My Third Ward City Council Campaign Flyer

[XLFD]

Most of the local political races in Mason County were resolved in August, making the November election mostly anticlimactic.  All county races that were contested, were decided in the primaries, because only Republicans ran (other than Prosecutor Spaniola, who was the only one seeking his seat). 

In the City of Scottville, a recent forum had Councilor Connie Duncil and Ex-Councilor Ed Hahn square off in their contested race:

You will notice these two differ on most everything they discuss in the course of this debate, Hahn being the reform/change vote, Duncil being the defender of the status quo.  As usual, the questions asked were fashioned almost totally devoid of salience, designed to try to make the orthodox incumbent look good, or trip up the challenger.  The audience had some thoughtful questions.

The newpaper will have a debate in Ludington for the three contested positions.  The position of Mayor was opened up when former Mayor Ryan Cox abdicated his seat to get out of town so that he could get a home to have enough room for his family.  Running are two sitting city councilors, Kaye Holman and Gary Castonia, and a Scottville teacher out of the Fourth Ward named Cheri Stibitz-Rozelle.  They all had a general overview in Friday's edition.

The councilor-at-large position features two candidates, narrowed down from four in the primary, and they were feature in Saturday's edition:  COLDNews Brandy Henderson:  “I think our community is at a critical point and we really need members on the city council who have progressive attitudes." and COLDNews: David Buskirk:  “A lot of people make choices in life and the way I was brought up was to serve people."  It seems to mirror the presidential race.

Then there is the Third Ward council position where incumbent Les Johnson face impudent upstart, me.  Les Johnson has served the City of Ludington for five years after being appointed to the position in 2011, and has never raised a ripple or clearly stated a position that wasn't in clear lockstep with the city's direction.  I have done otherwise.

If you like someone with loyalty to his peers, you like all that is happening in Ludington, and you live in the Third Ward (west of Rowe St., South of Haight St.), then vote for him.  Otherwise, consider voting for me; here is a flyer I have drawn up to express my positions:  WHY AM I.docx.  If you don't have the capacity to view such documents, the following is what it says.  As you can see, I plan on changing the city's perspective and representing the folks if I am lucky enough to win:

WHY AM I, TOM ROTTA, RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCILOR OF LUDINGTON?

The PM Bayou in November 2012, just before a sewer pipe leak dumped millions of gallons of raw sewage into it.  City Manager Shay admittedly bypass-pumped much of this sewage into the bayou without any authorization, nor did he ever properly notify the State DEQ or local health department

My yard signs give three general reasons:  Clean water, Clean Air, and Clean Government. 

Do you wonder why the overwhelming smell of sewer gas over two miles away from the wastewater treatment plant existed for a couple of months earlier this year and what effect it had on our community's health?  So do I, and believe the answer falls in the lack of any rigorous maintenance on the plant performed through the years, negligence that has been costly while our city goes tens of millions of dollars in debt to correct the problem, debt that will be reflected in your sewer bills nearly doubling over the next couple of years. 

This neglect is a result of a lack of focus in our city leadership on the basics.  Resources are directed towards seeking public money writing grants for private concerns, developing master plans based more on threats of climate change rather people-oriented concerns, sinking millions of dollars into changing Stearn's Park into something other  than the scenic wonder it is, and overspending our money by ignoring the competitive bidding process repeatedly.

Many of our small businesses have been under attack by City Hall, as have their customers.  Rental inspections were almost unanimously derided last year by landlords, tenants and others alike as redundant, unwanted, and a costly tax.  Inspections were approved, so now tenants have to effectively pay a tax for a city official to violate their right to be secure from unreasonable searches in their homes.   I respect the Bill of Rights, the current council doesn’t.

Meanwhile, the city admittedly bypass-pumped hundreds of thousands of gallons of raw sewage into the PM Bayou in 2012, where many of these private marinas operate.  Do they help with any cleanup of the millions of gallons of raw sewage?  Nope, they didn't even properly notify the state DEQ or the county health department as they are mandated to do, so that these agencies have no record that this event ever happened.  Until now; I will see justice is served.

I could mention many other public policy issues that have come to the forefront as I have at the 100+ city council meetings I have went to and spoke at, not only about these and many other problems, but also of reasonable solutions more in tune with the community we are.  Ludington is a unique place, it should not be changed in character by a wanna-be cosmopolitan clique made up to the main by people not native to our area using us as a petri dish. 

With your help and support, we can clean up the mess that has been mostly swept under the rug over these last few years.  My opponent, incumbent Les Johnson, is hopelessly out of touch, following discredited city leaders in lockstep and using his public positions to directly and corruptly benefit his former business.  Expect more, not Les.

You may wonder why city hall has been draining more of your money and rights over the last few years and providing less coverage for your health and safety, you need only look at the record of what our city leaders have been focusing their resources on, and what they neglect.  I will insist they refocus themselves back on the basics if elected or not.  Primary public interests for the people of Ludington, not corrupted idolatry of special interests now prevalent at city hall. 

For five years, I have had a better attendance record at city council meetings than any of the councilors, while fighting against rampant corruption, unhealthy policy, and wasteful spending; fighting for the rights of my fellow citizens.  Make your voice heard.

IF YOU WANT TRANSPARENCY, IF YOU WANT ACCOUNTABILITY, AND IF YOU WANT YOUR CITY COUNCILOR WORKING FOR YOU, NOT WORKING AGAINST YOU, VOTE FOR ME, TOM ROTTA, FOR THIRD WARD COUNCILOR.

[jfc123]

Sure wish we could vote for you Tom! That pic of the PM Bayou is heartbreaking! But we 100% support you!

[XLFD]

That picture was taken by Willy just one week before 2 million gallons of raw sewage went into it.  Remember, if the Washington Street Bridge was a dam (and the other drains were plugged up), the water level of the bayou would have went up three feet due to that spill.  A lot of the nasty stuff would have settled in the low-leveled bayou for awhile.  

Contrary to what the city manager claims, the health department would have never waived E. Coli testing given the true parameters of this crisis, nor are there any records or name of an official who did that.  This will all come out in further investigation into this.

[AQUAMAN]

You need to bring all these matters to the attention of the audience and LDN at the arts center mtg. Tuesday nite. I would also challenge the incumbent Johnson to a town mtg. debate where audience members ask questions to the candidates. If he declines just harp on how he has been appointed, not elected to begin with, and follows the status-quo when voting. Did he keep his promise to reinstate the Lifeguards, and many other empty promises he pledged before.

[XLFD]

The dilemma at this debate will be to process the questions the moderators ask appropriately.  As the moderators are from the COLDNews and the Chamber of Commies (two staunch defenders of the status quo), I believe the questions will be geared to make Les look as good as possible, and me look as bad as possible. 

My task will be to try and answer the questions in a way that I can actually get some of my positive messages out, and illustrate why the direction the city is following is not as positive as it's portrayed.  I did look at Les' positions in 2011, and he did want to get lifeguards, but he was wishy washy on the topic, wanting to charge for parking at Stearn's to pay for it.  The city eventually will choose a more expensive option by hiring the beach patrol to write tickets in the parking lots.

[Brad]

I know you'll be most prepared on the stage and the most due respect.  But they are for status quo, so be ready for ridicule, to counter LDN "Rotta" opinions, and defend The Torch.  Also look forward to your report on the forum as a whole.  (and rebuke their comments after they troll my comment)

[XLFD]

Thanks for your encouragement, I hope I do not let you down.  I'm nervous as all get out.

[Willy]

Good luck X. That's a well written flyer.