The Search for a New Mayor

Why White House Needs John Corbitt *An Opinion Piece*

For the past year, I have been involved in local politics. It has been a very eye opening process. In July of last year I discovered that Jackson Farms had been sold to Safe Harbor and would be developed into 455 homes. I printed handouts and went door to door inviting my neighbors to the public meeting about this property.

Jackson Farms is in Blue #63, #32, #33, #35 are also SRPUD subdivisions on Calisa

What I was about to find out was that it was too late. A public hearing is merely a formality. At this point, the property had been through the planning board and BOMA. This was the last vote. It didn’t matter what any of us had to say, it was a done deal. This was the 3rd subdivision approved on my road. The 4th was approved later. There will now be 1000 homes in half a mile on Calista Road.

That’s where I started. I held a community meeting. I met neighbors. I posted on Facebook. I did some research. I discovered that the previous mayor had sold his property and moved to Florida. Of course I was told he was still living in the city. I reached out to the local paper and asked them if they were going to write about it. The wrote a very nice piece about his “retirement.” That’s when I picked up the torch and began going to meetings and writing about what happens in the city.

All of that is important so that you understand where the rest of this piece is going. Citizens of this city are disenchanted and disillusioned. Hell, citizens of the country feel the same way. Things seem to happen to us, not for us. I see this every day on HIP WH. The car rider lane is absurd at Woodall. Traffic is a mess. HWY 76 hosts accidents and fatalities monthly. The comments are “They are just in it for the money.” “The city is greedy.” “More developers mean someone’s pocket is being lined.” These are what I hear in public and in private. People are frustrated and angry. Mostly, they just throw in the towel and complain because nothing ever changes.

Wrong. Things have changed. I started this Substack in March of this year. Things have changed. You might not notice, but I do. Our Neighbors for Responsible Growth group has grown to over 400 members. I have 350 subscribers to my newsletter. Lennar homes was denied their request for 959 homes on New Hall Road. (they can still build 650) The town homes on 31W/Raymond Hirsch were denied. The planning board held a study session on the number of units that have been approved in the city. District 2 in Robertson County (WH district) completely changed.

What else changed, Clif Hutson. Hutson voted yes on many of these developments. I watched him vote yes on Jackson Farms, and Calista Farms. He knew there were going to be 1000 on that road, and voted yes anyway. I don’t have all of his votes right now, but sitting on the planning board and the BOMA, he knew what was going on. Then, after being written about, Hutson is now ready to put the brakes on things. NOW????? 5000 units in? His voting record says otherwise.

His campaign signs are all over the new town center. What does that tell you? Local politics are no different than federal. It’s not what you can do for your city, it’s who is behind you. Who is behind Clif Hutson? Look around town to where his signs are. That will help a little. One of his signs sits on the future town center.

I have nothing personal against Clif Hutson. He started being nice to me when he decided to run for office. That right there tells me something, but again this isn’t personal. Hutson has the amphitheater named after his wife, and will continue to bring “business as usual” to the city.

Grassroots is what brings change. If we want growth managed, not dropped 1000 homes at a time in half a mile, we need a new board. There are three candidates running for office that will help WH manage this growth. Sam Mathews, Ward 1, Jana Spicer Ward 2, and John Corbitt for mayor.

I am only addressing the mayor race in this article, but will be interviewing candidates in the coming months. Corbitt has asked that the citizens of WH be able to speak quarterly in an open meeting. He has been met with resistance. It hasn’t happened. Corbitt has voted against many of the developments, as he has to live in an area where they are overdeveloping. He lives with the consequences of the decisions, just like the rest of us. Hutson, on the other hand, is a major property owner in the area. Do a search. https://sumnertn.geopowered.com/propertysearch/ Seems one of them stands to benefit from growth and the other does not.

Corbitt has said that he will push for quarterly open forums for the citizens, and live or recorded meetings. The new building is set up very well for recording. They could record during Covid, but can’t now. Hmmmm?? Transparency in government is what we need. We need to be run by “we the people,” not another business as usual player in the game.

There is not a single accusation in this article. Appearances are everything. When your signs are on development property, when you own property in industrial areas, when something is named after your wife, when you own rentals, and property to be developed later, one has to ask if you have the people’s best interest in mind. On the other hand, when you still work a full time job, when your kids still have to deal with the school overcrowding, when you still have to commute in the WH traffic, when you have to listen to construction sounds around your house, you have skin in the game.

I can’t vote for John Corbitt. I live one tenth of a mile out of city limits. But you can. Change starts local. Get a sign. Talk to your neighbors. Share this article. The citizens, not big developers need to be in charge of our small town.

John Corbitt for Mayor!!!