A Warning

Let this be your warning. In a few short weeks, you, the citizens of Battle Creek, will go to the polls and elect a new City Commission. Expect to find in your mailboxes and on your radio airwaves, misleading ads and statements that viciously attack one candidate or another. That is what politics in Calhoun County has come to. If you want that to stop, you must not listen to them. Make up your own mind as to the merits of each and every candidate and ignore the personal attacks made by power hungry neophytes who get more satisfaction out of winning elections than doing the right thing.

If you recall, before the November 2005 City Commission race, the Calhoun County Democratic Party and even the Michigan Democratic Party poured tens of thousands of dollars into radio ads and mailings that trashed several different candidates. This was unprecedented. In a matter of days, this once non-partisan election became a bloody political battle ground, no longing holding sacred the spirit of local political discourse. Instead, politicos from Lansing, who I doubt had the best interests of Battle Creek in mind, were suddenly trying to persuade you that some of most committed activists in our city were suddenly monsters. During that campaign, there was no talk about the issues of violence or jobs or of education. Instead, there were attacks after attacks after attacks. Have they no shame? In addition, the money that funded these attacks came from questionable sources, resulting in an official investigation by the Michigan Bureau of Charitable Gaming that is entering its 14th month with no resolution in sight.

You might also recall the election just last November for Trustee of Kellogg Community College. During that race as well, money from unknown sources was spent on behalf of several candidates, crossing the line of civic responsibility and plunging us into the depths of partisan shenanigans. In fact, many local candidates had to refund several contributions because they were ILLEGAL. That’s right – ILLEGAL. One candidate in that race, Jon Byrd, received almost half of his contributions from people who live OUTSIDE of Calhoun County. Were the best interests of Kellogg Community College at the fore during that campaign? I think not.

Is there any reason to expect a different campaign in 2007? The answer is no. Already there have been phone calls made into various parts of the city attacking one candidate or the other. I can guarantee you that the Calhoun County Republican Party and the Michigan Republican Party have not participated in these types of campaign tactics in Battle Creek – and will not. However, others who practice politics in Calhoun County have a track record of using this lowest form of political discourse to pave their way to victory, and I expect it to get much worse in the weeks to come.

So let this be your warning. Expect the vicious, negative, and irresponsible attacks to continue in the weeks to come. Expect your mailboxes and your radios to be polluted by statements that poison our political discourse rather than enhance it. Expect those that are more interested in winning an election than in doing the right thing, to do so at all costs - with no restraint and at times, with no conscious. But you don’t have to listen. Let this be your warning.

URGENT!

If the job climate and business creation incentive wasn’t already threatened enough by the Governor and the Mark Schauer led Michigan Legislature, the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners may take up a resolution that will make it harder to do business in Calhoun County than most other places in Michigan.

The Resolution reads:

“Resolve, that the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners amend County Policy No. 405 – Purchasing as presented, decreasing the amount on all construction projects to $50,000 from $250,000 under Section IV.B.1 – Employment of local labor and D.1 –Payment of Prevailing Wage.”

What this means is that for any project paid for by Calhoun County, we would have to pay not the market rate for the labor, but a higher, prevailing wage. The last time I checked, I wasn’t aware that the County was so awash in money that we could afford to pay more than we had to to get a project completed.

But what is worse is that this Resolution would require that all contractors doing business worth over $50,000 for Calhoun County must “enter into a project labor agreement with the Southwest Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, and its affiliated unions…”

Questions that pop in my mind:

Who are the supporters of this Resolution most interested in, the taxpayers of Calhoun County or the providers of their union campaign support?

What of the local contractors who have not signed such agreements with the AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions? They would not be eligible to do this work. Local contractors would be passed over in support of other AFL-CIO associated contractors.

