PATTERSON Citizens of Blacksburg, I am Suzanne Patterson. For those of you who do not know me, and do not about any of my background, I was born and raised in North Carolina.

But, I moved to South Carolina in 1998. I fell in love with the small quaint town of Blacksburg. I established a business here after a couple of years and I have been in business ever since. I have come to learn of many small business owners and gotten to known many Blacksburg people who really want to see Blacksburg grow and develop.

I am a proud member of Cherokee Falls Missionary Fellowship Church, where I serve as a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Bible Education School Time, and a member of the Blacksburg Business Association (BBA).

My opponent has stated all the good things he has done for the residents of Blacksburg, but failed to mention some of the bad. For example, selling the natural gas to York County, and laying off our city workers. The list could go on and on.

Now my opponent has voted for a 5 percent pay raise for town employees, which has not received a pay raise in three years. I am for pay raises, based on merit and skills. But his equation does not include the taxpayers of Blacksburg. “Tax increase... The town was broke last year .... getting a tax increase this year!” The sale of the gas brought the town money, but we must invest, give tax breaks and stop purchasing bathrooms from another state, when we are among the highest unemployment states. Why didn’t we bid that job within Cherokee County, or the great state of South Carolina?

Why don’t we give the taxpayers of Blacksburg a percentage of tax decrease? If I am elected to the District 1 council position, I PROMISE NOT TO RAISE YOUR TAXES. My vote will be to LOWER taxes. Our town needs to be refurbished not only by buildings, but the politics need to be too.

Thank you for your vote. If you have any questions, contact me at (864) 839-9300.

VOTE AUGUST 10th, Blacksburg Town Council District 1 Suzanne Patterson — not one of the “Good Ole Boys.”