{"id":1437,"date":"2011-10-06T19:04:03","date_gmt":"2011-10-06T23:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2011\/10\/i-have-never-never-been-asked-whether-ive-got-one-system-or-two-jerome-tucker.html"},"modified":"2011-10-06T19:04:03","modified_gmt":"2011-10-06T23:04:03","slug":"i-have-never-never-been-asked-whether-ive-got-one-system-or-two-jerome-tucker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2011\/10\/i-have-never-never-been-asked-whether-ive-got-one-system-or-two-jerome-tucker.html","title":{"rendered":"I have never, never, been asked whether I’ve got one system or two —Jerome Tucker"},"content":{"rendered":"Jerome Tucker has experience in all the major local business organizations\nand with both the local school systems.\nHe used to be the chair of the Community Partners in Education (CPIE)\nthat a CUEE board member had never heard of.\nHe is the voice of experience, and here’s what he said:\n
\n\n<\/a>\nYou told me not to cheerlead, but I’ve got the mic in my hand.\n

\nI don’t have the right to vote, but I’m encouraging\neverybody to vote no.\nI have friends in the city.\nCall them; tell them to vote no.\n
\n[Applause.]\n
\nThis is too important an issue in our community not to lead a cheer.\n<\/blockquote>\nThen he established his personal credentials, stated the truth as he knows\nit, and issue a challenge.\n

\nFirst he bragged on the local school systems:\n

\nSomebody’s supposed to be about business thinks we don’t have what it takes\nto compete;\nsomebody make a statement, and I’m an old country boy.\nMy granny told me things that are said are the truth or a lie.\nThe things I say … this afternoon are what I’ve experienced.\n<\/blockquote>\nThat’s what I call a primary source.\nHe discussed other places that brag on our school systems, then:\n
\nI challenge anybody to have been as involved as consistently and as long as I have\nin business and community development in and around Valdosta and Lowndes County.\nI’ve served as chairman of the Industrial Authority.\nI’ve served as chairman of the Tourism Authority.\nI’ve served as chairman of the Valdosta Technical Board of Education.\nI’ve been on the superintendent’s council of schools.\nA member of CPIE since its inception.\nI challenge anyone….\n<\/blockquote>\nWhat’s the challenge?\n\n\n
\nFolks, the truth is,\nI have never, never, been asked whether I’ve got one system or two.\nNever!\nI have never asked anyone whether they have one system or two.\n

\n…\n

\nNow while I served on the Industrial Authority,\nI can not think of one business I lost because we had two systems.\n<\/blockquote>\nHe reviewed his involvement directly with both school systems.\n

\nI will state categorically there is no improvement in consolidating school systems.\n<\/blockquote>\nSo where did it come from?\n
\nAnd I’ll ask the question again, where in the world did the Chamber of Commerce\nget on it.\nBy the way, I served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce.\nBut one thing: I didn’t give up my backbone.\nSo I wasn’t there long.\n<\/blockquote>\n

\nHere’s\n\nthe video:<\/a>\n

\n