Spokane7
55°
January 28, 2011 in City
Trio has strange way of showing love for kids
John Beal, Marilyn Montgomery and Duane Alton just love children.
They love them so much, in fact, that they’ve spent thousands of dollars opposing bond measures in districts where they don’t live. They love children so ardently that they can’t stand to see districts do misguided things like fix 30-year-old schools.
They love kids with such devotion that they’ve gone out to gather “FACTS!” about two upcoming bond issues, in Mead and Central Valley, and then gone the extra mile, creatively, in relaying them to the public.
They do care – honest, they do! – about children. And don’t forget grandchildren. Love ’em!
Beal, Montgomery and Alton are Citizens For Responsible Taxation, although everyone knows there is no such thing as responsible taxation.
These three – bolstered with $25,000 in financial juice from Alton, the tire king – have recently mailed fliers opposing a Feb. 8 bond issue in the Mead School District. None of the three live in that district. But they care so very much about children.
They’ve also sent out fliers and placed ads opposing the Central Valley bond issue on the Feb. 8 ballot. Alton actually does have an address in that district, though Beal and Montgomery do not. But hey – the love of children knows no boundaries.
None of these three Citizens would return my calls or e-mails this week. I’m told that none of them showed up at any of the public forums on either proposal. But you can glean a bit about their outlook here and there, if you look.
The group’s website says: “Please be assured that Citizens For Responsible Taxation cares about kids – really! In fact, they are our future, and we exist for our kids, their families and their God given rights to pursue a life of liberty, happiness and a financially secure future. CFRT believes that spending our children’s inheritance now is a major transgression against the long term welfare of the family, our nation, and violates the trust placed in us by previous generations of Americans.”
Yes. Children are our future. And voting to fix a school is a major transgression against the nation’s welfare.
Who are these Citizens? Alton, as you likely know, is the former tire-store magnate and longtime supporter of conservative causes. He used his given name, Elvin, rather than his well-known middle name, in filling out the group’s paperwork – the same name he used in donating $250 to support Joe “You lie!” Wilson in 2009. Beal is a retired Spokane man involved in the Constitution Party who helped the gubernatorial campaign in Alabama of the “10 Commandments” judge, Roy Moore, according to the party’s website. Montgomery once ran for secretary of state on the Constitution Party ticket.
In addition to a deep love of children and a spooktacular view of taxation, the group has been rude and self-righteous when it deigns to answer questions. MaryO E. Fury, a retired educator who lives in the Mead district, e-mailed the Citizens with some questions and got an anonymous reply. The answers she received were snotty in the extreme.
For example, when she wrote that her tax dollars supported the post office the group uses to mail its anti-tax fliers (though the Postal Service isn’t actually funded by taxes), the “CFRT” answered: “Yes and those erectile dysfunction ads your husband and/or your gets too.”
Nice. Though maybe we ought to run a bond issue to teach them how to be jerks grammatically.
The group’s fliers on the Mead bond are riddled with mendacity and misdirection. They claim the bond issue would be a “NEW TAX INCREASE.” In fact, the bond would replace an expiring one, and taxes would stay the same. The flier restates this falsehood a few times, adds further stretchers and salts it all with rhetorical excess of the “taxes are evil” variety. Taxes destroy jobs. Taxes drive people out of their homes.
Except … taxes won’t go up if it passes. And Greater Spokane Incorporated, that notorious pinko front, estimates the bond would provide jobs, not destroy them. And I guess I just haven’t heard all those stories of people losing their homes because their property taxes didn’t go up.
Did I mention that taxes in the Mead district wouldn’t go up?
You can’t say that about Central Valley. It will raise taxes, as part of a plan to spend $69.6 million fixing up schools that haven’t been modernized in decades. The levy will add 65 cents per $1,000 in value to property taxes. That’s $65 a year for a $100,000 home; $130 a year for a $200,000 home.
The Citizens describe that as a “dramatic” tax increase. It ain’t nothing, and times are indeed tough. But the drama in this proposal looks a lot different to the typical taxpayer in Duane Alton’s neighborhood – where the bite would be less than $10 a month – than it does for Mr. Alton himself, who owns spendy property all over the map.
