweet....

If Realize Rowlett 2020 is part of Agenda 21 and global domination of all private property who is one the inside?  One of us on Council?  Someone from HOK?  Or maybe someone on City Staff?  SOMEBODY would have to be part of the UNs inside covert operations – how else would we have made Realize Rowlett 2020 part of this major conspiracy? 

I'm no fan of the U.N. but I really don't see any of us as being in on the conspiracy. It would be a short-lived futile experience since we are term limited and not on council long enough to really make THAT kind of change.  Of course it could be someone from HOK, the consultant team or maybe our own City Manager. 

But how did they worm their way into Rowlett so they could move the U.N.'s Agenda 21 forward?  Only a few current members of Council were part of hiring Lynda Humble - are they part of the U.N. team?  Or maybe it was the 2 Council members who are part of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee that chose the consultant team? Did they somehow persuade the entire committee to choose the Agenda 21 plants?

You see, the reality is no one who has anything to do with Realize Rowlett 2020 is any part of Agenda 21 or any other conspiracy plan of the United Nations. It only takes a small amount of common sense to see that - of course common sense seems to be lacking with anyone currently associated with the Rowlett Tea Party. Too bad...

Please vote for...

I received the two emails below – the first one from the former mayor with more of his nonsense and the one just below – a thought provoking response from Chris Kilgore who is currently running for reelection to Place 5.

 

The other election referred to below is for mayor to fill the seat that John Harper resigned from. Todd Gottel is running for that seat and I firmly believe he will do an awesome job so be sure and vote for him on Saturday, July 16.  I’ll be sure to remind you as we get closer.

 

Michael Gallops

Rowlett City Council, Place 6

 

From: Chris Kilgore
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 05:45 PM
To: michael.gallops@michaelgallops.com
Subject: : FW: Please vote for...
 

Well, if nothing else John remains consistent.  Facts continue to elude him, particularly inconvenient facts.  His version of events, at best, are conclusory, and in many cases, suspect.  It’s hard to pick a starting point.

 

Citizen Harper encourages everyone, anyone, to get out and run for Mayor.  And if you can’t, encourage someone else to.  It seems to me that running for Mayor is, or at least should be, a bit more serious business than that.  However, in the context within which it’s presented, it’s clear that the thrust behind the encouragement is purely vindictive.  “Help me punish them” is more likely the real theme.  Anyone taking up John’s invitation risks spending a lot of money with little, if any, chance of success.  (Keep in mind that despite his bluster, John worked very hard to keep Todd from running for Mayor last time.  It was perfectly clear that John did not want to run against Todd – and there was a reason for that.)  If your idea of citizenship and sacrifice is simply spend a lot of your own money to make Todd and his supporters spend more money, with no real end game, all I can say is go for it.  (But if you do, at least keep your money in Rowlett.)

 

Citizen Harper expresses an interest in rescuing the city from special interests, but does not identify who those special interests are.  There could be a reason for that.  Neither of the two council candidates he particularly wants to see defeated have personal, business or professional interests in Rowlett other than their homes.  They don’t own any commercial real estate that needs to be developed or sold and they aren’t employed by or otherwise involved in real estate or business deals with any developers or other companies.  Interestingly, the family of one of the candidates John is championing owns a substantial amount of land along the PGBT extension.  For the foreseeable future, there will hardly be a single economic development decision in Rowlett that does not potentially, directly or indirectly impact that land.  That seems to me to be an identifiable, certified, real, and obvious special interest.  I guess that an “approved” special interest. 

 

Citizen Harper decries the “chicanery” in setting the special election, stating that it will be “very difficult” for anyone to file to run for Mayor.  As always, John carefully omits a few operative (and inconvenient) facts to reach his point.  To be specific, except for those currently running, the period to file is 15 days,  May 4 - May 16.  The required paperwork is nothing, basically name and address and appointing a treasurer, who can be yourself.  I did it standing at city hall in 10 minutes. That part of it can even be notarized by city staff, so it’s one stop shopping.  The only thing that takes any effort is getting 25 signatures on petitions (which, incidentally, can’t be notarized by staff.)  So, its 12 days to get 25 signatures, which period includes two full weekends.  If that’s a “very difficult task” for someone who believes they’re qualified to be Mayor, then they are as delusional as John. 

 

It’s only a chore only for someone currently running.  However, if you’re running and lose, running for Mayor may not be your next best option.  Even if you are the type who can’t take a hint, everyone running knows the drill and should be able to easily get it all done in a day if they are thinking ahead at all.  It’s called contingency planning.

 

Citizen Harper expresses concern about the welfare of the City.  However, he didn’t think much about the welfare of the city when he stuck the city’s chin out and invited a lawsuit, all in an effort to discredit the City Manager; when he lied to the press about what he knew and when he knew it in an effort to attack the City Manager; when he called the Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Pro Tem “idiots;” when he called a City Council member a fool; when he denigrated the educational qualifications of the City Manager; when he denigrated the occupations and/or  qualifications of two City Council members; when he resigned just in time to require an additional election date at great taxpayer expense; or when he refused to turn in his keys, forcing the City to change the locks, also at taxpayer expense. 

