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Running to Serve Again

Fillmore McPherson served on the Board of Finance from 2001 to 2009, and was chairman of that board from 2003 to 2007.

Prior to that, he was vice chairman of the High School Building Committee, which in 1999 and 2000 took on the following charge: determine if a new high school is needed, come up with a design and cost estimates, and select a location to build the school. A parcel of 40-plus acres at the end of Green Hill Road was identified (it’s now occupied by homes on Allison Drive).

Fillmore negotiated with the owners of the land, who were at first reluctant to sell the property. But when they understood that Madison needed a new high school and that their property would be an ideal location, they relented and offered it for sale. The planned high school was to be state of the art for that time, have an auditorium, a full gymnasium, a complete set of playing fields, and multiple parking areas, with land left for future use.

At referendum in May 2000, the bond issue was defeated, much to the dismay of the committee. Voters had heard that a new high school could be constructed that would cost less. The building committee was dissolved and a new committee was formed with different members. For several million dollars less, a high school plan was brought forth that didn’t include the purchase of new land. The current Daniel Hand High School was subsequently constructed on land owned by the schools.

Because of his involvement in the first High School Building Committee, Fillmore was approached to run for the Board of Finance and was elected in 2001. Now he is running again to serve on this board. I encourage your readers to join me in voting for Fillmore McPherson.

Joan McPherson

Madison