But you know what they say about love – it’s blind. Maybe that explains the factual struggles of these Citizens. They’re blinded by their love of children to such a degree that they simply can’t sit idly by while voters – in any school district, anywhere – ponder the horror of paying taxes. Swords must flash from scabbards.
It couldn’t be that they’re just dim, could it? Just not all that … bright? It seems not. After all, they went to school back in the good old days, when people loved children so much that they let them learn with a piece of coal and a sturdy shovel, and they spent half of every class praying. No one paid any taxes back then, you know. Life was grand.
No, they can’t be stupid. What they probably are is smart. Very, very smart.
And just crazy about those kids.
Shawn Vestal can be reached at (509) 459-5431 or shawnv@spokesman.com.
The draw of the unknowable 
0351gunner on January 28 at 2:10 a.m.
Doing more with less seems to be the mantra of all politicians recently. The desired levies are for capital improvements or building maintenance. Perhaps it’s time to let the existing levies expire and give homeowners a respite for a year or two. With record home foreclosures across the nation and record unemployment or underemployment even a small savings is welcome relief to the majority of Spokane residents and yes renters pay property tax as well: it’s included in the rent amount.
In many ways voter approved levies allow our elected officials an easy out in not being forced to devise a realistic and fair way to support public education. Washington state needs to find an equitable solution to education funding and our elected reps will continue to ignore their responsibility as long as we voters volunteer a quick fix regardless of how temporary.
Jeff Sleep, Spokane, WA.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on January 28 at 6:29 a.m.
Shawn, I live in the Mead District, and have gotten two large mailers apparently from these folks… Mary’s mother just died and I did not have time to send you at the Review a request to “investigate” who on the south side of spokane would spend money to foist absolute lies about the cost and “newness” of the bond issue in the Mead District.
Thank you so much for “outiing” these sad sack citizens. John olsen
Bob_Knows on January 28 at 8:19 a.m.
Raising taxes harms all children and other living things. Young Americans are DUMBED DOWN by the regimentation and thought control of public “education.” None of the most famous American founders attended schools. Literacy rates in the US were higher before Progressives (socialists) invented public schools to dumb down and regiment the people. I am encouraged to learn that there are good Americans who can afford to fight the socialist police state tyranny. Shame on SR for pushing the socialist (Progressive) agenda.
READER27 on January 28 at 8:25 a.m.
Ha Ha Ha HA I LOVE the way you write Shawn. Kudos on putting people like that in their rightful place!!!! Of course they will probably post here or write you some undignified response! If they had children going to these schools or spent ANY length of time in them, I’m sure they’d realize what a necessity it truly is to have these updates done! They volume of students compared to the space , if it was anything like when I attended Rogers H.S., is probably severely needed! I applaud you sir, hopefully enough people will read this and still vote to pass the bond!!!!
soccermomsusie on January 28 at 8:39 a.m.
I hate these attacks on Duane Alton!
Do you remember those radio commercials? Duane was able to find one person who really thought his tire stores were great and that he was a good-hearted man and all his commercials featured this person.
Who was this person? His mom. Moms tell the truth about their kids. And for all the people who had complaints about Mr. Alton’s character, I always said, “Well, his Mom doesn’t hate him as much as you and that’s good enough for me.”
I only wish our region had been then politically what it is now. Mr. Alton was the Tea Party before there was a Tea Party. John Ahern’s election is proof that Mr. Alton would have been our congressman if we were only more patriotic and Conservative back then.
Mr. Potter used to be the villain in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Now, he is a true American Hero. Thank you Mr. Alton for being our Mr. Potter and our Spokane Hero!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
Coffee on January 28 at 8:40 a.m.
If any of you truly loved the children we would have a voucher system in this state. Most of the money we spend on schools is not for the children, but to provide a more comfortable work place for the teachers, the children are secondary.
opiemuyo on January 28 at 9:11 a.m.
