Many have been criticial of the Barry County Board of Commissioners held Thursday, Sept. 28 at Thomas Jefferson Hall in Hastings, which included joint appearances by three Republican candidates for the County Board of Commisisoners, two Democrats and one independent. There were supposed to be eight next to the podium, but Democrat John Loftus was a no-show because he had “other priorities.” This “forced” Republican Hoot Gibson, the only incumbent in attendance, to watch from the audience rather than debate an empty chair. Gibson really didn’t miss much. The whole sordid affair was as pathetic as the perennial candidacies of Loftus.
Local Republicans have been critical of the forum because of the perception moderator Barbara Cichy, who is also chairwoman of the Barry County Democratic Party, set up Sixth District GOP candidate Mark Englerth with a loaded and esoteric question about “what makes a good taxpayer?” Some complain Englerth is notorious for being late with his tax payments on properties he owns and characterize him as a bit of a slumlord. Englerth has defended himself against such accusations earlier on this blog. The subject is certainly fair game but Cichy should have been out in the open in asking it instead of appearing to try to "sandbag" Englerth.
Meanwhile, some GOP faithful aren’t happy that Cichy unsuccessfully went after Englerth, but at the same time gave Democrat Mike Lewis, a candidate for Third District, a pass on his storied past. Lewis readily admits he served a prison term more than a dozen years ago for armed robbery, but insists he’s a changed man now, like Saul of Tarsus turning into the Apostle Paul, on the straight and narrow, now working as a business analyst, is an ordained minister and is general manager of a weekly newspaper.
Yet trouble still seems to follow Lewis around, just like it did the ever-embattled late Yankees Manager Billy Martin. Lewis somehow played a role in a some kind of scam involving cashing bogus money orders a little more than a year ago, one of his children was a victim of an alleged molestation and his and his wife’s restaurant failed. Billy Martin, in his book, “Number One,” consistently insisted he never started any of those many fights, that he was “just hanging around, doin nuthin, and then this guy comes up and makes trouble.” Lewis, like Billy Martin, is strangely gifted in certain areas, and just as Martin was an astonishingly good baseball manager, Lewis has the tools and intelligence to be a terrific county commissioner. He seems to be too smart to get involved in the problems that have followed him. I just don't know if there's not too much baggage for most voters to ignore- it would be nice to think the public is forgiving but often forgiveness is something we praise in others but practice very little on our own.
Back to the forum...
It did appear Cichy was setting up Englerth for a nasty sneak attack on taxes and it raised questions as to why lame duck commissioners Clare Tripp and Sandy James were in the audience that night. Some suggested to me they were tipped off to the possibility Englerth would have to answer a very difficult question and they wanted to see him squirm. I have no reason yet to doubt that assertion. At times, furthermore, it looked like Brinkert was being set up to read prepared statements rather than answer questions from the heart. One has to wonder if Cichy might not have tipped off her pal Brinkert about what questions would be asked- something that would certainly be a bit unseemly and taint the respect the forum has had- despite being held on the Democrats' home turf for so many years.
GOP boosters have railed against the Dems for trying to stack against Republicans at these forums and have suggested they no longer should come to such a tainted event. That’s interesting because the Barry County GOP has been the party of complacency, a party that hasn’t lifted a finger to have its own forum all these years. It’s well known in these parts that if you can win in the August Republican primary, you are virtually invincible in November (from what I hear, the voicing of this conventional wisdom is what got the Hastings Banner folks booted from the role of moderating these Democratic-hosted events by drawing the ire of the Dem Party elites who wish it wasn't true). Brian Calley is already showing up to photo-op type events rather than Gary Newell, just like Terry Geiger did in 1994 for Bob Bender. And do you really think Patty Birkholtz is worried about her opponent?
And yet the local GOP never bother to host their own forums- perhaps wishing they would just go away so they can run without bothersome questions from the public and the press, forcing them to actually defend their positions and run for the offices they aspire to instead of merely accepting their anointments and taking office. Some say this complacency is possible because the electorate votes dependably straight party for the status quo while others say it’s because the Dems never put up anybody worth voting for. This local one-party system has allowed people like Sandy James, Jim Bailey and Clare Tripp to take on the “R” and not carry any water for the party, just for themselves, because once you have the “R” next to your name on the ballot, you’re elected. In fact, it doesn't even matter if your positions are really even in synch with the GOP- as long as you've got the label you're virtually assured a win in November.
The only non-R or non-D at the forum was Ron Miller, and like Admiral William Stockdale’s most famous quote at the 1992 vice presidential debates, he very well could have asked, “What am I doing here?” without shocking anyone. Miller gave voters absolutely no reason to choose him over Jeff VanNortwick, the primary winner over the now bitter Tom Wing, who has announced his support for the independent challenger. Miller failed to voice any reason he was running so it looks as if Miller is nothing but a stooge put in place by digruntled Wing supporters to carry the torch and try to unseat the guy who beat their man.
Along the same lines, the embittered Tripp reportedly has taken a sudden shine to Brinkert and is reaching out to the Democrat to help defeat Englerth, the man who beat her in August. Brinkert will surely benefit from having a number of people turned off by Englerth's loud-mouth and abrasive style while Englerth will benefit from being a Republican in Barry County.
Two August primary sore losers, Wing and Tripp, are really showing sour grapes in continuing their fight after the intra-party primary. Calley told everyone during the state representative primary he’s tired of all the negative attacks and wants people to get along, especially since he was the undisputed leader and he won. Can our new state representative be a healer? I think Tripp and Wing will go their graves hating Englerth and VanNortwick like the different religious sects in the Middle East and the Balkans hate one another. I don’t think it’ll stop, because a fire in the street ain’t like a fire in the heart. Does Calley have the clout to bring Tripp and Wing back into the fold and help heal the rifts in the local GOP or is he too busy planning his inauguration party to bother?
I guess I really don't have anything else to say- pick your poison here, folks.
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68 comments:
questions for Mark, and Mike.
You are running for public office, and you don't think this should be an issue?
As far as Englerth's back taxes are concerned I do not hold that against him. The law gives him a break and there is nothing else to say about it. Maybe he should talk more about the plight of the small buisinessman when asked about it, rather than getting angry when it is brought up.
Mr. Lewis should take every opportunity to explain his past, and not be "ticked" every time it is mentioned. It would show a little more that he has learned from mistakes, and it would teach others that there is a road to redemption. Not to mention consequences for your actions.
In short these two candidates should be a little more humble, and use these subjects as talking points, rather than bristle every time they are brought up.
Barb should have garnered someone else to ask questions or moderate the debate. Even McIntyre from WBCH would have been better, and with his big ego, might have gladly accepted. That would have neutralized the playing field if nothing else since he has such a disdain for all things Democratic. From what I've heard, this forum might have undone years of goodwill earned from previous successful forums. Mr. Pino, the original host of the forum would be saddened by this blatant partisanship by its moderator.
On the other hand, politicsmaster is right. The local GOP cannot even get their officeholders to participate in their monthly meetings. They only show up for the photo op at larger events then go their own merry way. With the Dem's forum being the only game in town, the GOP is at their mercy. One would think that eventually by doing nothing, the GOP would loose its vice grip on the Barry electorate and actually have to campaign on real issues and not those fabricated by the national party (eg. gay marriage, abortion).
