A Time to Run, A Time to Walk

[XLFD]

I'm Running

On Thursday, March 24, 2016, I picked up a nominating petition in order to run for the position of city councilor for the third ward, a position I will run for in earnest against the incumbent, Les Johnson, should he run for re-election as expected (he has also picked up a nominating petition), and any other candidate whose position mirrors compliance with the current regime. 

I do not take this decision lightly; I have no great desire to become a public servant, in many ways I feel that I lack the aptitude for the position.  Yet we have to remember that those we remember as being the founding fathers of our country were essentially non-political outsiders that were pushed too far by the tyranny from afar. 

Another 'rebel' with the same Christian first name as mine, and a last name homonymous with 'pain' (that would be Thomas Payne, for all you Fourth Warders) stated in his preamble to "The Crisis": 

"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."

Surely what is happening in Ludington, in mostly piecemeal fashion, is a crisis that affects each of our citizens and property owners.  Freedom is being taken away, money is being unfairly taken away, the spirit of our common citizenry is being drained away, and most alarmingly, our most precious resource, our safety and health, is being compromised by a city management team that would spend millions of public dollars on municipal marina improvements and other whimsical projects while ignoring threats to the public's well-being and keeping up with their duty to maintain basic utilities.  

My pledge is to work to restore freedoms recently taken away by tyrannical city officials, and restore more money back to the public, while sensibly coordinating our city to face the challenges of our until recently ignored infrastructure and stop the neglect, cronyism and corruption that is only getting worse.  Specifics will be provided and I will need your help to overcome inertia.

I'm Walking

Today I did something that was a spur of the moment decision, I joined a marathon walking exercise starting at the West End of Ludington all the way to the outskirts of Scottville, over 8 miles.  I had originally started walking down from the hospital to get a look at a planned walk by Ed Lombard, 60, who lives in the small village of Custer who set out about noon today, March 25, all the while dragging a large, wooden cross and wearing a believable period outfit.

I had walked from the Spectrum Hospital area going west and caught up with them going east at around the downtown Wesco.  Lombard had announced his walk roughly a week ago on the COLDNews, and he had a small contingent of folks traveling with him.  I decided I would walk with him at least back to where I started from, but I wound up traveling the eight miles with him. 

Why did I decide to do that?  I can't totally be sure, but I think there were two reasons involved as to why I wanted to do so, at great pain to my aching feet.  Like Ed Lombard, who normally drives a truck but is a devoutly pious figure who had once hoped to run for governor back in 2010, I thought it was a great way to commemorate Good Friday, a day we usually overlook but perhaps one of the main foundations as to why Christianity is so cherished by many.  What better way to celebrate than to endure a fraction of the pain suffered 2000 years ago.

My second motivation was to make sure he was able to fulfill his quest.  Eight miles carrying a cross is a major task for a stout 60 year old man with occasional joint problems, and the eight or so followers who went with him were teenage girls and older men and women.  I wanted to make sure he was successful, and I wasn't sure there was any others there that would easily bear this burden.  I was willing to emulate Simon of Cyrene and help him out if need be. 

 

Fortunately, he was blessed enough to make the trek without needing any such help.  We made it to Scottville and attracted news reporters from TV 9 & 10 and TV 7 & 4 on the way.  It was fun.

I'm not very pious myself, so someone who knows me pretty good figured out why I may have been encouraged to join this walk.  They said it was a cross between always being there to help when I can, and because of my own identity as a Christ-like figure in Ludington.  I definitely am not near the same level, so they weren't saying I had the ability to walk on water and cure the sick, but that our city officials have acted like imperial Rome in persecuting me through the years. 

Christians often claim that Jesus' message was not political, sticking to the gospel line that jealous Jewish leaders forced Pontius Pilate to execute him for the crime of sedition.  But politics was very much in the words and viewpoints of Jesus, and his words went against the ruling elite of the time.  He wound up being taken to task for it, which is the same thing that has happened to me over the years in Ludington, and will follow most anyone else who believes the words of our city leaders to be blasphemy or lies, of which many are. 

And I have to agree with some of my friend's psychoanalysis, I actually noticed the parallels in both of our fates while on the long walk, and look forward with faith and resolve for the long road ahead to making our city accountable once again to the people. 

[Willy]

Hooray for X. I am very pleased to hear that your seeking a new part time position. I just hope nobody has to start a forum to complain about you. I understand you being a Christ-like figure in Ludington because of what all of Ludington's elites say when they see you coming, "Jesus Christ here he is again".

[XLFD]

I hear that Real Talk is about to start a forum called the "Ludington Tommy" and devote it to talking about my five mistresses, all those government programs I'm supposedly on, "those people", the size of my hands, etc. 

I am glad that I can inspire the city elites so much. 

 

[stump]

Well I will vote for you for sure. It's time for others to pick up their nomination petitions also to replace the councilors that are up for re-election . Maybe if more than one is replaced things will change. But then again, a challenge from XLFD on why? might sway other councilors voting practices XLFD, will you get more than 3 minutes to speak your/ the peoples view if elected? Have to get the word out, maybe the bird cage liner might do a write up.

[XLFD]

That's great, I know that you will stump for me! 