I agree, Coffee, then I can be reimbursed for my hard earned money going to the Catholic schools in our community that is doing such a better job with my kids than this public money toilet they call school districts. GO VOUCHERS if you really wont to improve your kids education, that is the only way you will motivate the educational leaders in your community.
Albert on January 28 at 9:11 a.m.
I also live in the Mead district and see ever-increasing numbers of vacant homes throughout my area. Repo’s “for rent” of newer tract homes (vacant), and more of my neighbors telling me that they are now unemployed. This “no tax increase Mead Bond” was for maintenance - not children, or education. Sweeping floors, washing windows, and taking out trash for $20.+ per hour with very expensive benefits does not benefit our kids education. We voted “no” on this “no tax increase” bond because of the sheer waste that we see in the Mead schools. The flyers that we received and you mock are absolutely 100% factual. The “Vote For Kids” Mead signs are also false. The “facts” as per these flyers that you Shawn mock, are absolutely true.
Shawn I have supported you on numerous articles in the past, however your “bite” and undeserved mockery of these people is without excuse. These people are doing what they feel is needed in our democracy. You have a public forum within your format that calls for objectivity and not personal condemnation. You owe these people an apology for over -stepping your bounds. I am shocked and disappointed at your professionalism and demeanor in this article. It is without justification.
Hank Greer on January 28 at 9:34 a.m.
Excellent piece, Shawn. I live in the Mead school district and immediately recognized both flyers I received as the trash they are. (Actually they went in the recycle bin where they can do the most good.)
Thanks for calling these clowns out as the clowns they are.
MrNatural on January 28 at 9:50 a.m.
Kudos Shawn…these bonds are necessary and provide jobs and future benefits to our community as a whole …
“Elvin”!!!….(snicker)
homers on January 28 at 9:56 a.m.
Alton et al just doing their part to support the Republican/Tea Party “anti-education” agenda. They don’t believe in an educated public (after all, if the people had a good education they would never vote for the GOP), and they don’t believe in science…… “our young-uns don’t need none of that there fancy book-learnin”.
What a bunch of sorry losers, these folks are. Granted times are tough and people are hurting, but the best way to ensure that kids have a bright future, can get a good job, and can contribute to the economy is to make sure they have the best education possible. And maintenance DOES contribute to an environment conducive to good education.
I suppose Alton NEVER spent any money on his tire stores to make sure they were clean, or make sure the roof didn’t leak and the lights were working? What hypocrites!!! The false/misleading statements are typical of the methods widely employed by the majority of the Republican party these days. Just look at many of their assertions regarding the “death panels” and other portions of the health care debate.
Thank you for an outstanding article that entertains as well as educates us to the disgusting tactics of this group….
biker on January 28 at 10:16 a.m.
Central Valley needs to spend the money they have more wisely and should have thought twice before requesting a levy that increases taxes. We just suffered being raped by the fire department to the tune of $40 to $50 per month tax increase for that levy. It just goes to show how out of touch these teachers and civil servants are. Mead has a better idea. Pass the levy with no additional increase in taxes. I can live with that. Yes, I do live in the CV district and witness the waste and foolishness almost daily. It’s not all about the children, I’m pointing the finger and the older children who administrate our schools.
jhansen55 on January 28 at 10:37 a.m.
READ the ballot. Mead is asking for money to improve buildings and aquire more land. I live in the Mead district and have 5 children, and yes I love kids, but I think it is the wrong time to ask for money to replace carpets that can go a few more years. Going after Alton and others for this is just clouding the issue. WHERE is the money going?
ChefGus/ John Olsen on January 28 at 11:16 a.m.
My question again is “Why are folks based on South Regal Street in Spokane meddling in an election North of Spokane? J
jddavis on January 28 at 11:33 a.m.
Perhaps this group could send out flyers outlining and detailing what the respective bond measures would cost, and exactly where the money will be spent. Presenting a pro / con fact based flyer would help voters make a more informed decision, based on their situation(s) and desires; that might do more to support their cause.
If a bond measure “replaces” one that is expiring, it is a new tax regardless if the mil level garners more or less from taxpayers. Rule of thumb: If it requires a vote, it is a new tax.
