This Thursday will mark two months until the August 8th primary election. We are now hitting the real start of the election season as local lawns are sprouting political signs faster than dandelions.
I have learned from past mistakes that the amount of yard signs for a candidate aren't a true measure of the success or lack thereof of their campaign. I remember thinking Becca Lukasiewicz stood a chance against Gary "the health industry lobby's best friend" Newell because of the large number of yard signs supporting her in my neck of the woods. Obviously, I underestimated the fact that so many would blindly cast the vote for the "R" no matter what and the fact that no amount of campaign hustling can overcome that disadvantage for a Democrat on the ballot in many parts of West Michigan. But this fall we will have a couple instances where the "R" isn't a factor- in the 87th House race between a gaggle of Republicans seeking to replace the term-limited Lobbyist's Best Friend as well as the prosecutor's race featuring the appointed Julie Nakfoor-Pratt and challenger Tom Evans.
It seems the prosecutor's race has heated up early with both candidates spending a decent amount on yard signs and getting them out to supporters around Barry County- especially inside Hastings. It looks like Nakfoor-Pratt is willing to spend what it takes to keep her job as on some streets it looks like every other house has a sign for her. The signs, by the way, are almost unreadable from the street consisting of small letters against a white background so unless you know what they are for I'm not sure it's doing any good. I guess that's the drawback of a hyphenated name, but I would have suggested she make Julie in big letters or else just put the name on three lines so it could at least be legible from a distance. I guess Evans is lucky to have such a short name as his signs are clearly seen from a distance. I also think the bold white on red was a better color choice and attracts the eye. It also helps he went with a sans serif font that is plain and bold. Once again, I'm not sure if any of this makes any quantifiable distance come election day but we all know how important every vote can be when the ballots are counted so it surely cannot hurt to have a better looking sign than your opponent.
The 87th House District race hasn't seen the same type of action- at least not yet. The only candidate whose signs I've seen so far is Susan Vlietstra. I can't really compare the quality of the signs to any other candidates' since I have to see any from the rest of the pack including Brian Calley whose been running since he born, or so it seems. Vlietstra's also the only one I have yet to see a billboard for- though that was a tiny thing between Hastings and Middleville that could hardly be seen from anyone inside a car travelling 50-60 mph as most do along M-37. I expect in the next week or two we'll see a couple other candidates' names showing up in area yards.
Once again, the presence of signs or lack thereof bodes little for candidates' chances in August, but it does give us something to talk about as we wait for the campaign rhetoric to heat up and candidates to start slinging mud and trying to gather enough votes to push them over the goal line in August. And in a district where no polling data is available, yard signs are one of the few tools we have to measure the amount of support a candidate has before the results are announced. For political junkies and informed citizens like me and you, it's all we have until the debates...
The original blog covering Barry County and West Michigan's political scene.
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31 comments:
I'm intriqued by your "appointed" rather than "annointed" status of Ms Julie! I'm still undecided, open to all input! No way we can judge her as an incumbent! Not enough time to judge her Prosecutorial abilities?? She's been running for election from the beginning! Judge Fisher "played" us as the "clique" always does!
Newell was pro-health? Personally didn't feel he was pro anything but a paycheck! How do you go from a meek Post "Commander" to someones "Best Friend." He certainly didn't impress anyone with his police abilities, neither did DeBore, Nystrom, Neil! Geez, is this the State Patrols Retirement Heaven? We're so stupid we vote because "they must be good." Check latest prisoner escapes (Ionia). Then check Middle Lake "surrender", where the "surrender" was really the perp walking into the State Patrol Office, on his own, while they had his house "surrounded." How bout the guy up north, escaped from their "surrounded" house, only to be shot dead a week later after escaping. We're all humans, no such thing as "Troopers."
Have to go with Susan, if Calley thinks his name alone will get him in there!
How bout a yard sign "No mo Highway Patrol cops!" Has anyone seen that guy driving around in that pickup with the sign in his pickup bed "threatening" you with a $65.00 fine for no seat belt??????? Thought I saw him going through Wendy's in Smallville #1.
Have you seen his stickers? Says, "vote for Tom". Just think if DeVos had "Vote for *@#&". At lease Nakfor-Pratt tried something different
A vote for Pratt for prosecutor is a vote for the legalization of drugs. She has single-handidly removed punishment from drug crimes in this county. If evans comes forward with a strong platform of anti crime/drugs he will get every vote other than those who blindly vote or those who trully do want to have illegal drugs in this county. i bet many of those Pratt for Prosecutor signs that have sprouted in yards will disappear once the news of what she does for drug dealers gets out.
Julie may be a nice person but she does lack the strength to stand up to the stronger criminal element, thats for sure. She would make a better number two in that office than the lead person. Leaving her in the spot she is in will bring disasterous results in a short time. The best thing for her to do would be to quietly bow out of this as the mud that is headed her way will sting for a long time.