Sorry, I digressed.
Maybe Barb and the gang should solicit a list of potential moderators from the other side, setting some guidelines of course. Vet the list to eliminate raging right wingers who in all liklihood would not serve the forum well, and add the remaining names of prospective moderators to the Dems list and use this as their "pool" of moderators for future debates. Use it a "call list" and alternate moderators to be fair to both sides.
I have spent considerable time with Keith Ferris and Mike Lewis talking face to face about the important issues in Barry County. Both candidates have a sincere motivation to learn the "whole truth", and it takes more than a reading of headlines and blogs to find it. Their styles could not be more different, but both seem intelligent enough to grasp the nuances of each issue. It seems to me that Rutland/Hope voters will get their money's worth.
Dave Brinkert is a disappointment, so far. He has been so careful standing out of the line of fire and waltzing on eggshells that he doesn't seem to stand for anything. I've stood toe to toe with Mark on the major issues and he is an able opponent. You may not agree with him, but you better have more than volume and sweet talk if you expect to win over his support. If you are wrong, don't even waste his time.
Not having a place to hold a meeting is the biggest joke I've heard today. Charlatan Park church is big enough to hold all the people who attend the forums, and it would double the attendance figures. The new Health Castle was designed specifically to entertain the general public in groups. The COA Church building was remodeled to hold ten times as many people as would show up. The Community Room at Courts & Law is as big as the Walldorff Ballroom, and the Expo Center is also located at the "County" Fairgrounds. I could rattle on, but that should be enough urine to quench the flames.
It is sad that the best response we can develop after the latest forum is an examination of the process. Barb never claimed to be an impartial master of ceremonies. What did you expect? Pol Watcher at least attempted to glean some of the answers for new ideas.
My take, from stage left, was:
Ferris quietly studies each issue and tries to arrive at rational options. He doesn't dig as deep as Lewis, who is a bit quick to pass judgement on people who have gotten away with hiding the "whole truth" for far too long. That puts him elbow to elbow with Englerth, who has too much historical baggage to discuss issues in a calm voice. He has challenged the abusers and they have angered him into action. This is going to be a herd of cats. Probably a whole herd of wet cats. The faint of heart will want to bolt their doors. Dave, as I said, had better start putting together a Brinkert position. If he beats Englerth he will have to spend his nights with Clare to find out what he believes.
VanNortwick opposed a machine, twice, and has developed a tunnel vision. When he gets reloaded, he will charge forward with great energy. Hopefully, he will aim at more than the folks that opposed him. Lastly, it took a great deal of courage for Ron Miller to jump into the fray. He has very little to offer at this point, but he claims to like kids. Perhaps he could become an advocate for the kids that live in Barry County, but don't attend the Hastings Area School System. Perhaps he could define the word "education" as it applies to County government. Not the HASS or the BISD, but perhaps some part of KCC!
The lurkers in the back of the room had a meeting called the "Friends of Charlatan Park" that had the potential of being a "forum" but might have attracted some people with ideas of how to triple the attendance, multiply the energy, capture some dollars, and get off the dole. The action out at Bowens Mill is an embarrassment to the folks who insist that preservation of the past needs to be kept under glass.
If the "friendly" meeting had been a "forum", the lurkers would have had something to contribute rather than sneaking out the back door.
"Politicsmaster" said: You did this with Mr. Lewis and broguht his children into this blog. Shame on you.
What the HELL are you talking about?! Lewis' wife wrote a letter to the editor discussing the issue in detail either last week or the week before in the Banner. Your comments on Mark are pretty disgusting and I'd delete them except the damage has likely been done and they serve as a good testament to what you're about here. Sliming Englerth isn't really a good way to defend Lewis if that's your aim. You might be doing him more harm than good.
It was interesting that the forum answers to the question about “Transparency” were mostly about speaking at municipal meetings and having personal websites, etc. The idea of recording meetings with tape recorders, or video cameras, etc. still seems to be too advanced for the County. One visit to the County website to look at minutes of meetings will be enough. Nothing could be farther from the “whole truth”. Committee meetings are not even reported, and that is where the real discussions take place. Hopefully, the new Commissioners will not be afraid to let the public observe them. The argument that not everybody gets cable doesn’t hunt. More people watch cable in Barry County than read the City of Hastings Banner. Also, there is a different atmosphere when elected officials suspect that their discussions might be made public.
I felt sorry for John Morgan. He is one of two people who transport the disadvantaged beyond County boundaries. Barb was so focused on being a good Democrat she didn’t understand his two questions. One was about using the County millage money to support Transit leaving the County once in a while. The other had to do with our tragic maintenance of County-0wned portions of the Trail. The answers came out like “I support buses and trails, but nobody really ever uses them”. A couple of well-informed candidates spoke intelligently about the issues in spite of the botched questions. Had I not been sitting next to John, the questions might have received more thoughtful answers.
Pay attention on January 1, 2007 when the term of George Hubka expires. He was approved today to the Agricultural Preservation Commission, by the old Board, for the new Board.
His bright idea of how to protect farms is to kill off the wildlife. The Farm Bureau thinks this is great policy.
PAGE 74
I admit that I didn’t get all the way to the bottom of page 74 of the Reminder shopping guide on my own.
“A little (migratory) bird told me” that a rare bit of news had infiltrated the advertising that reaches the entire county.
After a feast of imported “original recipe” mourning dove earlobes, a crowd of drowsy agriculturists whom had finished awarding some children plaques for excellence was lulled into staying for a business meeting of the insurance company that lobbies for farmers welfare programs.
While the ultimate goal of the professional wildlife management “Natural Resource Commission” is reported to be free licenses to kill unlimited amounts of wildlife without any restrictions and awarding of bounties on insect-eaters, the NRC will settle, for now, on merely killing a few protected species of migratory birds. It is rumored by experts that the recent population explosion of the migrant pest, and perhaps disease-carrying, Sandhill Crane, has forced many farmers into bankruptcy by repeatedly eating all of their crops. The government must immediately step in and help these devastated farmers to survive by paying them more subsidies, reducing their gas tax, and encouraging the eradication of creatures that have not been genetically modified. At least until the “farmers” can subdivide.
The morally-outraged audience passed a Resolution to “Oppose the efforts of ‘anti-hunting’ organizations to compromise professional wildlife management”.
Considering the amount of advertising dollars spent by the insurance giant and its grant recipients it is unlikely that the Sandhill Crane will receive much protection or attention from the City of Hastings Banner.
Another rumor was that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act should no longer be considered an obligation of the USA to honor, now that our administration has clarified our international position regarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Convention and other “soft on crime” agreements.