SpokaneIsMyHome on January 28 at 11:34 a.m.
Central Valley School District is incredibly over-crowded right now and numerous buildings and facilities are downright archaic.
CVSD has not had a bond pass since Central Valley High School and University High School were funded. That was in 1998. Three bonds have failed since then.
This means that CVSD has been suffocating financially for more than a decade—and it has blazing red finger marks on its neck from those who keep voting ‘no.’ These bonds are the lifeblood of progress in the district. It’s not a matter of ‘new carpets’ and superficial comforts for teachers. It’s a matter of acquiring the resources and building the environments necessary to let students learn.
If you want an example of stellar schools, take a look at the west side of Washington State. Bellevue High School, (yes, a public school in Washington, just like, say, Mead High School) is consistently rated in the top 10 high schools in the UNITED STATES. Guess what? They have incredible financial support. Instead of resenting their public school system over there, the tax payers whole-heartedly support it—and it flourishes as a result.
Spokane is certainly not going to provide that kind of support to its schools anytime soon—too many people are clouded by their blind (greedy?) hatred of taxes. Continuously rejecting the bond, though, is tragically short-sighted.
Yes, there is overhead (as with any public service.) Yes, there are inevitably inefficiencies. Not every dollar will go ‘directly to the children.’ That is the reality of any multi-person endeavor, be it a small business or a school district. As long as you opt to use the public school system, you have to accept those inefficiencies—or take initiative and find a way to make it better, but just voting ‘no’ and going about your life is simply compounding the problem. The districts need our support.
Voting ‘no’ is shooting Spokane in the foot. Or really, in the head. Demonstrate that you at least care about your children’s heads—pass the bonds.
Coffee on January 28 at 11:45 a.m.
Maybe they own property in North of Spokane or just do not like the educational bureaucracy that will not be satisfied till everyone is reduced to being a serf. Or it could be they just want to get everyone involved in a debate out of a abundance of pride in the people livening in the Spokane area. Could also be they do not want American citizen turned into serfs or they could also be just wanting to spend some money to help the economy.
Edwame on January 28 at 12:13 p.m.
This article is obviously an editorial. It is slanted and skewed. Whether we agree with the political group written about in the article or not, we must believe they have the right to oppose a bond issue. When people stop doing so, we are all in big trouble and become sheep.
How come every time someone wants to stop tax increases they are FIRST perceived as hurting little old ladies and children. Nothing is ever said about the fat being cut. Many in this country feel there is already enough tax money, but it is not being used properly. What about the money already being paid in property taxes for schools? What, we can never let a levy lapse and have time to evaluate the tax structure?
Many of us remember attending bare bones schools, without carpet and the cathedral like entrances we now see. We were required to bring our own pencils and paper. We learned. We learned because of the teachers and the coaches, not because our school looked stylish. The schools were warm, safe and functional then. The money should be for the teachers not the contractors making profits from the upgrades.
Maybe the “just” 65 cents additional per $100,000 tax assessment or the “just” $10 per month as the writer states, is not much to him, but I can tell you there are many people in this community that have not received a cost of living salary increase in many years. Tax payers are going backwards in earning and their costs keep going up.
These levies may be just about big business and construction money. But we wouldn’t know as the story doesn’t state the facts. Just opinion like the rest of us posters on this forum. That’s the reason we never get anywhere.
pjc on January 28 at 12:26 p.m.
So if you are opposed to bond measures, you hate children?
I guess “civility week” is over.
mikeln on January 28 at 12:35 p.m.
Only people who are uneducated or were unable to understand what they were being taught would beleive anything that comes out of the republican party. Every thing they do has some sort of agenda that profits their good old boys club and they don’t care how they do it. Educate our kids, plain and simple. And I sure as hell would not let my children anywhere near that catholic church, for education or anything else.
jhansen55 on January 28 at 2:06 p.m.
That is pretty uneducated sounding in itself.
mikeln on January 28 at 2:32 p.m.
