Council Candidate Dwight Witten Stands up for South Louisville

Louisville – At last night’s Metro Council meeting, Southern Jefferson County was introduced to a dynamic new leader who listens to the concerns of his constituents. Dwight Witten, running for the District 12 Council seat against incumbent Rick Blackwell, let the voice of the grassroots voter be heard by standing firmly against an unnecessary bomb storage facility at Cardinal Hill.

“For years my beloved South End has been treated like a punchline of a bad joke, being used as a dumping ground for the cities unwanted projects,” Witten said at last night’s Metro Council meeting. “Recently, our city’s administration, led by Mayor Jerry Abramson, has shown not only in words but also in action its opinion of the residents of South Louisville by proposing the location of a bomb storage facility on top of our water supply on Cardinal Hill.”

Councilman and Senate candidate Doug Hawkins has led the charge on this issue since the spring and has garnered much support for his actions and his recently filed ordinance. Witten has heard the people in his district and has joined the call.

“It’s amazing to me that we are even at this point,” Witten said. “There is a tremendous outcry from all south Louisville Districts. We are completely united in opposing this action.”

The issue was brought up when Mayor Abramson and his staff tried to slip a bomb storage unit under the radar last spring. The decision was made hastily and without much input from other government agencies, most notably the Metro Council who voted to send Hawkins’ ordinance back to committee.

“For too long, our city’s Democratic leadership has taken for granted the hardworking people of South Jefferson County,” said Jefferson County Republican Chairman Brad Cummings. “These are the type of driven, responsible citizens vitally important to the economic engine of any successful city. Why Jerry and his cronies consistently ignore their needs is beyond me.”

“Perhaps it is time for Councilman Blackwell to step down. Dwight Witten clearly has the best interests of District 12 in mind and has been listening to his constituents. I suppose that’s what happens when you actually knock on their door and listen to their concerns,” Cummings said. “This issue is larger than the bomb storage facility. It is about how the South End of Louisville continually gets the short end of the stick in Metro Government decisions. The Democrats may take this part of town for granted, but as Chairman, I assure South Enders that the Republican Party sees the problem and will strive to be a part of the solution.”