Watch the 2007 Harvest Fest booths next year for the introduction of Barry County Goose Jerky, Smoked Mourning Dove Earlobes, and nationally acclaimed Pickled Sandhill Crane Scrotums. They will be featured alongside the Single-eyed Frog Salsa Dip and Dehydrated Algae Dippin’Chips. Take a bag to the woods on AK-47 Assault Rifle Training Day for kids. If the Canadians won’t kill those migratory birds we will be forced to slaughter them here on our own soil! Canadian Bacon will be renamed Freedom Bacon! Canadian Club will become the new Freedom Club and we will club those “Illegal Migrant Birds” into submission with it. Construction of 700 miles of 500 ft. high chain-link fence is being considered. Illegal Migrant Birds are reported to eat genetically-modified crops that far superior American birds aren’t willing to eat. There will be a gap at the Dakotas to allow Sandhill Cranes to enter the killing fields.
…in other business….
§ Dennis Pennington rose to encourage the insurance company to use its influence on County Land Use Master Planning Ordinances to favor farmers over Urbanites. Unlimited tax money is available.
§ Once again, 9-1-1 wasn’t mentioned.
§ The Homeland Security AK-47 Assault Rifle Fundraiser Sale will be held the week before Christmas. Gift wrapping will be extra. 50% off on armor-piercing shells.
§ The MSU Extension Emergency Management Office wishes to reassure farmers that storing and dumping toxic and hazardous waste on their farms is “not a bad thing”, and reports will be kept in a confidential file within the County and will not be released to the public or the government.
§ The Committee on American Conflict Resolutions will meet after the Ridley Turtle Egg breakfast, for weapons training.
§ The Professional Satire Management Commission will meet Sunday, after Sunday school. Camo robes and hoods required. Torches and unwarranted search documents will be provided.
Sib:
If you want to file a complaint, the form can be found here:
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633_8723_11893---,00.html
Mike Lewis, I am interested in your position to consolidate several different government departments in one building. it sounds like a possibility but there are so many problems and possible hidden costs that I am unsure if it would actually save money. What building do you propose to do this in? What would you do with the current buildings? If one remembers accurately, most of the current buildings now in use evolved from the original departments becoming too crowded when sharing buildings with other departments. how would returning these departments to their original crowded conditions save money? I have visited other counties that house multiple departments in one building and they are mostly smaller (population wise) counties.
If one could wave a magic wand and move all of the current buildings onto a central campus it might make access easier but building new buildings and selling or tearing down the old ones I don't believe will save any money. it will eliminate county history is what it will do. Have you looked at the pictures on the wall in the circut court? What will these pictures hanging on the wall of some new cheap building mean to our future progeny? And remember since the goal is to "save money" the low bid will win any construction deals. Is this what we want?
And be very careful as to any plan to consolidate the different courts. We are already known for our "rocket docket" and some rulings are rushed to say the least. Any more reduction in time spent on some cases will condemn some to poor rulings resulting in an uneccessary reduction of standard of living.
As far as your past mistakes, don't worry so much about that. those attempting to beat you up on that are just grasping at what ever they can to push you back. If you are sincere with your remorse and maintain your position of taking responsibility for these past mistakes, you will get through this. Your sincerity will be remembered. Stay clean and you will be better known for taking the responsible path through this. remember, even if you don't win what you are after, you are forcing a change in politics and position of those you are running against. If you are not successful this time, keep at it and run next time. Losing now will give you important time to better position yourself for a successful run next time. Good luck. We are watching.
Politicsmaster
I will have to teach you how to cut & paste again. YOu forgot part of the message.
Jim
I use several people to proof read what I am saying to make sure it makes sense and that I am not sticking my foot in my mouth. I use alot of people to consult with. They are unpaid consultants as I was told. But Jim you are right I will stick to my
Politicsmaster
I will have to teach you how to cut
jim:
Sib seemed angry that his/her complaint wasn't being taken seriously. If they feel that strongly about Mark's advertising, they should file a complaint. I won't do a lick of good, but it may make Sib less testy
Boy, you guys/gals sure went to Town while I was out in left field. Don't have time to write down alot of notes from all the above, will go by my ranting mind Ellie. By the way, 911 issue just building momentum for the pending future, stay tuned!
The Lewis letter to the Editor was quite disturbing to me, but I don't qualify to vote for him to make decisions which effect me. I can forgive something 12 years old, but the letter seemed to bring out current issues that need to be worked on before I would feel comfortable with his voters having him make decisions effecting my life. Mike also needs to be reminded that the County doesn't run the City, as concerns his platform to include them in all this consolidation of buildings. Money, Money Mike! I do like the Eaton County Complex in Charlotte, so not far off in your thinking. It's relaxing to dream though, isn't it?
We only need to look next door in Kalamazoo County, they can't get the taxpayers to build a new County Jail, so the "less dangerous" criminals are released early to prey on us (yes, they cross over into Barry County all the time Ellie). Afterall, they didn't hit us or shoot us (crime against person), they just broke in and stole all our memories and exchanged them for some meth or crack.
The Kazoo Gazette is not another "County" more interested in Barry County. They are a newspaper which has a widespread readership here, especially in the sw corridor of our County (Battle Creek paper popular on east side). Merely attempting to inform those who can't afford the gas to drive up to all those Hastings City or nearby buildings Ellie wants to hold all the meetings in! 911 issue still alive, did I mention that?
Comparing Barry to Fairfax County, without research on my part, is like comparing apples to.........! Should probably compare Fairfax to Oakland County here in Michigan. Believe Oakland is in the top five.
I believe (believe) you will find Fairfax County has a County-wide Police Department (probably have a Police Website Ellie)).
Michigan going down, less Troopers on the road and it will get worse in the coming years. Why not a County-wide Police Department? This does not ncessarily put the Sheriff in charge, if that concerns you, not me! Many such Counties have a County Jail and an elected Sheriff responsible. They then have a County-wide Police Dept (appointed Chief/Director) to eliminate all the duplication of effort, improve communication, etc. This concept should be considered in Michigan Counties with less than 75,000 population, or whatever other figure you put to it. Wouldn't work in Oakland County! Bloomfield Hills or Beverly Hills will never give up control of their locals.
For Mr Englerth: Someone should research (Hey Ellie) and cut/paste his previous eloquent explanation on his unpaid taxes. Made plenty of sense to me! Drinking? Follow the present County Board and see where they congregate after their meetings (they don't talk County business, just abruptly shun controversy). They're mostly lame ducks anyway! I use the woods alot to relieve myself. Oops, did I zip up? Affairs, smairs, if he can make the right decisions his personal life is his. Enjoy that beer my Man!
Using The Chair Marm to distain Brinkert? If she and James showed up at the debate something is afoot. And, what is Wing sour grapes about, he doesn't have to show up where he wasn't showing up! You're off the hook Man! Oh, must be the bennies!
Use of Homeland Security Funds have undergone severe scrutiny. Too much money went to small Counties/Cities/Villages for frivolous items not directly terrorist related. Good luck on massive building projects Mike! Many Barry County Fire Dept's received new breathing air packs to enter burning buildings. Nice for us, but not quite protecting our Nation from Bin Laden! They are severely tightening up grant guidelines!
Neil filed the Pennock Hospital complaint? There you go Ellie! Got to get the 911 issue pushed aside, right? They are so adept at calling in favors from their two-way buddies, 10-4?
Possibly 911 Board will buy the old Jail for Pennock?