Considering the collosal failure that is the "War on Drugs," (it might as well be called the "Law Enforcement Employment Act") maybe it's time we considering legalization or at least decriminalization. Granted that's surely too radical for the big-government conservatives that make up the Republican Party now.
Indianapolis mass murder, seven family members gunned down. Suspect turns himself in. Just got out of prison for Drugs and Weapons charges. Good questions here for the Prosecutors Debate. Are we going to have a revolving door of justice (Business as Usual)? How tough are you going to be? Will one of these "3 1/2 years in prison" criminals come out in Barry County and gun down one of our families?? We need to keep these criminals in prison for their full sentences. The New State Legislators should lead the charge to do away with "sentencing guidelines," which only serve to slap the criminal on the hand, and give him/her a shorter sentence. Let these jerks know there is no debate, they're going to prison for a very long time, no "good time" early outs!
More prisons will create more jobs. More importantly, our communities will be safer. A meth head discharged from prison will not likely change. Oh sure, cry me a river, you can tell me all about "ONE" that straightened themselves out. So , we let 100 dangerous criminals out to reward the one who is able to rehabilitate?????? Sorry, you did the crime, now do the time! Or, don't do the crime! You made the Choice!
Let's here the candidates debate this issue. Put them against the wall!!!!
I don't really know about the other towns in this county, but I can honestly say I don't see Hastings as a harbor for "dope fiends".
Maybe I've had too much Nyquil, but I believe you people are off your rocker.
In order to sell what you are saying, you will have to terrorize all of the good citizens of the county by pointing out such horrible, and rare, stories as the one in Indianapolis.
BOO!
On the other hand maybe if Julie Nakfoor-Pratt were to have tie dye neon lawn signs, I could consider her soft on crime, and a menace to society!
Amen Crat!
Sure, Barry County is not perfect, but we don't live on Uncle Orwell's farm either.
Tom has hot pink and purple on his website. Did he figure since Julie wasn't using "girly" colors he should?
Aggnosticrat made a good point. You never hear of Hastings as the drug capital of the state. Read the police beat and see drug offenses but not thousands of bags of drugs. I think south west enforcement does a good job of keeping barry county under control.
shouldn't we be asking why Susan V and Tom are in bed together politically? Who is that a good move for?
I think sticking your head in the sand like the last 2 writers are doing is dangerous to say the least. they have obviously not kept up on Ms. Pratt's actions while in the lead prosecutors seat. Ms. Pratt has already demonstrated her softness on crime. The last writer claims to not have seen "thousands of bags of drugs" be siezed when in fact that is just what has happened. Last Halloween the Sheriff department made the years largest bust and netted 32 POUNDS. this was not only in the "Police Beat" but also was outlined in quite a large article in the paper. Pretending it is not happeneing in this county is downright dangerous. Ms. Pratt's actions letting them walk WILL lead others to do the same thing and will encourage more of the like. It is plain to seethat "legalizing" drugs is not the answer either. One only needs to work in our local emergency room a week and will change that opinion unles they are too burned out themselves. The human wreckage resulting from the illegal drugs in our own local county will open the most closed minds to the dangers on illegal drugs being "legalized". Just ask the family of that 13 year old girl that died not too long ago what they think. Do you think the mother of that girl is going to stand up and promote the very drugs that killed her daughter? And this is only the tip of the iceberg. Pot has become so prevalent in this county that we now need to bring in drug sniffing dogs into the schools to sniff lockers. I would say the availability of this poisen is already way to great and letting the local "king pins" off like Ms. Pratt has done will do nothing but greatly worsen an already bad situation. where is this going to stop? How many children will die and how many families will be destroyed before we will all unite behind a strong leader that will be willing to take the neccessary steps to protect us from this? Ms. Pratt has already demonstrated that she is not the one. Her way is to catch and release. Does she she think their own guilt will remedy ther ways? Does she not understand rehabilitation? Does she not understand that a repeat offender such as Timothy Wymer will only keep poisening our county? Remember he has already spent time in Jackson for doing this same thing. Does she think letting him go will make him refrain from returning to narcotics?
I think the answer here is pretty obvious. Ms. Pratt may be very nice as some say but lacks the spine to face down the extreme criminal elements that may and do come before her. She has had her time at bat and we will now suffer the penalty. Lets stem the tide here and replace her with somebody willing to stand up to this.
The looser who lit a cigarette while huffing gasoline is a great example of the stupidity of the war on drugs...Let's outlaw gasoline.
There are good reasons for considering either candidate for Barry County Prosecutor. But both are lackluster. Sems to be the norm here...a jackass or a dolt.
