November 2024 Guide for Local Voters (Late Edition Addition)

We promised a later edition of a voter's guide when we published our early edition and with only a few days left of early voting and the actual Election Day on Tuesday, November 5th on the way, here it is.  Note, early voting in Michigan will continue over the weekend, but not on Monday, as they brace for the next day.

We did attend the candidate forum and kept our ears open there and since in order to update that material and give you our most earnest assessment.  Instead of starting at the top of the ticket, we'll look first at the local races and go up from there, much like the forum's method.  Feel free to supply your own commentary and forgive us for our bias towards candidates with truth, transparency, and trust on their side.

Unfortunately for the public, candidates for township, city, and county contested positions were only able to give two-minute introductions at the forum.  Because of this, I held a negative opinion against those candidates who didn't show up, as they foolishly lost the ability to define themselves to a large audience for free.

Thus, when Ron Soberalski and Megan Tresnyak were the only PM Township trustee candidates to show up, they earned my respect even before both gave spirited presentations.  Of the three other candidates vying for four spots, Rasmussen appears to be the weakest, though James Nordlund will always have another county spot to fill in his other uncontested county race.  No change on our earlier recommendations.

For the Ludington School Board, candidates Winczewski and Ashley failed to show up, the other three noted did, and we were most impressed with Neuschwander, while the other two showed promise.  Check McCormick as your second choice if you want more change on the school board, Foster if you don't want to lose who is currently the most conscientious trustee.

For the Scottville (Mason County Central) school board, two names are on the ballot:  Nicole Birkett and Nicole Sherretz.  These two will assuredly get in despite their qualifications but there is one open spot and three qualified write-in candidates.  Margaret Greiner gave a moderated, yet spirited introduction at the forum promising that she would bring some accountability and transparency to the board.  As the Ludington Torch thinks that this would be the best write-in choice by far, we will not even consider the other two in our analysis.

In addition, Marta Greenslait introduced herself as one of the Hamlin Township supervisor candidates, her opponent, Drew Poll skipped out.  One of the best introductions of the night, she should be strongly considered for her experience and confidence. 

Both Fifth Ward councilor candidates for Ludington showed up and Mike Shaw indicated he would bring greater transparency to the city, Wally Cain gave the usual platitudes.  In a council where change is needed but rarely achieved, Shaw is one piece of that needed change.

As we noted before, no candidates on the ballot for Ludington treasurer, but now there are four folks that have signed a declaration intent to run as a write-in, the best candidate being Tom Rotta, who in full disclosure is at the head of the Ludington Torch's editor board-- and writing this guide.  Of the three other candidates, two are the wives of current city officials with no experience as city treasurers, and the other is somebody who does not show up on the Ludington voter rolls and seems to be based in California, with links to some curious international companies.  Rotta has a master's degree in mathematics, runs two locally based businesses, has lived in Ludington over the last two millennia, and does not snuggle up to other city officials each night.  He will also make sure that the new city administration will do things properly and lawfully as concerns budgets and taxation.  

We stand by our recommendations for the 102nd Michigan district and the other state races, including the 101st district which covers three Mason County townships:  vote your party preference.  If you are an independent, or cannot stand your party's choice, choose who you think is the better person or skip it.  I see few candidates in this election cycle at these levels (including those at the forum) who are truly inspirational or have crossover appeal.  

As for the top of the ticket, there's not really much of a choice as we noted in our early guide.  The Kamala Harris campaign continues to rely only on lies about her opponent and his policies.  When she does talk policy, it's totally unworkable in the real world or generally and obviously exacerbates other problems.  And when she makes one supposedly profound statement, it just shows her own hypocrisy.  For example, this ad shows a comment she made at the one debate and has highlighted since in many ads:

If she actually thinks this way, and there's nothing wrong with thinking this way if you are consistent about it, then how does she explain her position on vaccine requirements.  If one believes "my body, my choice", then how do you justify her position during this last term:

From the New York Post on October 5, 2024:  "Harris for President requires all employees to be ‘up to date’ on COVID-19 vaccination status as prescribed by the CDC as a condition of employment...Additional postings on Harris’ campaign website indicates the rules also apply to all jobs offered by the Democratic National Committee as well."

If a candidate uses as a tagline that Americans, not the government, should make decisions about what they do with (or inject into) their body, then why is your campaign still practicing vaccine mandates?  When nobody yet knows who actually selected you as the final 2024 Democratic presidential candidate and your secret is compounded by lies and promises/policies that just won't work, how can you believe you have truth, transparency and trust coming to power when voting for her?  Trump isn't perfect, but at least he has worked at McDonalds and isn't a chronic liar.  

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Permalink Reply by Willy on Monday

Excellent work X. Thanks for taking the time and researching the candidates. I like your choice for Treasurer.

Permalink Reply by Willy on Tuesday

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