Roman Grucz (SH-104) Campaign Update

by: tcmatt

Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 23:08:20 PM EDT

GT County Board Passes Controversial Parking Deck

by: tcmatt

Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 17:23:53 PM EST

Supporters argued that a taxpayer-funded deck would help encourage the development of a cancer research center. However, Mark Anthony, senior vice president of Munson Medical Center, stated the hospital's plans for a cancer center are not dependent on the parking deck. Rather, the deck would only influence the location of the research center.

Supporters also believe the deck would help improve the quality of life in the region. In reality though, the Grand Traverse County Brownfield Authority wants to fund the deck by using $9 million in local taxes.

Grand Traverse County Commission Candidates

by: philgoblue

Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 08:47:28 AM EDT

Bernie Soutar, County Commissioner - 1st District
Soutar wants more oversight over the septage treatment plant and the election of the Road Commission to prevent favoritism.

Ross Richardson, County Commission, 5th District
Richardson wants to end cronyism and make county government responsive and accountable to the public.

Phil Scott, County Commission, 8th District
Scott is running on ending the "good old boys" network in County politics.

Don Dierkes, County Commission, 9th District
Dierkes seems most interested in the environment, streamlining the Commission budget, and forging more openess on the Commission.

The Grand Traverse Democrats even have some information on their Township candidates (and also those higher up on the ticket)!  Great job folks!

Obama Economic Roundtable in Traverse City Tonight

by: philgoblue

Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 12:55:00 PM EDT

Michigan Policy Director Jenna Pilat to Hold Economic Roundtable Meeting in Traverse City

Barack Obama's Campaign for Change and Michigan Policy Director Jenna Pilat will host an Economic Roundtable meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10th, in Traverse City. Wednesday's roundtable discussion will address how the Michigan's economy has suffered under the failed Bush/McCain economic policies resulting in record unemployment rates in Michigan and highlight Obama's plan is to bring more jobs to Michigan.

Michigan Policy Director Jenna Pilat will also use the roundtable as an opportunity to discuss a recent report detailing how Michigan will benefit from Barack Obama's Economic policies.

Economic Round Table Discussion
with Michigan Policy Director Jenna Pilat
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
7:00 pm
Inside Out Art Gallery
229 Garland Street
Traverse City, Michigan 49684

Traverse City Bowlers for Obama on CNN

by: tcmatt

Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 12:14:21 PM EDT

Acme Township Voters Support Incumbents, Back Smart Growth

by: philgoblue

Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 10:05:56 AM EDT

Incumbent Supervisor Wayne Kladder (who was appointed supervisor last year after Bill Kurtz resigned) received 747 voted, easily defeating pro-developer challenger Noelle Knopf (one of the former Board members who were swept out of office in 2004), who finished with 477 votes.

Incumbent Clerk Dorothy Dunville received 787 votes, easily defeating challenger Pam Lewis who received 450 votes.

For Trustee, voters picked four out of a ballot that included six candidates:

* Incumbent Trustee Frank Zarafonitis, owner of the Bay View Inn, was the top vote-getter with 751 votes.
* Incumbent Trustee Paul Scott, a corrections sergeant at the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Department, received 746 votes.
* Incumbent Trustee Ron Hardin, an engineer, received 743 votes.
* Incumbent Trustee Erick Takayama, owner of Grand Traverse Organic Landscaping, received 691 votes.

Two Trustee candidates who ran as "pro-growth" (re: pro-developer) finished out of the top four and thus were not elected:
* Doug White received 601 votes.
* Tyler Veliquette received 523 votes.

The Treasurer's race was for an open seat, since former Treasurer Bill Boltres stepped down. Candidate Linda Lou Wikle, a township planning commissioner who owns an insurance agency, picked up 640 votes and defeated Nancy Edwardson, who received 501 votes.

Back in July, Kladder had summed up the goals of the current township board for Acme, a township of 4,332 people on the East Arm of the Grand Traverse Bay:

"We can't be all residential and agricultural like Old Mission Peninsula but we can create a village center like Traverse City. If you create a community that people will want to move to the businesses will follow."

Roman Grucz (SH-104) Campaign Update: July 6-13

by: tcmatt

Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 15:03:37 PM EDT

The Roman Grucz campaign had a really busy week. The National Cherry Festival took place in Traverse City. For the most part, the Cherry Festival is a tricky spot for campaigning because many people are tourists. However, the Cherry Royale Parade tends to gather a large number of local families. Candidates were not allowed to walk in Thursday's parade; nonetheless, the campaign handed out nearly 1,000 Roman Grucz balloons while people were waiting for the parade. By the time the parade started, nearly every child was holding a balloon or sporting a campaign sticker.

In addition, the Roman Grucz campaign canvassed around the Fife Lake area. Last weekend the campaign attended the July 4th Fife Lake Parade. Overall, the majority of households remembered Roman from the parade, and they wanted to know more about Roman and his policies. Without question, the July 4th parade helped establish name recognition. As a result, the canvassing was especially successful. The campaign plans on continuing to canvass around the Fife Lake area throughout the week. Also, Roman and his staff are hosting the Fife Lake Fish Fry on August 1st.