Well, Ellie, back to the left field bull pen. Go Tigers!
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/
FYI--
Tom Lower, former candidate for State Rep., has now accrued over $1100 in fines for failing to file a Post-Primary report, nor a filed a timely pre-primary report. I wonder if the fines will exceed what he spent on the entire campaign??
Also, my good buddy Wade Trombley did not file an accurate accounting of all of his expenses. Maybe the fine fairy will be on his doorstep also...
Dear dear polwatcher...bear up under it all...the nutcase season has almost run it's course.
A couple of comments. Jim Pino was not the originator of First Friday. It was the Democratic Couty Chairman at the time, who, as a matter of fact was able to obtain this building from the State Oddfellows and thus preserve one of the original structures in the City of Hastings. Built in 1858 by the Methodists who sold it in 1911 to the OddFellows, and them to the Barry County Democratic Party.
As for PoliticsMaster, slimball would be a far better description.
If it is true as he has claimed here, that Mark Englerth has a drinking problem and is carrying on an affair with a woman other than his wife he owes it to all of us to name places and persons or take his vicious claptrap elswhere.
Go ahead and name names politicsmaster, you can hide behind the slease you print since you are anonymous. Unless it was your wife you claim Mark was with, you ought to put up or shut up.
Mike L.
The county has very few ordinances, and most if not all have to do with land uses. They are easy to enforce and only require one person to investigate complaints. The City, on the other hand, has all kinds of ordinances, and that requires a Police Department for enforcement. Hope this is helpful.
Your ideas regarding real estate will be useful after you get elected, but nobody will listen to any of them until after the election. Concentrate on the matter at hand, which is the game of getting more votes than your opponent.
Pol,
Nice pic of Young David. Early 70's?
I have received several complaints about Politicsmaster's comments. I have deleted the original comment. On second thought it was out of bounds, unsupported rumor and not something I wish to have on this site. Since I can only delete whole comments, I have chosen to copy and paste the original comment here sans offensice rumor-mongering.
- Pol
politicsmaster said...
Sentinel
I have contacted Mr. Lewis Today and asked him if he has seen this blog concerning him. HE has reported no and will not look at it until after the election. I have yet been able to to get a hold of MR. Englerth, I woudl like them to respond to you. Mr. Lewis has informed that the only people that matter right now are the people in his district and he is talking about it with his voters. He lets them know up front. I have to agree as he has done this with me. I appreciate his honesty. However, I have to disagree that these are the main talking points for these candidates. The issues are about Barry County and how best to solve them. This blog seems to have air about it to berate poeple or hail them as chiefs. The Hastings Banner is so biased you can't get the real story any more. So I believe this blog has taken the same direction. I wonder if its the same people? This blog is very good at pointing out peoples problems so why not point out Marks real story. You did this with Mr. Lewis and broguht his children into this blog. Shame on you. COMMENTS DELETED You really want this blog to air peoples laundry then make it equal. Tell the real truth. I am disappointed in my fellow republicans to the depth that they have to go to, to get elected. I cannot stand by and watch anymore the degrading of this nation. This blog is part of it. People here have a sense that the redemption of Doele blog story and Fred Jacobs "IN MY Opinion" are the same writer. Could be. But give grace to one person and not another. Where is the equality? Barry County needs a real slap in the face with reality. When is enough, enough?
Barb,
Your comments are welcomed by me.
If the Repub's in this county really cared then they would have there own hall or building for the public. But they don't. This blogger and anyone cannot tell the Democrats what to do with their hall or how to best run their forums until they(Repub's) offer another solution. I have noticed that my fellow Repub's are not offering solutions or choices of recent. So I have to ask are they really Repub's or are they some elite class of skulls & Bones?
So, Barb keep on offering and doing things your way. It's still America. Barry County may not like it but oh welll!
3:10 PM
this blog has taken a sad direction that was not necessary. Mike, enough of the soul baring already. Campaign on the issues please.
Mike Lewis, I agree, you have enlightened everyone sufficiently as to your past. Anyone demanding more at this point is just trying to run the "time meter" until the election. From this point forward, look at those demanding a rehash of any of your past as supporting their own weak position by attempting to divert the focus of any debate. We of this blog have all seen this much too often. While I might not support your position currently, I do support your right to examine it and if it turns out to be the best choice, we of this blog (and most voters of this county) will support it.
Much too often, those(with a weak or faulty position)opposing another will simply flood the discussion with extraneous information or accusations. I too have endured this both here and in the Banner. it is unpleasent to say the least but those atttacking have so far only shown their own idiocy. Thier only accomplishment is to keep the names and subject material in the news for another week or so and to create thier own personal reputation as to being dishonest or reactionary (or even worse, "terribly uninformed" aka ignorant).
I would like to make an observation here as to your situation in this election. I would like to put forth that you might be the better choice if all we have to worry about is your charactor. You might be the better choice simply because you will be watched more closely than someone that has not made public their own skeletons. you are on your "second chance" and the repercussions of a "mistep" will be much more severe than another person without a simular history. This by itself will force you to be more attentive to your constituents as you would be drawn and quartered much more quickly than your opponent. I also might point out that you have much more motive to work hard so as to redeem yourself. you might attempt to float this idea the next time someone trys to compare you to your opponent. Your opponent has nothing to lose if he turns out to be a lame representitive but you "have it all on the line". Are you really sure you want to do this?
Fantastic Mike!
I don't know where the election may take you, but the road you are following is the one you should be on.
While this seems to have turned into an episode of Oprah, keep in mind that Oprah's television ratings are insurmountable to her detractors. Every time you answer the call to explain your past, you could be winning the hearts and minds of the voters, and likely making your enemies look like closed minded rumour mongers.
While this is not the issue that you wish to discuss, it is a win every time you can use it to get the voters to focus on you, and your ideas. Pretty soon your adversaries will roll their eyes every time it comes up in debate, and squirm because they realize you are about to steal their face time. While that may sound cynical to some, it is what we call politics.
Mike L.,
Getting sucked into defending the Democrat party at the local level won't help your cause, since most of the people who have been elected are Democrats who put on Republican raincoats over their minority beliefs in order to get elected. Some will even admit it publicly.
I don't believe in luck, so I will propose an option available in the event your Democrat raincoat leaves you out in the rain. Most of the candidates who are fairly certain of winning in November have shown a sincere interest in changing and improving issues that you have some extensive expertise in. Not the least of these would be the issue of adding more cells to the County Jail and spending less on rehabilitation and treatment. There will be many openings for people like yourself to make a major contribution (without the per diem and mileage and bennies, of course). These options also give you a placeholder position of being able to perform a public service, allow public scrutiny, and gain name recognition. In my opinion, the failure of Barry County Democrats has been the failure to have an intelligent and enthusiastic qualified candidate on every blank line on every ballot. Winning is always more fun, but not showing up at the starting gate makes the Dems losers before the race even begins. The issue is not about having a place to gather.