Winning the election will be an uphill battle.  I have offended a lot of the entrenched local power structure and their propaganda machines with my revelations and impudence.  Much less than 10% of the voters in my district catch the council meetings on either TV or in person or seriously review the city's actions.  Whereas I have some name recognition, people who don't know me well may attach negative connotations in their synapses towards me due to primarily bad news coverage I have gotten while winning lawsuits against the city and getting banned from going into city hall and a police station-- which in turn inspired another winning lawsuit.  

Invoking the Jesus parallels once again, I definitely require some good apostles on my side to help me spread the message for me and others who desire to run and buck the trend of the current city officials.   I will be going out seeking signatures over the next couple of weeks to qualify, if you, or others here, know someone in the Third Ward who wants to sign my petition, please let me know their names and whether they are out of the psychiatric ward yet.

[stump]

When you get your signs made, i'll take a bunch. Place them on my property's around town, of coarse not in the city so called right of way. Don't want the "grass police" having a reason to remove them.

[AQUAMAN]

Okay stump, I also volunteered for placing signage last election. Good luck with having them stay where you put them. If you put 10 signs out, you'll probably see at least 5 disappear quickly, then most of the others in a few more days. Get all the landowners permissions first, and they still disappear, and the landowner will tell you he did NOT remove them either. You can pick some of them up at city hall, the rest are gone to unknown.

[shinblind]

Glad to see you toss your fire helmet into the ring X.

Anything that I can do to be of assistance feel free to contact me.

With the Presidential Election, the proposed Charter Amendments( aka Shay's Severance Scheme) and the mood of the populace  in general,  this election might be the best chance we have to right this sinking ship.

Plan on knocking on every door in your precinct with the tenacity of the bookgirl.

It is never too early to prepare for the debate. 

Think about your Freedom Festival Float. 

Above all just be yourself and have some fun with it.

And to the people of the third ward, VOTE FOR HONEST TOM

[XLFD]

There are at least three other Ludington folks that are non-incumbents who have taken out petitions before today. 

Anyone who wants to help out with circulating my nominating petition to get signatures in the Third Ward, I would greatly appreciate it.  One problem I have is asking some of my friends in the ward to sign, when I worry that this may put a target towards them by some in the City.  This isn't a secret ballot like for a vote, it's a public record.  It also doesn't bind someone to vote for me later, just because they signed my petition.

If you know a handful or so people in the Third Ward that you can get to sign my petition, send me a message and I will give you a nominating petition, some directions, send you a .pdf with all of the voters of the Third Ward, and one of my policy guides (a work in progress, should be ready by Wednesday).

The Third Ward is roughly defined by Rowe Street to the east, Haight Street to the north, water to the west and south.  I'm from the deep south of this ward, so it would be great if I could get someone with a lot of connections to the north of it.  The signatures are needed by April 19.  I need only twenty valid signatures.

[jfc123]

This is what makes me upset about the whole structure there and why I bring up getting the State involved by complaining to constituent services. We have a federal government and state government the supersede anything a city may say! Damn you all have rights but need to fight for them in a peaceful way.

Its almost like a cult and if you say/do anything against your in jeopardy? This is not correct. Ludington residents deserve better and should vote for XLFD. Signage can be placed on our property!

The Attorney Generals office is not happy about this but you ALL need to complain to get things better!

 

[AQUAMAN]

Last time I complained to the AG's office, they said there was a 3 year backlog of complaints, so just sit tight, shut up, and wait for us to call you back. I knew right then and there, no call back would come, and it didn't either, even after several follow-up calls and letters to them. They are one of the problems, not solutions, imho.

[AQUAMAN]

Is Johnson, Krauch, and Holman running again? Also Rathsack and Castonia? Krauch, my 4th ward CC told me the other day, when his phone got answered, and reconnected for a change, was out of order for a while, that he has many supporters in the ward for the West End Project. Hmmm, I said, did you realize that online petition has 132 signatures now? No, he didn't, acted like it didn't even matter, mostly cause there's a lot of out of town signers. Well, out of 132, 77 are from Lud. or the County, over half. There was also many whom were born and raised here, but took better job opportunities elsewhere. Then he went on to state that there is a lot of support to pass it and get it done. When I asked him to name just 3 people, he paused for about 5 seconds, then stated he was keeping that confidential, as he assumed that was his duty. So I again asked him for just 1 supporter, and he answered that I am also being kept confidential. I told him I didn't ask for that, and that he can use my name anytime, I have nothing to hide. Sounds like HE is also another one HIDING INFO., just like Shyster Shay!

[jfc123]

You can tell Krauch that the out of towners are my supporters! I have lived and visited there for over 40 years! I live in a suburb of metro Detroit. I know a lot of people that like to visit Ludington for 2 reasons, the state park and the miles of rustic beach! That guy is clueless! The way he blew me off in an email I sent, then spoke on record about changing the public comment times since email was a great way to communicate almost makes me want to sue him!

A great way to have these people stop coming is to make this project happen and get rid of parking instead of adding, just stupid! We leave here for vacation to go to a beautiful mellow place, not for chaos like they are purposing! It is chaos down here, rush hour is a bitch!

They really don't understand the backing I am gaining here in metro Detroit and within the state, just hope that I am gaining there also since I am fighting not just for us but for all of Ludington!

I mean it when I say Ludington lives matter, not just ours!