Pratt signs blossom in Hastings because the cops are putting them up...and have been observed repairing them...As for cops, wasting their time on seatbelt checkpoints when we are at 93% compliance shows what stupid money can do when stupid people get and spend it.
Susan & Tom share office space. Susan was Tom's treasurer for his Probate judge race. They are both in Middleville. Not sure if that constitues being in bed politically.
As far as Prosecutors race in general, I have to go with Tom. Tom has demonstrated his community roots. For all her time here and being "part-time in Allegan" Julie doesn't have the community credentials I'd like to see.
And people destroy their lives with alcohol as well, yet we saw how well Prohibition worked there too.
Take a pill Jac, nobody in this county is going to repeal drug laws anytime soon.
As for the little girl that died, I think we can all see how tragic that was. But she was not doing drugs because of Ms. Nakfoor-Pratt.
32 POUNDS of anything is excessive, and should be dealt with in a harsh manner. Huffing Gas... Bad!
But the point I was trying to make is that you are going to scare the bejeesus out of folk in this county by propping up such a overblown notion that this county is under seige by narco-terrorists.
Sure you may oust Nakfoor-Pratt from office, but the larger picture as seen by the rest of the state, and the nation will not be worth your rhetoric.
If you want to hit Nakfoor-Pratt on her conviction rate, go ahead. It should, and will be a good point of interest for voters. The rest is gobblety gook, meant to scare people into voting the way you want.
agnosticrat, I fully realize drug legalization/decriminalization isn't going to happen anytime soon. (after all Alaska just recriminalized personal possession of marijuana after 30 years of decriminalization). I'm just putting it out there for folks to think about, as I don't think it's the government's job to protect us from ourselves.
Actually, it is a very large part of the governments job to protect us from ourselvs. this is evidenced by speed limits, drunk driving laws, child support laws, building codes, assisted suicide laws, etc... Most of what government does is to regulate US to improve our lives from time to time. Yes, it is human nature to resist authority and I myself find it difficult at times. It is just that the alternative is a total breakdown in our society and I for one like our mostly safe, peaceful county. I look back at the small town I grew up in in the north part of the county. there were a group of young ment that would get drunk every weekend and raise absolute hell. the police would be called, the young men would sometimes end up sleeping it off in the local lockup, and then return to the area the next day or so. those same hell raisers are now business owners, good family men, or otherwise fine neighbors that I see several times a week and I for one am damn glad that they were prohibited from comepletely destroying themselves or my family durring that period in their lives. These are very good men that greatly improve my life.
Putting ones head in the sand and either claiming there is no serious drug problem in this county or to go so far as to concider legalizing drugs claiming the war on drugs is a failure will condemn many potentially fine people to death or worse, and I think I represent a large population locally that can see the fallicy of those arguements.
Mr. wymer was not "statewide" or nationwide" but was poisening us locally. He has a long history of doing that. Ms. Pratt undermined the laws in place to protect us from him. I had the fine opportunity to interact with Mr. Wymer prior to him going to jail this last time and will bet my house he will re offend. this guy will look you right in the eye and tell you that just the opposite from reality is true. there was absolutly no remorse for his crimes and more like pride that he managed to stare down authority and win. A little research revealed simular people committing simular crimes in other counties spend years in prison and only are released when they are too old to continue destroying others lives. Why does our county have to be subject to individuals like this? the answer is that we don't if we elect strong representitives to face these people and force them to be accountable for their behavior. Our sheriff department is capable and willing to do their part but to what end if the prosecutors office lacks the willpower to do theirs.
the bottom line here is that we did not like the last prosecutor as he was only there due to self interests. He was only interested in playing "king cheese" or "white knight" and did not have a clue what he really should be doing. His abrupt departure to go sell drugs legally appeared to be a breath of fresh air and an apparent second chance for our county. judge Fisher did the right thing and replaced him with a peacemaker but as history has shown, peacemakers are not trully successful at keeping the peace. It takes a very strong individual to keep the peace and Ms. Pratt does not possess that quality.
If you want to rip on someone's signs try Brian Reynolds. 1) They are TINY...so tiny a sneezing cat will blow them over. 2)You don't even notice them in yards as the green blends in with surroundings. 3)SO TINY
For the real scoop on the 7th District Congressional Republican primary showdown between incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz and challenger Tim Walberg, a former state representative from Tipton, see this blogger: www.adrianinsider.blogspot.com
Tim Wallberg?
Wasn't he in one of those eighties boy bands?
anonymous, I respectfully disagree with you. Especially given how woeful the criminal "justice" system is when it comes to actual treatment programs.
I'm certainly not going to say there's no harm from drugs or that people don't get themselves in a bad way. I just find it hypocritical that alcohol can have the same effect on people in terms of them destroying their lives, but we regulate it and tax it but these drugs over here, whoa we need to ban those.
