State & County Civic & Political Matters

Stop blaming Granholm
Whether or not Governor Granholm had hoped for an Obama cabinet appointment, she's stuck in Michigan through 2010. And her "You'll be blown away" boast comes back to haunt her as does Bush's "Mission Accomplished" banner. I have long bristled at what I consider her forever preening before audiences, and I agree with Senate Minority Leader Mike Bishop's comment, "Jennifer Granholm likes to be governor more than she likes to govern." But it is unfair to blame her for the state's macro economic despair. No governor, no president, can press a magic button and quickly turn the economy around.
-- Dec 08

At the Library Forum
Retail politics gives voters a look at candidates

Attending a League of Women Voters candidate forum is a bit like attending a school play. Not in content, but in the fact that most people in the audience are supporters of the candidates, just as most people in the school audience are friends and families of members of the cast. Issues aside, watching each candidate for an hour -- answering questions, reacting to other candidates, relating to the audience, interacting with individuals when mingling, or not, before and after the formal meeting -- provides a "take" on the candidate which no amount of literature, or press coverage, or sound bites can deliver.

As one editorial writer for left-of-center The New Republic wrote, "I have not yet been asked for my vote by a candidate who represents the entirety of my convictions." Said another way, unless one is a single-issue voter, the choice has to be made either by party or by persona.

The first hour of this 2-hour forum was with candidates for County Commissioner. The second hour was with candidates for State Representative.

County Commissioner
Attending candidates were Republican Jean Chamberlain and Democrat Dave Woodward, incumbent, running for the District 18 spot (Royal Oak), and Democrat Gary McGillivray running in District 24 (Madison Heights), his opponent didn't show.

The candidates' answers to questions from the audience pretty much reflected the themes they submitted for the Voter Guide published by the League of Women Voters Oakland Area, fiscal responsibility being the dominant theme as they agreed and disagreed about everything from mass transit to urban sprawl and from water fees to health care. They differed more in demeanor: Chamberlain, running for her first public office, overcame her initial nervousness while reading her opening statement and became direct and forceful answering questions. Woodward, drawing on his experience as an incumbent, was confident with a tendency to dwell in details. He and Jean agreed with each other several times, disagreed on two or three matters. McGillivray's tone was remarkably tentative for one who has been councilman and mayor of Madison Heights, but his command of substance came through anyway. All three candidates seem to agree that South Oakland County remains relatively neglected by Pontiac-based government. While answering questions, Chamberlain and McGillivray many times gave brief answers, once or twice a simple yes or no. Woodward used up his entire minute every time.

Woodward is chairman of the Oakland County Democratic Party. During the switch in forums, he encountered former Royal Oak Mayor Dennis Cowan, who is Chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party. The two party chairmen rushed off together to plot something sinister.

Michigan State Representative (District 26)
At the table were Democrat Marie Donigan, incumbent; Republican Michael Goodman; and Libertarian James Young. The audience for this hour was half that for the County Commissioner forum.

On substance: Donigan hit hard on establishing a "world class public transportation system." Goodman sees the need for "creating good-paying jobs," largely by reducing taxes. Young was not reluctant to say "no" several times, in keeping with his libertarian principle of "good, but small" government. As is true for the candidates for county commissioner, their philosophical premises are described in the LWVOA Voter Guide. The audience perked up when the candidates were asked a triple question -- about abortion, stem cell amendment, and legalizing medical marijuana. Goodman and Young are pro-life, anti-stem cell amendment, and pro-legalizing medical marijuana. Donigan is pro-choice, pro-stem cell amendment, and pro-legalizing medical marijuana.

Incumbent Donigan's opening statement was strong, and her replies to questions were assertive. Twice she answered a question before it had been completely voiced by the forum moderator. Goodman exhibited the tentativeness of a newcomer while reading his opening statement, but he was quietly confident in answering questions, even when once or twice his answer was that he didn't have an answer. Young was emotional both in his opening statement and in his replies. He was gut-level demonstrative, whether his answer was affirmative, negative, or agnostic.

The League of Women Voters moderators/timers were Huntington Woods resident Judy Bateman and Royal Oak resident Jerry Burden. The forums were videoed and can be seen on the respective WOW community channels in Royal Oak and Madison Heights, as well as on the Library website. -- Oct 2008

Way to go, Gilda!
Democratic State Senator Gilda Jacobs is seeking to repeal or modify Michigan's blue law which makes it illegal to sell alcohol before noon on Sunday. Those of us who shop on Sunday morning won't have to make another trip to the grocery store to get that bottle of wine for dinner. Not really a hardship, but certainly an unnecessary mandated inconvenience which does nothing to protect public health and safety. Jacobs's bill would permit municipalities to keep or enact local blue laws which their voters approve. Gilda says that 35 states have already eliminated Sunday alcohol bans. For Royal Oak context re alcoholic thoughts, see "Social drinkers of the world, Unite!"
-- 02 Jul 08

Bad Move
Providing name recognition for the opposition
I am among those who concluded that one series of TV ads by the Blanchard campaign helped elect Engler. "Engler" was voiced or written repeatedly during the attack ads, and "Blanchard" only once or twice, if at all. The Republicans couldn't have bought as much name recognition as those ads produced among undecided voters.

For this November's election, the Michigan Republican Party may be making a similar error. I'm looking at a direct mail piece from the Republican Party with a picture of the Democrat candidate for U.S. Representative and his name prominent on the obverse side. On the reverse side I see his name in the biggest type, in red.

It is common knowledge that anyone not already politically decided glances at such direct mail and tosses it. Here, that glance provides name recognition for the opposition. One has to stop and read the piece to pick up on the political message. Bad move. -- FJV: Oct 2006

Michigan takes a step toward no-reason absentee voting
A Lansing proposal to permit "early voting" is seen as a step toward no-reason absentee voting, which some see as the way to increase voter participation. Early voting permits a voter, during a specified period of time before Election Day, to fill out the ballot in the clerk's office after providing appropriate ID. Twenty-three states use early-voting, according to a recent news report.

Although 26 states already permit no-reason absentee voting, opponents of the concept cite occasional fraud as a reason to reject it. In Colorado, for example, 122 voters cast absentee ballots, then voted again on Election Day during a statewide election. (From memory, VersagiVoice thinks that one state in the Pacific Northwest conducts all its voting by mail, a process which would guard against double-voting.)

Voice wonders whether, even without prior State action, cities can establish universal mail-voting for local elections, a practice we have already suggested for public school-related issues. 07 April 2005


§ Independence Township is considering replacing its township supervisor with a hired township manager. Proponents of the move claim that hiring a manager will provide professionalism. Opponents counter that if the elected supervisor's performance is found lacking, the voters can replace him.

§ Clawson's City Council is noodling about allowing video gambling machines at businesses and private clubs. Ignoring the stark hypocrisy of banning private gambling in a state which collects millions of dollars through state-sponsored gambling, the city's Puritans see a "statewide gambling problem."

 

Michigan moves toward absentee voting