The problem is our elected officials keep telling us how complicated it is to solve these problems. That is only true when people put profit before doing what is right. We need to give our children a good education if they are to compete for the minimum wage jobs that are quickly becoming the way of life for many americans. I know this is depressing but when corporate america is bringing in people from other countries to take our college graduates jobs and given taxbreaks to do so, it paints a ugly picture. We, as american workers are going to have to compete with the two billion people in india and china who will work for far less then we can. The people who are really in control have no reason to educate our children, it has no real profit potential for them. Give me some other reason eduction in this country is being thrown to the dogs. Don’t give me that not enough money thing, we had plenty of money to invade a country that was pretty much unarmed. We are being led down the path to third world status with blinders on and it doesn’t matter if you have a couple of million in the bank as that can dissapear overnight. This will be a very interesting year and I think people better start making sure they have a store of food on hand.
greenlibertarian on January 28 at 3:13 p.m.
Don’t know about CV, but the Mead proposal looks perfectly on the up and up. They are doing a stellar job of teaching, and the cost per student is the lowest of all Spokane County school districts.
While the money is going to be spent in nearly all their schools, the bulk of it is going to fund needed renovations at the three oldest schools.
Alton is a ultra-far-right crackpot and grandstander who likes to butt in where it’s none of his business.
If this was being done by some folks IN the affected districts, I would have some respect for them, but not these clowns.
DeeDee_Loberg on January 28 at 7:04 p.m.
Assess the facts for yourselves. Then vote yes;)
Central Valley School District voters will be asked to consider approval of a $69.6 million construction bond proposal on February 8, 2011. The bond is the first in a series of five construction bond packages outlined in the district’s new 25-year Capital Facilities Plan. The plan provides a road map of school modernizations and expansions. It was developed by the community-based Capital Facilities Planning Committee over a 15-month period with significant public input. The Plan was adopted by the School Board on June 28, 2010.
The $69.6 million bond will fund six major projects and several district-wide projects impacting each of the more than 12,400 students in 22 schools. Projects include:
· Evergreen Middle School – modernize and expand aging 1974 facility; adds middle school capacity to ease crowding at Greenacres Middle School
· New Elementary School – located at Mission and Long; eases crowding at Greenacres and Liberty Lake elementary schools; enables Kindergarten Center students to return to their neighborhood schools
· Opportunity Elementary – modernize and expand aging 1968 facility; adds elementary capacity to ease crowding in schools on west side of district
· Ponderosa Elementary – modernize aging 1979 facility; resolves structural problems in building design to improve student safety and learning
· Greenacres Elementary – modernize aging 1978 facility; resolves structural problems in building design to improve student safety and learning
· Chester Elementary – modernize and expand aging 1974 facility; resolves structural problems in building design to improve student safety and learning
· All Schools: Install access-control and camera systems to improve student safety; install district-wide emergency notification system to improve communication; renovate district’s production kitchen to improve nutrition service efficiency
The total project cost of $102.4 million is offset by state assistance of $32.8 million. The resulting net cost to Central Valley taxpayers of $69.6 million is estimated to increase the tax rate by 65¢ per $1,000 of assessed property valuation in 2012. This means an estimated annual increase of $65 per year (or $5.42 per month) for property with an assessed valuation of $100,000. At least 60 percent of voters must approve the ballot measure for the construction bond to pass.
santodevaca on January 29 at 7:15 p.m.
@ Bob_Knows
Where do you get the data for your claims? Literacy in the United States is up around 99% so I don’t really see public education as dragging us down.
Also, of course the Founding Fathers went to school. The schools were generally religious or they were taught by paid tutors. I assume you mean that they didn’t attend public schools, but that’s also obvious because public schools didn’t exist. Remember, democracy was kind of a new idea at the time, as was believing that all people are worth educating. Back then, if you weren’t rich or royal enough for a private tutor, you depended on a religious institution and just hoped that they taught something more than Christian ethics and Latin. We now think that all people should get at lease some education but that wasn’t the case back then.
You have some of our Founding Fathers, most notably Thomas Jefferson (a known Socialist, I know), for the creation of the public school system. Jefferson believed that educating the populace was important to make democracy work effectively and I have to agree with him.