 

Harper continues to make allegations about attacks on his family.  Although challenged on several occasions to provide some basis for that allegation, he does not.  I am not aware of, nor is anyone I’ve spoken to, what he could be referring to.  It’s another broad, baseless accusation with no apparent basis in fact. 

 

Harper again tries to distance himself from the candidacy of Mays and McEntee.  Perhaps the point is technical, “they have not asked me,” but the truth is very different than the implication of the statement.  Harper worked very hard to find candidates to run against Doug and I.  Mays was the third one he attempted to influence to run against Doug.  My understanding (based on a conversation involving Mays) was that Mays was somewhat reluctant to run, but was pressured by Harper.  Under the circumstances, I guess Harper’s endorsement would not have to be asked for.  I have no knowledge, even hearsay, of conversations between Harper and McEntee.  However, days before McEntee filed, Harper revealed that he was going to file, so whatever was going on, Harper was on the inside track.  If you believe that Mays and McEntee aren’t part of Harper’s attempt to pack the council, you’ve been seriously absent lately.

 

Bottom line, Harper has NOT moved on.  He’s still lashing out, even attempting to enlist others in his vindictiveness.   

 

Chris Kilgore

Rowlett City Council Place 5

 

From: John Harper [mailto:drjehsr@tx.rr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 8:44 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: Please vote for...
Importance: High

My friends...I have spent the last several weeks wondering what could have been.   I apologize for letting you down and resigning before the end of my elected term.   The unwarranted attacks on me and my family were too much to endure along with the other family issues that Debra and I are trying to manage.   I hope you understand.   I love the City of Rowlett and only hope for the best for all of us.   But, I remain concerned.

I am encouraged that Randy Mays and Chad McEntee are running for City Council.   Although they have not asked me, I wholeheartedly endorse them both.   We need to completely change the City Council this election and the next election.   Kilgore and Phillips are not the solution...they are the problem.   Please vote for Randy and Chad on Saturday.

Did you notice the chicanery surrounding the Special Election to replace me as Mayor?   Any candidate must complete all the required paperwork to run for that office by the end of the business day on Monday.   That will make it very difficult for anyone to complete the requirements in such a short period of time.   I wonder if this is done on purpose to assure that Todd Gottel is your next Mayor.   I hope not.

I do not endorse Todd Gottel for Mayor.   He does not have the inner strength...the core values...that are necessary to lead our City to its destiny.  I am asking each of you to please, please consider the sacrifice that I made and you do the same for our City.   We need new leadership!   Please consider running for Mayor!   Remember...get your petition to the City Secretary by 5pm on Monday.

I have moved on but remain concerned and will continue to be concerned until the Special Interests in the City are no longer in charge.   Please help make that change. 

Please vote on Saturday.   Vote for Randy and Chad.  You can find your precinct by going to http://www.rowlett.com.  Then, file for Mayor or encourage your neighborhood leader to file!

Best wishes...John

John E. Harper, Ed.D.
(214) 284-6972

 

Realize Rowlett 2020 Community Charrett

Create our Vision

Look to the Future

Realize Rowlett 2020

 

Do you want to make a difference in your community? Now is your chance - don't let this opportunity pass you by! Get involved in Realize Rowlett 2020 today and let your voice be heard. Your ideas and suggestions are important to this community's future.

 

The Realize Rowlett 2020 initiative offers many ways for you to help create Rowlett's vision and look to the future to Realize Rowlett 2020. Please choose how you want to be involved.

 

Community Charrette

The next major public session as part of this initiative will be a Community Charrette on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The Charrette will give you an opportunity to hear about the strategic choices facing Rowlett, to contribute to a vision of the best possible future for your community, and to create alternatives for development of key locations in the city. The Charrette will be held in Rooms A, B and C of the Rowlett Community Center, 5300 Main Street, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Light snacks will be provided and child care may be available (if requested in advance). Register online at www.realizerowlett2020.com.

 

Website

To find out more information about this initiative, and to keep up with progress as Realize Rowlett 2020 continues, you can visit our website at www.realizerowlett2020.com.

 

Online Survey

An online survey provides the opportunity to make comments about the strategic topics Rowlett is addressing. The online survey is easy to use and just takes a few minutes of time. It also provides a choice of sharing open‐ended comments about the future of Rowlett. The survey can be taken at Http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Realize_Rowlett_2020.

 

Email

You can send email to the Realize Rowlett 2020 team at Rowlett2020@rowlett.com.

 

Facebook

You can communicate with others who are interested in Rowlett's future on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/Rowlett2020.

 

Twitter

You can follow this initiative on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rowlett2020.

Phone Number

 

To speak to someone about this project, please contact Erin Jones, Planning Manager, City of Rowlett, 972‐412‐6114 or Sallye West, Communications Manager, Strategic Community Solutions, 214‐320‐1154.

 

City of Rowlett Mail

You can mail letters or other information to the City of Rowlett's Planning Division, P.O. Box 99, Rowlett, TX 75030‐0099.

 

Email: Rowlett2020@rowlett.com, visit our website at www.realizerowlett2020.com

 

I hope to see you on Saturday, May 21 at the Charrette!

 

Michael Gallops

Rowlett City Council Place 6