Upcoming Ludington Elections

[Eve Alone]

From yesterday's Ludington Daily News:

 

Ludington elections

Three city council seats contested

LDN Staff -

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Ludington voters will decide in November who will represent Ludington’s 3rd Ward and 5th Ward on the city council and decide who will be the city’s at-large councilor.

Voters will also choose the next 1st Ward councilor and city treasurer in November, but there is only one candidate for each position following Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline for candidates to file.

Current Treasurer Linda Rogers is the only candidate for her job and Richard Rathsack is the only person in line for the 1st Ward councilor seat.

Les Johnson — who the council appointed to the 3rd Ward seat in April to replace Brent Scott, who resigned and moved to the Grand Rapids area — will face John Curtis on the ballot for that seat in the November election.

SueAnn Schnitker and Nick Tykoski are candidates in the 5th Ward race, and incumbent Councilor-at-large Kaye Holman will compete against Tom Rotta for that seat.

 

Go John, SueAnn, and Tom!

[XLFD]

Nick Tykoski, Les Johnson, and Kaye Holman.  The DDA is well represented in the City Council race.  If these folks run the table, be prepared to have your pockets picked with higher taxes, and more closed or seasonal businesses in our downtown.  Good selections, Eve. 

Does anyone know anything about these challengers John Curtis, or Sue Ann Schnitker, or the Richard Rathsack candidate? 

[XLFD]

I looked around and there was a Dan Rathsack who served as Mayor between 1953 and 1955 (see below, at a spot called Political Graveyard).  If you remember him, John, you must be one of them old-timers, LOL.   

Sue Ann is also on the Board of Review so she has a little experience in local gov'ment but not too much to make you worry.  And I know she has recently made a generous donation to a good cause, which speaks well of her character.

If Nick's previously runs for County Commissioner are any bellwether of his upcoming performance, SueAnn should be a cinch to win, unless City Hall and their friends on the LDN spend a lot of political capital behind NT.  This was Pete Engblade's old seat, so to replace him with an ethics-optional person would be a crime in itself.

Thanks for your kind words, I hope not to let you down.  I will definitely have an uphill battle to unseat Kaye.  But she heads the City Finance Committee and has made some unconscionable votes over the last few years, and I will hold her feet to the fire for it, while offering a more palatable alternative. 

[AQUAMAN]

I believe any new candidate running against an incumbent only needs to make a simple list of the voting record of their opponent to win their race. And make sure all the important votes are listed on paper to show the voters where the incumbents stand on important issues. Then state how you would have voted, and will in the future if elected. Then at the bottom of the flyer ask the voters if they think the town and themselves is better off now than since the last election. Any and all tactics that relate to dirty politics should be avoided. Just let the voters know that higher taxation, fees, permits, questionable bidding processes, bad grant decisions, higher millage proposals, and other wasteful spending issues are not getting your vote on the council, and that you intend to fight for the Ludington citizens first, over toursist related issues that have been given far too much priority for too long.

[XLFD]

It really should be that simple to display the voting record and say why you would vote contrary to them-- but you still need to get that message out effectively, and be prepared to get marginalized and attacked directly and indirectly by those who benefit from the largesse and new governmental powers, who don't want to lose the money and status. 

[AQUAMAN]

Yes, Dan Rathsack I heard was a good Mayor of long ago. It would be good if his son or other relative was of the same thinking, that has to be checked out first though.

[Willy]

I've had some dealings with SueAnn and she is a  people oriented person. She is fair and honest and a good listener and communicator. I don't know if she realizes what she will be getting into but I know she will listen to citizens and do her best to be fair. Along with XLFD maybe some good will come out of this election and the people of Ludington will have a fair and open government instead of the current good ol boy system.

[AQUAMAN]

Another key issue is, how easy is it to contact or talk to a councilor w/o being told to attend a CC Mtg. to get to meet them? Let voters know while you have a schedule just like anyone else, that you have an open door policy if they want to talk by phone, in person, or by email. I think this is also a great virtue, as I myself have attempted to talk via phone to several CC members over a length of years, only to be told in haste that I should attend a council meeting in order to make contact. That to me was rude, and arrogant in attitude.

[XLFD]

Great point, Aquaman, which I usually overlook myself.  Ms. Holman, as the at-large councilor, represents any Ludington citizen from any ward.  I have sent her three signed letters and more E-mails, many requesting an answer or an action based on city/state laws or ethics.  Can you guess how many replies I have received from her?    

 

[AQUAMAN]

I see where one of our members/CC Wanda Marrison made a reply of recent, then deleted it, wonder why? I will admit she is one of the CC members, although a freshman yet, that will talk to you if you call her, like Brent Scott, Pete Engblade, and probably Les Johnson now. As for the rest, adios amigo is the word, including His Honor, the Mayor. Far be it from them to converse w/o a lot of fanfare and audience.

[XLFD]

The City Councilors are under the mistaken impression that a united front of purpose and thought among themselves will be for the betterment of the City and allow it to move forward more smoothly. 

History has shown us that such unity is the groundwork for tyranny, cronyism, and corruption, and does not serve the public well. 

[Wanda Marrison]

I had multiable accounts and requested one deleted. I saw that it was gone also. I bet I wrote it on the requested account.

Thank you for the comment Aquaman. I am not above talking to people.

Have a question, ask.  I will try to get an answer, whether we all like the answer or not.

PLEASE, remember. I am only one part of a much larger informed group of people.

 

[Willy]

Wanda

I have a couple of questions for you.

Did you or any of the Council members or mayor check into XLFD's situation regarding his banishment from City Hall?

Were you or any of the other Councilors or the Mayor involved with XLFD's banishment from City Hall?

If you have not checked into XLFD's banishment, why not and will you?

Since this type of action sets a dangerous precedent, do you think that due process was denied XLFD and will it be used in the future by  politicions to try and silence those in opposition to their policies?

 

I would appreciate any information you may have gathered from persons actually involved with the banishment and not hearsay information.

Thanking you in advance.