Some people would like to throw rocks in Englerths direction, but they should be asking the leader of the Democrat Party where he stands on the issues of Bigger Jails, more Punishment, and less Ignorance, instead. We are at the brink of allowing the Lame Duck County Board to dedicate a huge share of our tax dollars toward another castle for another department. We have already blessed the Health Department with a lovely suburban new edifice, put a lovely face on an old unwanted church for the COA elderly of Hastings, and turned the Transit Garage into a fantastic City Bus System. By January the Lame Ducks will be breaking ground on more stalls for people who make bad choices. Englerth has a position on criminal justice. Does Brinkert have anything to add, or is he, like other Dems and "Independent" thinkers, still maintaining that he will learn the job from visitors to the coffee shop? The issue is not about who has the biggest ears or the biggest mouth. If it was, we would have a different Texan for President!
Having said that, I would expect Brinkert to attend the Facilities & Property meeting Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM and report the "whole truth" regarding new jail issues back to his coffee shop chat room. He might even be inspired to register his perspective in some sort of public expression. More @ el-grillo.blogspot.com
So do you want your $7000 in Barry County bucks or sponge Bob dollars?
After 30+ years of construction management I am constantly in awe of builders who are able to get paid any kind of dollars for merely performing an estimate and then recommending themselves as the most qualified company to perform the work. Obviously, wasting money on any further quotes would be foolish. I hope all this amounts to is adding some curtains on the cell windows.
ML, at 4 in the morning you hit my funny bone. I fell right out of my chair. I see you will fit well here.
El Grillo, I respect your opinion (and agree with it) but you are forgetting the usual small town "good ol boy" network here. Things happen in this county that if they happened anywhere else, people would go to jail. While this particular incident might be serious enough to send anyone to the big house, it should be investigated and the guilty party should have their name plastered all over the news as being a foolish manager so that the next unsuspaecting employer might not get hung with their bill.
Let me repair...
While this particular incident might NOT be serious enough to send anyone to the big house, it should be investigated...
As usual, the County leadership begins with a false assumption and works hard to make a bad choice even worse.
If the USA incarcerates more than anybody else, then the solution to our problem in Barry County probably doesn't exist in Michigan. How does Luxembourg deal with criminal justice? Did anybody ask?
Assuming that we need to discuss criminal justice with a jail builder is ____ (fill in any degrading insult)!
Why do we expect that our little rural county has the expertise to deal with any serious question all by itself in a vacuum?
Damn it Wade, you made me google that!
Tattletales?
Aw heck Wade, now a dayz they call em' un-named sources close to the president!
Trouble with ten year plans nowadays is its here tomorrow!
This is cheap therapy, lol.
Agit3, good observation. You are wise.
Agno - I googled too. What came up might get a person in trouble.
Vote4 - Easy on Jay. He is a great source (maybe close to the president)
ElGrill - Please disregard/ignore the thin skins. I look forward to your colorful descriptions of people/things. I hope you don't mind but I have plagerized a few of the best ones.
And now for something comepletely different....
Harry was on the news tonight apologizing for his mistakes. But I did not catch what his sentance was to be. Has anyone any idea what he was sentanced to?
Wade:
One of the fellows that I have breakfast with once a month in Wayland told me that he was going to file a complaint against you because you did not include all your expenses on your campaign finance report. Seeing your literature and no reference about its printing in the expense portion of your campaign finance report (although it has a disclaimer that it was paid for by your campaign) lead me to agree with my friend that it appeared that you were not disclosing all your expenses, and a complaint was justified.
Face it Wade, you weren't following the law. If you can't be honest on something as simple as a campaign finance report, maybe you shouldn't of run in the first place.
Ellie, I know you're missing my 911 rants, here I gooooooooooooooo. In todays Banner, 10-19-06, Editorial.
Who in God's name does this bozo ronnie neil think he is? They tape record these minutes. I want to hear or see a transcript. Freedom of speech only goes so far. If one uses his official position to interfere, or try to halt, a criminal investigation he is guilty of Obstruction. If this occurred, the Sheriff should have stood up and placed neil in handcuffs. They can go after Pennock CEO's, but don't go after one of them!
I want to hear the context in which this "order" from the has been cop was phrased.
Don't interfere with REAL COPS neil! Head for the retired Highway Patrol Home and let some sanity back into this County that you and your cronies took away!
Can't wait til January 1st and the New County Board. neil, pack your bags and your big floppy shoes. Sarasota bound I hope.
This type of conduct is disgusting. It makes me wonder now if Harry Doele did anything wrong now? Or, did he just cross paths with the neils?
Mike, I've tried to give you the benefit of the doubt but after reading the article and seeing your rebuttals and attempts here to spin this back onto Dave Young, Jon Gambee and Mark Englerth one has to wonder what lengths you'll go to in order to get people to ignore what is now a long string of questionable conduct.
For all these things you have thrown accusations at your various accusers and excuses but there is nothing of a real defense presented. I thought I treated you pretty kindly in my write-up of the forum even though I was disturbed that you seem to act as though you've paid your dues but yet always profess your innocence and try to weasel out of any accountability and you've acted as if I buried a knife in your back simply by saying what I thought of your appearance at the event.
I agree that the Banner article could have done a better job presenting your side of the facts (though based on your attempts at explanation here and elsewhere I'm not sure it was worth printing) and I wonder if it actually might not help you win by allowing you to play the victim- but your wife kicked off all this with her letter and when people responded you acted as if you couldn't believe they would discuss these things in public. You say your opposition was running a whisper campaign but I live in your district and haven't heard anything. If your campaign comes up short it will be because of your record and your response to it and not some imagined witch hunt against you.
Mike, you could be a very good county commissioner and I've appreciated your attempt at constructive dialogue but to act as if any criticism or even discussion of your past is part of a vendetta is silly and makes me wonder more about your honesty and ability to serve than any list of incidents from your past.
Mike: Like CC said, your wife published a letter to the Banner, which definitely had me concerned about your "present" situation. The past can be forgiven, for sure! But, if I remember correctly from her letter you guys have alot on your home plates to take care of without trying to rule our County too. It seems you have some demons to slay before we can talk forgiveness and redemption?
I would just bow out gracefully. Straighten things out and come back next election.
If the 911 bozos/ruffians can hold office, most anyone can. Just can't start out that way when so much is being revealed now.
ML, this may be a time to believe in the old saying "less is more". By continuing the debate on your past it will only keep it in the news longer and give them more to chew on you with. Stare straight ahead and stay the course. Stay clean and keep promoting what you think is right for this county. You will be able to say "I told you so" if and when it comes to pass that you were right. it will be at this point you will have some push in this county.
Agit3, I already appologized at another site for my inattention to the 911 discussion so I won't continue my groveling for any forgiveness here. But my god, after reading the editorial in the Banner today I just want to storm the next board meeting and shut it down if they are going to mistreat Dar any further.
I did bring this to the attention of a couple of psyc professionals though. They point out that the State Police is full of people having an abnormal drive to control others and that this appears to be Mr. Neils problem. He seems to panic at the loss of control over police matters that Dar now has. I think it best at this point to just sit tight as he will not be allowed such behavior after the new board takes control and most likely will be asked to seek employemnt elsewhere.
And like in a previous posting here, this might be viewed as "obstruction of justice" and be a prosectable offense. Wouldn't that be a fine way to wrap up his career?
