The Place Where Ludington Talks
Rebel Without a Badge
I know this person who got a bad rap from his local City Hall. He had worked on the local fire department for years. He was accused of an infraction of the law, which really wasn't breaking the law. He fought the accusation of wrongdoing, and would up losing his public service job. He and the City Manager had a very public battle over various issues that the person had with City Hall. This person was so disgusted with local politics that he decided to run for office.
No, I am not talking about myself in the third person, I am talking about my fellow rebel, former police chief/current asst. fire chief of Wayland, Dan Miller. Where is Wayland, and who the heck is Dan Miller? Wayland is a community half the size of Ludington (4000 noses) south of Grand Rapids in Allegan County, and we had visited it often this spring, following the interesting political fight that occurred with their City Hall and Chief Miller.
The Ludington Torch first introduced it as a curiosity in wayward-and-waylaid-in-wayland we commented further on it in the-tail-wayland-the-dog, did some research ourselves and put out foia-follies-wayland reminding us that small town City Halls don't like question-askers. We pointed out crazy policy of the retired and retiring City Manager's final punchline hoffmeyer-s-april-fool-s-joke and put out some unadulterated praise with the review of Dan Miller's sparkling personnel file Small Town Hero. In true heroic fashion, he has took it upon himself to run for mayor of Wayland to fight for transparency and help fix the problems that everyone-- who is not part of the problem-- sees.
So if you weren't following the Torch then and need some background, check out those in depth along with the links therein provided. But a couple months ago, Dan, via his significant other Shawn had dropped me a line about coming up north to take a look at our area and talk about things with me. I had been corresponding with them at times, and found the opportunity to meet with someone who I consider a hero (not only for his past, but for confronting City Hall bullies) and who has a similar background to me enticing. I was also intrigued by his paramour and her back story, along with her meeting and talking with my girl and them swapping battle stories of those who stand by their stubborn partner when they dare to stand up to City Hall.
We met at the local Taco Bell parking lot, he was spot on time. They immediately ingratiated themselves to me by giving me a t-shirt signifying I was part of the "Miller Mafia". I thought it was very considerate, given I usually wear the same old shirts to City Council meetings. We then embarked on a roundabout journey around the county in the Chief's vehicle, me serving as Sacajawea. We wound up at the Ludington State Park, where we leisurely took the Island Trail. During this time we talked casually about things.
We checked out other areas out there, came back cruised around Ludington City for a little while checking out some of the local points of interest, then headed down to the Buttersville peninsula and the Pump Storage Project. Hungry by this time, we dropped by the Old Hamlin in downtown Ludington, where they once again ingratiated themselves by picking up the tab against my mild protestations.
By the time we were done eating, about six hours had passed, and they had stayed beyond what they had planned. We begrudgingly went back to the Bell, made plans to meet again in the future down in his territory and bade them a fond farewell.
Dan impressed me greatly with his personality and his affable nature, the charisma that a mayor should always have up his sleeve. But he coupled it with an 'everyman' quality which made talking with him feel like you weren't talking with someone who had been the police chief of a town for 35 years. I normally couldn't carry on a 'natural' dialog with anyone I just met for six hours, but there was never any dearth of topics to discuss, most of which was not about our own travails or future with the Cities we serve. Shawn had shown herself as very clever and a force to be reckoned with on her own, but also a very loving and supportive partner for the mayor candidate.
These weren't phony people, they weren't up here for anything other than to get away from their area and to talk with someone who could understand what they have been going through the last couple of years. When I pressed him about what he will offer the voters of Wayland at the end of our repast, he replied simply: transparency. I believe him, because if he and Shawn had been any more transparent that day, I wouldn't have been able to make them out from the background. This is the type of guy I would love to have for mayor or police chief here; a Sheriff Andy Taylor whose good-natured demeanor is accompanied by a serious devotion to the rules, even if his superiors ignore or twist them for their own benefit.
If the City Hall of Wayland feared his dedication to the townsfolk and the law before when he was the police chief, just wait and see what may happen if he becomes mayor. Maybe then, when the chief executive (City Manager) is fired, the citizens of Wayland will hear about what the story is. Maybe then, when the chief of police is fired, they will get something other than a long list of non-issues from some mercenary City Manager. The two-term incumbent Mayor Tim Bala should be upended just on those grounds of secrecy and continued secrecy on issues that need to be broadcast to the people.
