Handling of Absentee Ballots - Running In Slates and Why You Need To Vote

Since I made the decision to run for Plymouth Township Trustee, I find myself looking to the Patch on a regular basis to see what the latest news is about the local political issues. Since I had an accident the day before the League of Women Voters Forum and couldn't attend because I fell and knocked out my front teeth and sprained my left wrist and foot, had bruised gums, a split and cut upper lip that was glued together and more pain that I want to relive again anytime soon, the Patch blogs have kept me informed as well as some of the snippets in the local Observer and what I have read in the Eagle, as well as the phone calls from residents who have expressed their concerns about the issues facing the Township.This is what I have learned - there are still a lot of people in the Township who don't understand what is happening in terms of our dwindling funds, the misuse of power on the part of the administration and the reluctance or inability of the sitting board members to see any issue from a viewpoint other than that of "sitting in the middle of the mess" attitude. A perfect example would be the questions that were brought up by Mr. Doroshewitz in relation to the proper handling of voted absentee ballots that were placed in the drop box at Township Hall. As some of you may recall, he legitimately raised the question of whether two sets of eyes should be collecting those ballots to eliminate the appearance of impropriety in the event of "missing" ballots. For some people, this was embarrassing - was he suggesting potential fraud on the part of the Clerk's office and it made some people wonder whether that was possible but it brought forth another question and that was who had keys to this drop box. Well, I have a better question - "what is the purpose of the drop box?" It is to pay bills after hours so who should have a key to the box and what should go in it - bills that are being paid after hours - right?The former Clerk and the Treasurer worked together for a while and used the same box and then the Clerk got a box of her own earmarked for applications for absentee ballots and voted absentee ballots at the old location at Ann Arbor Road and Lilley which is just as it should be.When they moved to the new location, the Clerk did not get her own box for whatever reason, likely because she was no longer in her own building but you would have to ask her because I cannot speak for her. Suffice it to say that with the move, the second box became history and that is where the problem began again.The law is very clear - no person, other than a person deputized by the Clerk, or the voter, or a person specified by the voter who signs an affidavit attesting to same, shall be in possession of a voted absentee ballot. What does this mean? It means the Treasurer, the Deputy Treasurer or anyone else who has a key to the drop box that is designated for paying bills is not legally authorized to be in possession of a voted absentee ballot - only deputized members of the Clerk's office. The exception is to mail it through the US Mail as a mail carrier can be in possession of the ballot to deliver it to the Clerk's Office as they are governed by their own set of rules that protect delivery of that mail.So - now you have your answer - do not drop your ballot in that box - ever - because then you remove the likelihood of an inappropriate person handling your ballot. Either personally return it to the Clerk's office or mail it via US Mail.I also read with interest the comments made by Nancy Conzelman in the Observer about this fire slate that is out there running for election and she said "we haven't heard the last of them". The next day I got a flyer in the mail from Supervisor Richard Reaume paid for by all of the following and telling all of the citizens to vote for all of the following - and of course they are incumbents with the exception of one Trustee candidate and their hand picked Clerk candidate who knows nothing about elections which are a huge part of the job and that job requires utmost integrity and a whole lot of knowledge to ensure that integrity. Fortunately for Plymouth Township, we already have that in Joe Bridgman.For the record, there is no fire slate running for office in Plymouth Township that I am aware of. My husband was the Fire Chief in this community for 24 years and he was a valued and committed public servant. My father was a policeman and he was a valued and committed public servant. I care about what is best for this community and that means essential services and that includes fire and police. I can think for myself and have my own qualifications that have nothing to do with my husband or my father - I just believe in preserving the safety and welfare of our citizens. And for Plymouth Township that means to give you the opportunity that so many of you signed petitions for, to vote for a 1 mile fire increase for 5 years if that is what you choose after receiving all the facts. That means that as a Board Member I will vote to place that issue on the ballot. It is as simple as that. It is your decision to make!

I have also learned that there are a lot of people in Plymouth Township who are very concerned about the direction we are headed in our Township. They are concerned about the spending, the no bid contracts that are awarded that are allegedly in violation of the $40,000.00 no-bid limit according to the Charter, they are concerned about the recent 5 Mile Road land purchase and the potential for Detroit to sue us to ge the land back, they are questioning why we really needed that water tower west of town, why the engineering was not done properly, why DeMattia was just awarded another no bid contract, why we just entered into a grant for a warming center at Township Park which will require money from us and they just want to know what is going on and why we get no answers from the current board. There are many people who have been disrespected and talked down to who get no answers. They deserve answers as citizens and they aren't going to get them until we get a new board that is responsive to the citizens. That is why you need to vote - Because you can make a difference in your community.

There are a lot of good people running for office this year; people who want to change the direction of the Township; people who want to allow you input and access to our Township and our future. I am talking about new people who are tired of the same old story - same old machinations, same old lies (like the one where they said to the residents of Lakepointe and everyone in the community that "you are just as safe today" as you were before they layed off 9 firemen) and same old power plays. Why don't you give some of us a chance and let us show you what we can do together for you?

Please vote August 7, 2012!