Is there any way to make public the exact language used by Neil when interacting with Dar on this matter? If so lets do this. I think if this is true Mr. Neil should definetly pay for his behavior in some fashion. A little public flogging might humble him some.
I do find it amusing/interesting that the Harry Doele thing was mentioned here in some fashion. Does not anyone catch the fact that a "Neil" is now acting head of Pennock?
Mike Lewis should sue the Hastings Banner and John Gambee...or shut up.
We have been subjected to Mike's comments for weeks now. If even half of what The Banner reported is true it is enough for me, a Democrat to be ashamed that he is on the ballot under my party label.
Were there underwater lots at Thornapple Lake I would not be suprised to see Mike selling them.
No Mike, for a man of such yet tender years you leave a trail of dirt that is far too new. Redemption requires repentence.
The fact that Harry Doele got treated like a victim rather than a criminal has nothing to do with YOUR many transgressions.
What you have done to your fellow Democrats is inexcusable.
I find it hard to believe that Dr C., Hoot G, Nevins are the ones attacking OUR Sheriff. It's the sour grape losers in the last election, plus the one that withdrew when she saw the writing on the wall. How about this French guy, I would love to hear more about him. Seems he sits in his corner of the room and does nothing? Was he chewing gum?
One thing that I have admired about Mike Lewis is his tenacity. He has exhibited a willingness to dig beyond the surface and is not intimidated by the assaultive behavior of the current County Board. I heard that he and Dave Brinkert met with Dr. Shannon at Charlton Park, but only Mike has had anything to say. What is keeping Dave from speaking up? Wasn't he listening or taking notes?
Mike has looked deeply into the 2006 County Budget and has come to the same conclusion that I have. Perhaps our math comes out a bit different, but the general agreement is that the County has too much money to be asking for more tax millage for anything.
While Mike claims to have special expertise in analyzing businesses, etc. it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the County Board Committees are badly in need of restructuring.
Part of the problem that Dar has been having comes from trying to deal with a structure designed to concentrate power and control in the hands of a few old guard Commissioners. The Banner didn't catch it very well, but when the Sheriff was grilled by Commissioner French on his determination for the "needs" of the "jail", he was also thrown off guard at the extent the architects had gone to. He appeared to be asking for $500,000 to repair some badly needed problems and was put in the position of deciding on the need for spending $7,000,000 - $15,000,000.
We have heard the same old chorus about how we should not watch the "tenative" process too closely when we slipped into building the Health Castle and the COA Church. Don't think for a second that the "final report" will ignore the possibility of building a brand-new jail with millions of dollars we don't know that we have.
Mike knows where the gold is buried!
Somehow I have a hard time seeing Mikes problems and the Barry County problems as being on the same page.
Well, Ag3, once again your information is based on a rumor. If you had taken the time to attend the Facilities & Property Committee meeting you would have seen first hand that Callton (on the committee) and Nevins, Gibson, (in the audience)and Dar & Bob(at the front table) were all amazed at the detailed blueprints that were handed to the audience and the fancy presentation by the architect. Dar kept holding up his one page request for repairs and wondering if this custodial committee was even listening. At one point he referred to the "architectural rendering" as a "hodge podge" and a nightmare for jail traffic patterns.
When Clare Tripp came over and whispered for Don Nevins to leave the meeting because she and Sandy considered his disloyalty "rude", he was so embarrassed he had to leave the room. The Sheriff got off much easier.
If you were to actually discuss the issue with these guys you would discover that they unanimously support getting the repairs done as soon as possible. While the current custodial committee wants to get bragging rights to some future new County Empire Complex, the new, and more popular, Board will focus on fixing up our facility (without asking for a millage and bonding).
Oh Ellie, always hard to decipher your remarks.
I agree with your "New Board" comments (Oh, God help me!) though, as much as I tremble to see anything your way. I look forward to January 1st more than most.
I will ask Nevins! Why would he leave "on demand", when these two cluckers will go down in the "dark" history anals of Barry County in two more meetings. I think more of Don than him being "clucked" away! Won't buy that rumor!
For some reason (forgot, it's Ellie)I don't equate your response to my comment, as making any sense. My comment above had nothing to do with rumors at all.
First, I don't have time for all these meetings, especially daytime shows!
My comments related to the editorial about the Sheriff being shut down by the County Boardmarm, or the "old guard," as you call it. The ridicule and disrespect they are throwing at him is disgusting, but that's why their voices will be silenced January 1st.
I support the Sheriff's need for repair! Let's get it done now before someone escapes, like in other jails, and harms a citizen.
Dr. C. are you on here still? Why is your committee not supporting the professionals we citizens duly elected to care for our safety. Safety was not a concern or prerequisite for County Commissioner Election.
P.S. Ellie, I live what I write about.
If you took time to notice, anything, you would see a question mark after my remarks about 911 neil possibly thwarting a criminal investigation! I have asked for the recorded remarks or transcript to see if it sounds, to a potential juror, if it borders on a criminal obstruction of justice?
Your constant reference to "rumors" continues to make me question your motives. I still believe you are one of "them!"
I wish you lots of luck on getting some actual evidence. It would be a breath of fresh air.
You are absolutely correct. I am one of "them". I assume that the rest of us that you are referring to are the folks who are bored with the wishful thinking of character assassins with no evidence to support their claims.
Nice to have you back. I missed having a mat to scuff on.
"Welcome"
Jim has fairly well disqualified himself with the observation that Barry County Democrats are all felons. The only one that comes to mind is Mike Lewis.
And his trail of dirt is different from the many national figures Jim mentions. None of them have been convicted of felonies.
Sorry Jim, Timmy and Mike...denial just does not make it so.
Oh, and the question is redemption and the one seeking it is asking Democrats for their votes...it is the voter not God who will make the ultimate judgement.
Denial denial denial...Next Jim will be telling us there is still a stockpile of WMD's in Iraq, that the tooth fairy is real.
Yeah, and the next thing is that you will be telling me that the tooth fairy isn't real!
Mike, your grasp of the issues is not the question.
Mike: Your energy and attempts to study and grasp the issues are exactly what we need in a County Commissioner. I do applaud your efforts, especially in light of the constant criticism you undergo.
I do, however, believe you have some housecleaning to do before your voters will let you represent them.
It disturbs me if Our Sheriff is spending "hours" with a "possible" candidate. One, who comes up with a 120 bed plan that will work for "many many years", with no evident professional experience or educational credentials to be taken seriously. Our Sheriff is very busy and probably is missing many return calls as a result! Wny not wait two months and if elected, work on getting appointed to the committee that
oversees the Sheriff's Dept.
With Our State economy taking a dump, I seriously "wonder" if 120 beds will be enough. But, I want to hear from "professionals", such as the Sheriff and Undersheriff, who apparently (reading on here) are leaning towards serious repair and additions. I support the Sheriff, I'm sure he has consulted with the Michigan Sheriff's Association and various consultants and experts in coming up with his best recommendation(s). I would love to see a copy of your plan and what evidence supports your theory.