Areas outside of Traverse City are a major focus for the Roman Grucz campaign. Many of these areas are conservative, but aggressive campaigning opens the door for pulling off some upsets. Currently the campaign is reaching out to Independents and leaning Republicans. So far the results have been positive. The citizens of the 104th district are ready for a change, regardless of their political affiliations. Overall, Roman's message of honest government, environmental stewardship, and long-term economic growth is gaining serious ground.

On Saturday Roman attended the Governor's Breakfast in Traverse City. The Traverse City Democratic Party hosted the event, and numerous candidates were in attendance. Lt Gov. John Cherry continued his Great Lakes Tour, and he discussed the issue of water preservation. Sen. Carl Levin gave a terrific speech that highlighted some of the recent Congressional votes, and Party Chair Mark Brewer stressed the importance in voting for the judicial elections.

One of the highlights of the event was that local candidates were able to voice their message as well. Roman delivered a great speech that emphasized the need in electing strong voices at the local level. Also, Court of Appeals candidate Michael Kelly, U.S. Congressional candidate Andy Concannon (4th District), and numerous local candidates all mentioned the importance in the upcoming election. Certainly we need change in the White House, but we also need congressmen, state reps, judges, and local leaders who will stand up for working families. Ultimately, all of the candidates who attended the Governor's Breakfast are committed to putting this great state back on the right track.

Below are pictures from the Governor's Breakfast. The campaign looks forward to posting more updates throughout the election season.  

Judge Allows Lawsuits by Township Officials Against Meijer in the Acme case

by: philgoblue

Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 22:13:55 PM EDT

The Acme officials agreed in November to release Meijer from litigation over alleged harassment and intimidation. But that was before Meijer acknowledged violating state campaign laws through its involvement in two local elections dealing with its development plans. The Secretary of State of Michigan fined Meijer more than $190,000 in May for those campaign violations.

You may remember that earlier, Meijer and The Village at Grand Traverse sued Carstens and other township officials on three different occasions over zoning disputes related to their development proposals along M-72. And then they spent tens of thousands of dollars to illegally fund a recall campaign against the Acme township officials that opposed their plans.  Then Terri Lynn Land short-circuited the probe of Meijer's War on Acme (something even Mike Cox argued against), which prompted the Traverse City Record-Eagle to write:

Her decision proved what most observers thought all along -- Land values the political and monetary clout Meijer can provide her future political career more than she does the law, more than she does Michigan voters and more than her oath of office. She can take the "for sale" sign down; the deal has been struck.

Any lawsuit certainly could bring new revelations to light ... and that would be a good thing.  Businesses simply cannot be allowed to use their vast economic power to intimidate the public's representatives.

Roman Grucz (SH-104) Campaign Kick Off Event

by: tcmatt

Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 20:07:22 PM EDT

According to Grucz, the economy, the environment and education are three issues that Michigan must aggressively address. Speaking to supporters, he stressed that:

"We must work hard to both keep the jobs we have and to bring new jobs to Northern Michigan. We need to demand that neighborhood schools be promoted and preserved, we must demand equal per pupil school funding, and we have to fight to preserve our water, our forests and our natural environment. Above all else we must start making smart decisions for Michigan and our children's future."

Roman and his dedicated campaign staff.

The Roman Grucz campaign is committed to winning the 104th seat this November. To know more about Roman and his campaign, please visit our new Facebook page, or check out our website. The website is currently being redesigned, and should be updated shortly.

The 104th State House District encompasses all of Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties. The seat is an open one due to term limits. Below are more pictures from the event.  

19th Annual Grand Traverse Community Earth Day Parade.

by: LisainManistee

Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 22:02:23 PM EDT

I didn't think I'd have much to report upon for last weekend, since I was to spend the weekend with my niece and nephews, but as usual I was wrong...

Much to my surprise the kiddos had big political plans for me this weekend, as they had already committed to take part in the 19th Annual Grand Traverse Community Earth Day Parade. An event that I was completely unaware of until they told me we were going, so it seems that on some issues children are better informed than I am. :-)

The day was cold, windy and wet, yet the abysmal weather didn't seem to depress the turn out that much as far as I could see... I'd estimate that there were between 250 and 300 people participating in the parade and 14 dogs (I know this because my nephew Devin counted the dogs.).

More Pictures and information about the Grand Traverse Community Earth Day Parade below the fold.

Stormy has the latest on the Meijer-Acme scandal at MichLib

by: philgoblue

Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 13:34:51 PM EDT

In an update to a story I brought you last week, the Traverse City Record-Eagle has published an editorial calling on Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land to launch a real (as opposed to toothless) investigation into alleged campaign finance violations in the Meijer-Acme fiasco.  

Read the rest over at the mothership.