And don't get me started on assisted suicide laws.
In my experience with both observation and administering treatment for drug dependant individuals, I will admit that the criminal justice system is "woeful". But the true reason is not the programs or those administering but the individuals being treated. The common thing for those dependant is a lack of willpower. that is what got them in to their situation in the first place. there is no good way to "teach" self control so the justice system is forced to at least attempt to treat with what is available. The fact that anyone is successful in pulling out of that lifestyle is a mirical in itself. It is a testament to both thier own strenght and the determination of those administering the treatment (courts, doctors, nurses, etc...).
Sorry about the triple redundancy, lol
That brings us back around to the legal system in that for those who lack the self control, morals of a reasonable society, ethics, or whatever you want to call it, the legal system must force it upon them in order to protect the rest of us. If one link of that chain is weak (Ms. Pratt) no control will be forced upon these offenders to our county and they will make an already bad situation much worse. We must insure that the efforts of our police, courts, and the entire system in general are not for nothing and repair the link that is broken. Like was said earlier, Ms. Pratt would make an excellent #2 in the prosecutors office but as lead prosecutor she lacks the strength to shoulder the responsibility. She in fact would make an excellent balance to a strong prosecutor that was secure with themselves. Her being so nice might threaten a weaker individual and therefore the two could not work together. Lets get her out of the position she is currently in and replace her with a competant individual not afraid to be moderated by her or somebody like her. She has served her purpose which was to bring stability back to the prosecutors office after it was destroyed by the previous pubicity hound but now it is time to install somebody much stronger.
Clearly we'll just have to agree to disagree. I don't believe the legal system is there to "cure" people of whatever illness they may have. Someone fires up a joint because they want to get high? Shouldn't be the concern of the legal system. Someone breaks into your house to steal things to support their fix? Sure, definitely punish that. Because in *that* case you're doing direct harm to someone else.
Hmmmm. Driving down the road high - and remember pot distorts perception and reaction more severely than alcohol - allowable or not? How young would you allow our youth to be for the right to destroy their lives as well as others? How does one isolate the users from the non users so that the long term detrimental effects are blocked from those choosing to abstain? We have all known people to be followers and leaders. How do we protect the followers from traveling the wrong path by using illegal drugs?
Until medical knowledge can totally reverse the effects of marrijuanna and the "system" can isolate those choosing to use, we will need strong enforcement of the current laws. I for one do not want my tax money used to alleviate the problems people incurr due to use of marrijiuanna nor do I want any of my children to risk their lives on the road or elsewhere due to coming into the vincinity of a user. If one trully wants to extinguish their potential by using and can isolate themselves, why by all means go for it. It is your potential to toss.
Again, all the things you say can apply to alcohol as well.
Good debate! Jury still out on 14 year old girl, did toxicology tests show she died from an overdose?????????? Shouldn't there be a follow-up story to further scare the bejesus out of the kids? We all know fear has worked over the years, drug use is down, right? LOL Takes us to 93% seat belt usage, do you believe that??????? Do your own unscientific survey! Do you think the soon to be unhelmeted cycle riders wear their seat belts. Just a ploy by State Officials to get Federal Funds! You can make the stats say whatever you want, and they do! Stats used to say we had a rainy day surplus, whoops, all gone!
The rise in Meth use in our County makes Indianapolis incidents more possible than ever.
Hastings not a drug Town like others in our State? Another hype job, they just don't uncover the druggies! Takes real cops, not small time Barney Fife's!
Look at the past signs of Barry candidates:
Doherty: Sans Serif Name with Goudy font for office name. Had a consistant logo. Good distribution. Had 1500+ signs out.WON
Fekkes: Had a hodgepodge of signs, none too consistant, the yard sign looking like it came out of a crackerjack box. Yards had multiple signs. LOST
Steele: Went the corregated plastic route like Julie. Bold Michigan colors. Lot of shine through when the sun hit it. Did not have the distribution. LOST
Kasava: Puny color combo, small signs, no distribution. LOST
Evans (Probate Race): Good and bold one color signs, not very many, no real distribution outside Middleville. LOST
Newell: Big Bold and bright. Good distribution.WON
DeBoer: Funky Yellow/Blue Design that detracted from readablility. Poor distribution outside Hastings & Gun Lake area. LOST
Leaf: Three different designs. The billboards were clear to read, yard signs were a bit difficult to read in shady areas, but good distribution. WON
Birkholz: Purple Serif design. Not the most attention getting, but clear to read and good distribution. WON
In the end, I think it all depends on distribution. Makes a clear winner.
If Julie Nakfoor-Pratt is "soft on pot" she gets my vote. The war on marijuana ruins more lives and tears apart more families than any amount of pot ever could.
The ideal candidate for me would be one who is Tough on crimes THAT HAVE A VICTIM.
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