As far as the "incarceration" doesn't work argument, I agree with the basic premise of its critics. However, there are some people out there who will "recidivate" forever! They are criminals to the bone. Talk to a victim of a crime, whether it be a crime against a person or against property only (the latter get PR bonds and back on the streets looking for the next victim, is it YOU?). These victims feel almost as violated as a rape victim. They walk around their burglarized home and "feel" the intruder in there. They hesitate when they open their doors, jump at every noise. We need to get tough on crime and let the criminal know when he/she commits a larceny they lose a finger. When they do it again the punishment gets more severe, to the extent of some form of banishment from our society, i.e. don't see the light of day again, etc. Talk about all the programs that "cure" the offenders and you must look at who is providing you the stats. Many of these same offenders would have cured themselves, i.e. have proper home upbringing and as they get older the balance between right/wrong becomes more clear and moral. Simple Probation Officer Supervision works in such cases.
There will always be a place in our society for jails/prisons and we must support their existance and the people who professionally design them and operate them. Perhaps the Street Officers (from various Dept's) can give much input into what design would better fit their "user friendly" need of any future jail or expansion plan?
Go Tigers!
Wow, Ag3, get another prescription for whatever that came from. You nailed a few valid points and actually demonstrated a sound position. I'd like to hear more from you on some of those ideas.
The finger chopping was a miss, but even I get carried away sometimes.
We agree that some jail space will always be needed. There are some people who have to be kept out of society, and some forever.
You would enjoy the annual report to the Commissioners by the Courts. We should be extremely proud of what they have accomplished in the last few years. The "whole truth" is in the numbers.
I have to take issue with the Sheriff being the expert on incarceration. Dar does a great job, and if he has his troops properly organized he won't miss any phone calls while discussing issues of importance. He and other jail operators can not be experts because they are only a small part of the solution. The jails are the option of last resort.
As you mentioned, the proper home environment is probably the most important issue, and if I can assume that you are out there "livin' it" then you know that we need to work in this area a lot more. Some kids never got a break. The rest of us can't appreciate how difficult it must be to tell right from wrong if your parents can't tell the difference.
I disagree with both M.Lewis and the jail builders. Using the architects own data I come up with a reduction in need to expand the number of beds. I am not an expert in this area, either.
I have it on good authority that the future "Law Enforcement & Courts" standing committee held a very productive discussion with most of our local experts, on incarceration, after the "Custodial" committee fiasco.
This is the kind of work that will produce results next year.
Agreed! I guess a point I tried to make, and didn't do well, was our States present economy. There are no signs it will get better. Jobs are being lost all too often. WHO can predict what Michigan will be like 5-10 years down the Road! I can't. I believe the Sheriff's plan to renovate, rather than build a new jail, is the best course of action. I think Michigan is in such a state of chaos that there are no "Jail Experts" who can accurately predict what our needs will be next year and the years after. I question if any of their "criteria" is relevant to what Michigan is going through?
Lots of stuff here, Mike, and I will study it later. For now, I am thinking of a chicken farmer who had more chicken houses and chickens than any other farmer around. To get three opinions on his future plans he invited a fox, a coyote and an owl over. They recommended that he get a lot more chickens, build more hen houses and put the fattest and oldest hens outside where they could be watched more efficiently. Probably not the best example, but your statistics seem to come from chicken hawks.
Google some international stuff. Use the word "incarceration".
Thinking outside the box means that we need to reconsider what the entire US justice system is doing. For every excuse that we use there is a counter argument. The bottom line seems to be that we don't need to put so many people in jail.
We don't like to talk about it, but having many generations of heroes that used guns to solve problems has developed into a violent culture. I don't see this as anything that is helpful, so perhaps we could solve our conflicts in some other way.
I'm still a bit disturbed by the idea that putting people in jail or punishing them has some psychological healing affect on victims.( I forget who mentioned it)
Howdy, happyvote!
Thanks for the happy comments!
In fact, nobody is going to lower your taxes except George Bush. I assume you are filthy rich. Locally you get to vote. Tonight you can attend the County Board meeting, but you won't. They will vote on your rate of taxation and Thursday you will bitch about it.
The Sheriff isn't going to reduce crime, you are. You are going to figure out how to reduce poverty, raise our average level of education, start businesses that hire people and insist on policies that improve our social systems. That will reduce crime. Having two Sheriffs would not cut crime in half.
In fact, we are making a difference. Stick around for a few days with your typing finger in your pocket and you will read some great ideas, attempts to chuckle through the pain, and conflict resolution without driveby shootings.
Were those red lights your tail-lights as you drove past?
Hey. PolGuy!
How about a clean white board!
This thread seems to draw a good audience.
Happyvote, those subjects have been addressed plenty (as you'd know if you'd been reading before now) and will be more (if you care to stick around a while). You say "What I want to know is who is going to lower my property taxs? who is going to help my sheriff stop and prevent crime. Who is going to help the single mothers and fathers to strrugling to raise their children. Who is going to help make sure we have quality teachers and schools for our kids to have a chance at some kind of future?" I can't help but note that it's awful hard to cut property taxes when you ALSO want to get tough on crime (more prisons? more cops? more treatement centers?), and strengthen education (more schools? smaller classes? better pay for teachers?). This is what has irked me so much about the Republican philosophy in recent years- limited government is a worthy goal but you can't preach it while increasing spending or blasting someone else for not spending enough when you've spent a decade forcing tax cut after tax cut upon a government stretched beyond it's means.
And the notion that the personal is irrelevant is dishonest at best. While many of the "personal" issues that get brought up in politics aren't important (Al Gore's suit color comes to mind), I find it extremely important if a candidate had a repeat history of trying to scam money from people- don't you think it would be foolish to give that person access to the property tax revenue you think is already too much? One reason we pay higher taxes than we ought to is political corruption.
I find it odd that every new "person" who comes here to defend MIke Lewis acts as if 1. They already know all the facts, 2. The local paper has no right to dig into what seems to be a pattern and only after those issues were already brought up in a public forum and not entirely disclosed as to what they were, 3. There is no problem with a guy who on one hand claims to have made mistakes and is atoning for those mistakes but then turns around and dismissing everything that could be called a mistake as part of a different person's vendetta, and 4. Sees nothing strange with the fact that a disparate group of individuals with no connection and nothing in common are all making charges against one man that all seem to focus on "easy money" scams.
While I don't claim to know all these charges to be true and I don't claim that this is the most important issue in the campaign (in fact, it's the "Friends of Mike" that seem to keep fueling this IMO) it IS ONE issue and it IS important in judging a person's character. Now, let's do as everyone wishes and move on...
Grillo, your wish is my command- see top of page in about ten minutes...
Jim, do you think I'm on here 24/7? Heatherjo can report her rebuttal if she just keeps from making too many overly nasty and personal comments and stick to the facts of the case. I know there's bad blood but I have to keep this blog from being the Jerry Springer Show.
As I did when politicsmaster made some comments that were deemed to have crossed a line (my biggest problem is when comments of a personal nature are posted that can be known by anyone outside of the incident and cannot be proven or disproven by others) I had to delete the entire message but felt like some other things that were said were worthy of discussion, I have to do the same with Heatherjo's comments from last night. I'm not endorsing these comments, but I feel that the ones I've posted here were at least fair game while the ones I've deleted crossed the line into personal issues that can't be proven by anyone besides the parties involved which I have no wish to be discussed here.
