In less than 16 hours the polls will be open for voters. There are many great candidates to choose from. It is very important to get out and vote. Don't forget to flip your ballot to choose a precinct delegate.
Here I will list the names of candidates that I feel fit the bill.
Shiawassee County Commissioners
District 1 : Republican candidate Nichole Bruff :)
District 2: Democrat candidate Gary Martenis. While I don't agree with him on every issue, he is on the same page as I am. He wants to make big changes here in Shiawassee County. I have a great amount of respect for him.
District 3: Republican candidate Gary Holzhausen. Gary is a former drain commissioner and business owner.
District 4: Republican candidate Cloyse Lundie.
District 5: Democrat candidate Paul Ray.
District 6: Democrat candidate Patrick Gray
District 7: Republican candidate Jeremy Loos
Now onto State Senate
Joe Hune all the way!
85th State Rep.
I am going to pick 2. First pick is David Lazar. Second pick is Harold Kuisel. Both men have what it takes to represent us in Lansing.
Democrat Pam Drake is running unopposed on the Democrat ticket. She is also a wonderful lady, but I must vote Republican tomorrow.
Governor pick
Republicans Rick Snyder or Pete Hoekstra.
If you are a Democrat, Virg Benero is the lesser of two evils.
Make sure you use your one vote and make it count! See you at the polls!
Showing posts with label Shiawassee County Commissioner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shiawassee County Commissioner. Show all posts
Monday, August 2, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Letter to the Editor in response to Dennis Hrcka
This letter is in response to Dennis Hrcka’s letter published July 22nd 2010.
Once I decided to run for county commissioner, I knew that I would be asked to participate in various questionnaires. I understood this is just part of politicking. The first one that I received was from the Shiawassee County Tea Party. I had prior knowledge that my opponent put this Litmus test together. He helped create the questions. Therefore, he knew the right way to answer them. I felt that he had the unfair advantage since he was/is the secretary of said group. I called my opponent and explained why I would not be participating in it. In my opinion, an opponent should remove oneself from any type of process they are participating in. Period.
I then received the RTL questionnaire. I feel very strongly about life so I participated. In the past, I thought that it was extremely important for a candidate to be endorsed by Right to Life. Since participating, I realized, that this is just as self serving as any other special interest group.
Once I arrived to the interview with the local sub committee, I knew that I wouldn’t be endorsed, no matter what my views are. Three of the five interviewing, are also people I saw at the Tea Party meeting in May 2010.
Needless to say, I did not get the endorsement, my opponent did. I then was curious to know who made the final decision on endorsements. I spoke with a gentleman from Grand Rapids. He explained to me that while I met all criteria, the sub committee made the final choice.
So you see, I am now skeptical of any endorsement a candidate or incumbent receives.
My motives are not at odd as Mr. Hrcka would like you to think. I just feel that the public needs to know how the vetting process work.
I am running to make a difference in this county. The county government doesn’t want me to be elected. They know that I am not afraid to represent the best interests of the people. The only allegiance I have is to the public, not the administration.
Once I decided to run for county commissioner, I knew that I would be asked to participate in various questionnaires. I understood this is just part of politicking. The first one that I received was from the Shiawassee County Tea Party. I had prior knowledge that my opponent put this Litmus test together. He helped create the questions. Therefore, he knew the right way to answer them. I felt that he had the unfair advantage since he was/is the secretary of said group. I called my opponent and explained why I would not be participating in it. In my opinion, an opponent should remove oneself from any type of process they are participating in. Period.
I then received the RTL questionnaire. I feel very strongly about life so I participated. In the past, I thought that it was extremely important for a candidate to be endorsed by Right to Life. Since participating, I realized, that this is just as self serving as any other special interest group.
Once I arrived to the interview with the local sub committee, I knew that I wouldn’t be endorsed, no matter what my views are. Three of the five interviewing, are also people I saw at the Tea Party meeting in May 2010.
Needless to say, I did not get the endorsement, my opponent did. I then was curious to know who made the final decision on endorsements. I spoke with a gentleman from Grand Rapids. He explained to me that while I met all criteria, the sub committee made the final choice.
So you see, I am now skeptical of any endorsement a candidate or incumbent receives.
My motives are not at odd as Mr. Hrcka would like you to think. I just feel that the public needs to know how the vetting process work.
I am running to make a difference in this county. The county government doesn’t want me to be elected. They know that I am not afraid to represent the best interests of the people. The only allegiance I have is to the public, not the administration.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Patrick Gray- District 6 Candidate
I had the privilege of meeting Patrick Gray this week. He is a Democrat running for District 6 Commissioner. To say I am impressed is an understatement.
Patrick has a lot of experience negotiating contracts with unions and dealing with labor issues. He has even negotiated contracts with County labor attorney Bonnie Toskey before. He is very familiar with how that works and it would probably cut down expenses paid to Tokey's law office.
He is the past President of AFSCME Local 1059, past president of O.E.S.P.A./MEA.
He is running as a Democrat.
The board needs a diversified group of people. Even if that means from different parties.
If you live in District 6, get to know this candidate. He is more than happy to actually answer questions and you will know where he stands on big issues.