I ask you to please contact your County Commissioners and ask them not to take this Resolution up and if it is brought up to not support it. Contact them RIGHT NOW! Here is how you can contact them:

Kate Segal (Chair) katesegal@hotmail.com
Terris Todd ttodd@battle-creek.k12.mi.us
Betty Arnquist barnquist@aol.com
Mike Rae raelawoffices@yahoo.com
Greg Moore gmoore247@comcast.com
Jase Bolger jase@iserv.net
Eusebio Solis esj_law@hotmail.com

Dearborn Debate Huge Success

I joined several other local Republicans at the Dearborn Presidential Debate and had a great time. Just some thoughts that might never get reported:

First, both Fred Thompson and Chris Matthews seemed much more fit and trim than you see on TV. Second, it was funny to see the moderators turn around with looks of disgust on their faces every time the audience applauded. Thirdly, you could sense some real uncomfortableness when both Ron Paul and Tom Tancredo said they might not support the Republican nominee. Fourth, it really seemed that the candidates liked each other and were enjoying themselves.

On top of the announcements that most of the Democrats are REMOVING their names from the Jan. 15th Michigan Primary Ballot, it was a good day for Republicans in Michigan. Any thoughts? What did you see while watching on TV?

Gettin' Dirty

Well, it wasn't pretty, but Chris and Rosie Simmons, Susan and Jim Baldwin, the Weiss', some other new friends and I joined forces Saturday, under the direction of Team Active's Mike Wood to clean up a little portion of the Kalamazoo River. It is impossible to comprehend how anyone can dump tires, trash, and a whole truck load (or so it seemed) of building supplies in a beautiful strectch of the Kalamazoo River. We worked hard for a few hours and still had work left to do. Good job to all of you who turned out and let's plan on making a bigger splash (no pun intended) next year.

Democrats Caught!

If the fiasco with Democrat Senate Staffers being caught red-handed violating Senate rules by photographing the voting board during non-roll call votes wasn't bad enough, check out this interview the Governor granted Frank Beckman on WJR. She is caught campaigning to not expand the sales tax to services a year ago. And if you have been following the story, this is the interview after it was completed, the Governor tried to suppress. Incredible! Give a listen:

http://www.wjr.com/Article.asp?id=488295&spid=6525

McCain Committed to Iraq Victory

In case you missed it (you certiainly won't hear much of it from the candidate himself) but Senator John McCain's two sons will be heading to war. Check out this link to hear more:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/30/in-rare-moment-cindy-mccain-broaches-her-sons-service/

Chris Simmons for City Commission

Take a look at some of the proposals put forth by Battle Creek City Commission candidate Chris Simmons - quite refreshing after last weeks actions by the State of Michigan:

"Reduce property taxes by 3 mills over tw years to ease the burden on our citizens and encourage residential and economic development.

Tax deductions for home improvements, moving into the city, and new businesses.

Hire an ombudsman to identify and reduce wasteful and inefficient government spending.

Restory leaf pickup.

Preserve, improve and maintain green space and protect the environment."

GO GET 'EM CHRIS. Check out his website at www.votesimmons.org.

Kudos to Nofs/Wenke

I think we owe a great deal of thanks to State Representatives Mike Nofs and Lorence Wenke for standing strong against the Granholm tax increases. Thanks guys!!!

And what about the story of Senate Democrat staffers violating Senate Rules:

"Senate To Discuss Camera IncidentA Senate Democratic photographer who was found to have been taking pictures of the voting board Sunday night/Monday morning in violation of Senate rules might have her floor privileges permanently revoked, MIRS has learned.Suzanne CATERINO, the staff photographer for the Senate Democratic caucus, was spotted by a Republican staff member crouched behind the desk of Senate Minority Leader Mark SCHAUER (D-Battle Creek) taking pictures of the voting board during the difficult tax increase votes and the votes on immediate effect.When the sergeants confiscated her camera, it was found she had taken numerous pictures of the board throughout the night. Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP (R-Rochester) said he was "displeased" by the "egregious" violation of the rules, noting that her actions could have derailed the very tenuous agreement that was being carried out on the floor.Bishop said no decision has been made about Caterino's fate, but he expressed some skepticism about Schauer's claim that he had no idea what she was doing."