- Pol
HeatherJo said...
Ok Mike Lewis,
...
You mention I wasn't an employee of yours. So you don't remember sitting in my living room at my apt and in the living room of OUR house copying my old W2's and making them state I was working for you. Trust me buddy I have everything. And I will be sending them out in the mail tomorrow to Mr. Gambee. And then I will copy them on here so everyone can see what you did. Just like when you did those so I could get a new apt when you were leaving for Michigan. I can go to that manager and get a statement from her aswell that I turned in the documents you gave me. Aswell a statemenets you gave her aswell.
Mike you have barked up the wrong tree now. Yes I did call the Barry County Sheriff's office to discuss you counterfeit money order scheme. And I will gladly show all proof I have that you are a con artist and a fraud. You can't do anything without trying to con someone out of something. Just like Eric Hahn. You can him out of a house for 3 months and left me a single mother of 2 to clean up your mess. You was trying to con Buskirk aswell.
...
That town DOES NOT need someone like you anywhere near their money or they will end up in the hole like me and can't sue you because you were just a few weeks shy of me turning in my papers to file suit against you to get my money back.
You are the worst person I wish I would of never met. May god have mercy on your soul!
8:52 PM
HeatherJo said...
And Jim,
Mr Lewis had things done this way with us so that he wouldn't have to claim any money on his taxes and such. I spent alot of time with tax preparers showing them all my documents and proof that I never had any money and that I was scamed. And they did not have me claim that stuff. The reason I did have food heat utilities and such was because Mike would have me take all the money out of my account and give to him so he could run it back to his wife and buy her pretty things. I have all reciepts to show proof. Mike Lewis will Lie right to your face about everything. But I have PROOF! Anyone can ask to see it and I will gladly make plenty of copies to share with you all and you will see what the TRUTH really is. If anyone thought I was wrong for naything Buskirks attorny would have sued me when Mike took their money and ran. But no what did lovely Mike do, He told them I was not to be in on this and to go after others. So if I was wrong why would that man tell them to leave me alone? ....
Yes he left me in a bind and I am still there. But it's ok. God tells me not to hate and I wont, But I will never forgive him for what he did to me and my kids!
9:02 PM
Heatherjo, I too have experienced the "silence" of this blog line at times, lol. They are not speachless but more turning their attention to other matters. This is their way of turning the focus on things more interesting to them. I also believe some here are not as open or unbiased as they might proclaim to be (while still others are very unbiased). If you do want to carry on the battle, so to speak, go to "equal time in Barry County" blog line. I manage that one and have not yet stifled anyone (but might if it is used innapropiately).
Lovely and inspiring words, Heaterjo, and filled with factual enhancement. I especially enjoyed the annexation of Rutland/Hope to some city. It's always a pleasure to hear from the uninformed. It keeps us from assuming that everybody knows what they are talking about.
I don't understand why you didn't add anything bad about their kids. Saving that for your next howl from the hills?
Happy Halloween!
Are the "people" who you hear talking, outside of your head?
Do you commute to Rutland Township from out there in the Ohio hills, to listen to these voices?
I think HeatherJo's right on that point. The supposed "mix up" with the cutting and pasting was very likely Lewis posting while signed in under one of the assumed names. Obviously, I can't prove it but it seems fairly obvious.
I am a fake, heaterjo.
So what? Who isn't?
Your truth has not set me free.
Nor has it set my hair on fire!
Ferris will probably take the seat, but there is much to be learned by listening to diverse opinions, and ignoring personal name-calling.
I hope Mike will be allowed to prove his value (or lack of value) by serving the County for the next two years. He has already opened a few eyes from the "public comment" podium, and I hope he will continue to be one of the few who show up.
I will be very disappointed if the next County Board doesn't shake up the system. I expect to see lightning and hear thunder for the next two years and there will be very few people who will fail to get offended at least once. It won't bother the new crowd if the room is filled with us fakirs every time a committee meets.
As a fakir, I may not be able to mush stuff down into a form you can swallow without chewing, but you will benefit from the taste and smell.
Lewis should "earn" his "full" participation back into society. not just serving out his jail/prison term and talking a "game" plan that some people are thrilled about? You don't commit armed robbery and get voted in as President. Start out by serving on committees and such. People, in time, will accept someone truly "reformed". I laugh when I hear about all these "great" plans he has. He's gonna re-design County Government, some have said. He sure has alot of diverse expertise that he will have to prove to me first. His 122 bed plan for the jail? Where does he get his expertise (serving time does not count) in designing a jail? Then the Courts? How much imput has he sought from others, other than taking up the Sheriff's valuable time. Did he talk to all the Chief's in the County? The Sheriff Deputies Union, the poilice officers on the street as to "user friendly" ideas they might recommend, as incarceration starts with them?
The Dove supporters! It doesn't make any difference whether he signed it as Sheriff or not. We all know who Dar Leaf is and you still would have criticized him. Maybe you should investigate the good things he has done in office, since defeating the former one who was hardly seen in his office! As Ellie says, I'm headin for the barf room after readin the one writer say "Where is Steve DeBoer at?" Hopefully anywhere but Barry County.
You can snort cocaine and have DUI's and become the president. And, no remorse required. Mike has paid for his sins, let's hope he has really repented.
We'ums sho nuf enjoy this here gossip column.
Aside from the personal pursuit of trivia, there are issues that Mike has researched regarding Charlatan Park, etc. that should not be ignored.
It would be nice to hear from anybody at all who is aware of a well informed opinion on any issue from Dave Brinkert. With such a dynamic new group of Commissioners coming on board, it would be a shame to have to drag Dave kicking and screaming into the future.
Hey, Barb, can you push his "Play" button for us?
wow i heard about this site and i had to find out a few things weather they were true or not before i asked the question.NOw i was a witness to the Heather problem. Now I heard that she didnt know who the daddy of her boy was until she divorced her husband and admitted the father is in prison for murder. She refuses to tell the man and the exhusband dosnt want him. I also heard that a family member is a homosexual. She lyed to michigan and ohio police and said she and Mike didnt live together and there was a court order for her not to be around the Lewis Children.So how do u know about the children behavior???? Also do u have a irs statement saying that you arnt responsible for the money that was in your account, that you removed??And if you are so concernded about reporters and cops calling you and it is their fault why answer them unless you are a women scornded.I am glad my husband came home before your lyes and scams involved him. I feel for Mikes wife I seen what she went through with you and your lies and i want to wish her and her kids luck and love in pulling through the one childs attack. Hope he is well. Hold your head up Mr. Lewis and we hope to see you in 2 years.Oh ya as for dk its not hard to be bitter when the lewis but a family member of yours in prison for assulting a child. Shame on yu for putting Mikes family info and names on line if u want to be so forward post your name and confron the lewis with your real name.
County commission forum- softballs and sour grapes. Many have been critical of the Barry County Board of Commissioners held on Thursday.
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Kyle
Michigan Alcohol Addiction Treatment
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