But the City Council's and Mayor Bala's silence on these issues, and silence before the throngs of Wayland citizens who came forth to question these firings should announce loudly and clearly, that they no longer wish to represent the people, and they should be replaced with the three citizens coming forward to try and replace them, with Dan Miller in the vanguard, who promise transparency and answers to all. Not more obstacles and more questions. Keep your fingers crossed that Ludington will be blessed with those who care enough to replace the Old Guard in our City Hall. Read more here about these patriots: http://www.wayland.townbroadcast.com/content/city-government-transp...
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by XLFD on
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I see cloning as the most likely possibility. He enjoyed the area while he was here, but he's been loyal to Wayland all his life, so I don't see us getting him up this way until maybe he decides to retire from public service. If elected, I hope he serves just a couple of two year terms at most down there before he gets out of the mayor biz.
If he loses, and he wants a breather, and has his fill (no pun intended) of things down there, we do have some inexpensive real estate up this way, and there may be openings at the top of the City roster fairly soon.
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Permalink Reply by Sue Weimer on
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Awesome article. Your awesome.
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Yes Chief Miller is as well Awesome....Wish I could help him in some way in Wayland...But not living there it is hard for me to cast my vote....But if I could I would...
We all could use a man like him in our town....
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Wayland's politics continues to be interesting, a local business declaring it has been blackballed by the posting of two election signs for the "outsiders" in the election, Rose and Miller. I know how this goes; I avoided even approaching the business district when I was campaigning last year, because I knew whoever had one of my signs would be outcast by the downtown clique and City Hallers. This is why someone who has approved putting so much tax dollars to the downtown like three term Mayor John Henderson, has a major advantage over any opponent who hasn't. The problem is, when you put all the tax money towards one area, the rest of the areas suffer. http://www.mlive.com/wayland/index.ssf/2012/10/wayland_business_own...
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It's sad, petty, and so childish... I ate at that restaurant once when passing through as I was hoping to get a glimps of the legend known as DAN MILLER. The owner's were nothing but nice and friendly and the food was GREAT! Too bad she's not getting judged on HER presence in the community rather than being judge by some closed minded individuals who are starting to PANIC. Keep up the good work Alicia. You do a fine job and have a great menu.
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As you youself said in the blog i am responding to. "I know how this goes; I avoided even approaching the business district" Well the guy you hold in such high esteem. (Dan Miller) Did not. In fact the place of business in this article, is directly across the street from the polling station. The polling station alone is questionable. The fire station? Where Dan Miller works! As far as I'm concerned the playing fields are uneven from that alone.
I don't know how you got so deeply involved in this one. Similarities to your case in ludington cannot be it. If it is you've been taken to the deepest depth of bullshit,anybody can imagine. Your case and what happened to you is like nite and day to this one. Miller is nothing short of "Something wicked this way comes". Don't even try to explain your point of view with me, on this one,save it for the few other blood suckers, leeches, sypathetic,sypathy mongers, their all the same to me. (especially the first two)
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Permalink Reply by Willy on
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Clark
I'm guessing that you know a lot about this situation. Would you care to post some specifics about what is going on and let us know why you have these opinions about Mr. Miller. I don't know him but would be interested to hear your side of the story. What exactly is going on that we haven't heard about?
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This came out of the Penasee Globe/mlive also. Quotes the new intirem chief of police. Now unless a well decorated cold case solving (28-30 year old cold case murder) Interim has it out for Dan, along with the person who quoted him in this article. I'd take it at face value, as to just how good a good guy chief you guys wish this Miller guy could be. Years of backlog, Complaints that go just as far back. Now who was in charge all those years? All's I'm saying even tho it all looks to you as one big circus, I believe the words are. "The end justifies the means." K sira, sira.
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Although it is probably too late to verify before the election, this would make a great FOIA request for Team Miller. Send a FOIA to the clerk asking to inspect the "tons of complaints that haven't been touched for years."
Interim Chief Slenk can provide these public records to the public to show his point, but I bet he won't, because this is a political statement to soothe his boss, who happens to be the City Manager whose bosses consists of the City Council. Didn't you just say something about a 'level playing field earlier'?
Show us the records, Interim Chief Slenky! I bet we don't even get a pound of untouched complaints, quite a bit less than "tons", but prove me wrong.
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XLFD, your a lost cause, this thing you run is the true circus. keep messin with the heads up there if you wish, take your legal mumbo jumbo and stick it up your wazoo. You can't or you refuse to see the truth staring you right in the eyes. Your in so deep. You don't even know how you got in so deep yourself. Argue all you want. To yourself. This ain't no joke. And you making lite of it is not funny. Your like the kid who always said "why can't I put the square peg in the round whole? Mom?"
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