Patrick has a lot of experience negotiating contracts with unions and dealing with labor issues. He has even negotiated contracts with County labor attorney Bonnie Toskey before. He is very familiar with how that works and it would probably cut down expenses paid to Tokey's law office.
He is the past President of AFSCME Local 1059, past president of O.E.S.P.A./MEA.
He is running as a Democrat.
The board needs a diversified group of people. Even if that means from different parties.
If you live in District 6, get to know this candidate. He is more than happy to actually answer questions and you will know where he stands on big issues.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Politicians are sneaky
Yesterday was the last day to file as a candidate for Commissioner. Unless it was published in the paper, a lot of us had no idea who would be running until after 4 p.m. on May 11th 2010.
Here is the list:Candidate List
Much to my surprise, the incumbent for District 1, Dan Stewart (D), is a switch hitter. He is now running as a Republican.
There are 3 of us on the Republican ticket. No one on the Democratic ticket.
There are a few reasons I can assume this was done:
I heard that he was originally a Republican. When he ran for the first time 4 years ago, the incumbent, Jim Capitan, was a Republican. He must have chose to switch hit because he thought he had a better chance of beating Mr. Capitan as a Democrat. Well, he did just that.
Since there are 3 people running on the Republican ticket, whomever wins the primary, wins the seat. Unless of course, there is a write-in come November. That scenario is highly unlikely.
It is a Republican year. It is possible he thinks that he can retain his Democratic votes while also snagging Republican votes to win. Since this is a Governor's election year, I don't think that could happen. In August, you have to vote straight ticket. I don't see many people switching their vote to Republican and wasting their Governor hopeful primary vote. I could be wrong though.
It could also be that he is lazy. He doesn't really want to work that hard towards the primaries. After all, he just wants to retain the seat.
The Republican party doesn't care who wins either. They just want the seat since a Democrat has held it for 4 years.
So he was able to snag money from the Democratic party, and now he will do the same thing with the Republican party. There is no loyalty when it comes to politics.
I will just have to work 3 times as hard to win the primaries.
The county wants change, not confusion.
Here is the list:Candidate List
Much to my surprise, the incumbent for District 1, Dan Stewart (D), is a switch hitter. He is now running as a Republican.
There are 3 of us on the Republican ticket. No one on the Democratic ticket.
There are a few reasons I can assume this was done:
I heard that he was originally a Republican. When he ran for the first time 4 years ago, the incumbent, Jim Capitan, was a Republican. He must have chose to switch hit because he thought he had a better chance of beating Mr. Capitan as a Democrat. Well, he did just that.
Since there are 3 people running on the Republican ticket, whomever wins the primary, wins the seat. Unless of course, there is a write-in come November. That scenario is highly unlikely.
It is a Republican year. It is possible he thinks that he can retain his Democratic votes while also snagging Republican votes to win. Since this is a Governor's election year, I don't think that could happen. In August, you have to vote straight ticket. I don't see many people switching their vote to Republican and wasting their Governor hopeful primary vote. I could be wrong though.
It could also be that he is lazy. He doesn't really want to work that hard towards the primaries. After all, he just wants to retain the seat.
The Republican party doesn't care who wins either. They just want the seat since a Democrat has held it for 4 years.
So he was able to snag money from the Democratic party, and now he will do the same thing with the Republican party. There is no loyalty when it comes to politics.
I will just have to work 3 times as hard to win the primaries.
The county wants change, not confusion.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Candidate for District 1 Commissioner
Why am I running? That is a question that I have received lately.
We need common sense brought back into the Shiawassee County government.
A few years ago we hired a county coordinator. At first this was supposed to be a part time position to assist the Commissioners. An interim was hired and forced her way into a full time position. Slowly, her responsibilities became more and more. She was now the CEO of the county. Our county government was not created to have a "CEO". That is why we have a board of commissioners. It is a checks and balance system.
There was not a need for a full time administrator. Does the board need someone that can get the info that they need? Yes. But not in the tune of over 100k a year. If things keep going the way they have with the current board, she is due for a raise. We CANNOT afford another raise. No matter what other counties are paying their administrator's.
We need a board that will address their voters when presented with a question during meetings.
We need a board that will also ask the Clerk to take more specific notes, so that those who cannot attend a meeting can actually read what took place on the county website.
I am a hopeful for this position. It is an altruistic reason that I am running. I want to be a voice for those I represent.
We need common sense brought back into the Shiawassee County government.
A few years ago we hired a county coordinator. At first this was supposed to be a part time position to assist the Commissioners. An interim was hired and forced her way into a full time position. Slowly, her responsibilities became more and more. She was now the CEO of the county. Our county government was not created to have a "CEO". That is why we have a board of commissioners. It is a checks and balance system.
There was not a need for a full time administrator. Does the board need someone that can get the info that they need? Yes. But not in the tune of over 100k a year. If things keep going the way they have with the current board, she is due for a raise. We CANNOT afford another raise. No matter what other counties are paying their administrator's.
We need a board that will address their voters when presented with a question during meetings.
We need a board that will also ask the Clerk to take more specific notes, so that those who cannot attend a meeting can actually read what took place on the county website.
I am a hopeful for this position. It is an altruistic reason that I am running. I want to be a voice for those I represent.
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