From your mouth to God’s ears that whomever is representing us beginning in January, can set about to getting real work done and remember first and foremost, that it’s not about them, it’s about all of us and what’s good for Michigan. (And hopefully, those in D.C. can remember the same as well about us as a nation.)

We love you too! (D just read your comment.)
-Erika

Good job explaining your stance and, sheding some light into the primary process here in Taylor.

No candidate can be the choice of everyone, and that is fine, we all have our choices and Democracy allows us to make them.

The final proof will be in the ‘pudding’ of the Primary.

Give Doug my best and know that your time to relax is almost here, one way or another.

I *do* however, understand that the Legislature does represent the entire state and the interests of all districts. What I found interesting/relevant is your specific interest in Ms. Brandana. The only other districts that I found you mentioning for this year’s race are the 66th and 47th (your own). Grant it, I didn’t go through your entire archive–don’t have time, 1) I’m on deadline (which as a former journalist, yourself, you understand); and 2) the primary’s tomorrow, and being a Legislative staffer, I don’t have to tell you what the day before the primary’s like, as I’m sure you’ve worked on many a campaign. You also don’t know my husband, I don’t think there’s anyone in Taylor who knows him and/or his record, who would accuse him of “telling someone something just to please them,” save for a small group. It’s not his style, it never has been, and unlike many of his colleagues, I’ve known him pretty much close to half of my life and can say that with great confidence. Doug’s no “yes man.” He speaks his mind and votes his conscience, even if it means that someone may not like it. Not everyone is like that…there are people (and we’ve all met or worked with them in some capacity at some point in our lifetimes or careers) who are more concerned about being liked than doing what’s correct. Furthermore, Doug has been very specific about where he stands on the issues. Have *you* spoken to him directly about the issues, or are you just reading/hearing snippets of information (and often repurposed) taken from the vast array of surveys that the candidates have to fill out?

Regarding the ad: It was only accurate in the sense that the clips were taken from real events, however they were cut and spliced in such a way that doesn’t portray the entire story. (I don’t know if you’ve seen the entire tape from the town hall meeting in Romulus or from the council meeting. I have seen both. In fact, I watched the council meeting live and know what was edited out of it to make that bogus commercial; so does everyone who was present.

As for the pooling of resources, yes…Taylor taxpayers, Inkster taxpayers, Romulus taxpayers and Dearborn Heights taxpayers all put money in because all four communities were stakeholders in the airport issue. I’m surprised that as a Legislative staffer, that you don’t understand how that works. Were the airport in Inkster, let’s say, and not in a city in the 22nd District, the emphasis on fighting whatever airport master plan changes that would have the same community welfare effect as the 5th parallel runway proposal had, would have been no different. (Note, I’m taking into account any differences b/c of geography and orientation were the airport in a different city than Romulus, but still affecting our area and extrapolating.) Campaign for State Rep for the 22nd District or not, Doug would have been just as interested in the issue as well…the proposed runway would have had planes flying right over our house….so as homeowners, we were stakeholders as was every other citizen in the four communities affected. As a City Councilman, he was representing his community. Again, I ask where exactly was Ms. Brandana during the public meetings. Even if they were held during the day, I am sure that Mr. Feiger would have given her the time off necessary to attend such an important event, given his interest in doing what’s right for us little people, had she really been willing to make the effort. (All she did was vote to pass the resolution for the city to join the fight.) But that’s all water under the bridge now anyway, since the issue has been resolved.

Hey, no matter what the outcome is tomorrow, hopefully, whomever makes it through the primary tomorrow and on to November, that once the final ballots are cast in November that all of our elected officials can work together (and staffers) to get the job done for Michigan and its citizens. I’m sure on that, at least, we can agree. And please note, I’m not stating that with any implications for my husband’s success tomorrow. Sure, I hope he wins just as you hope Jill wins, and that there are Mulka supporters who hope that he wins. But after tomorrow, the key thing will be what happens from August 6th through November 11, and that after tomorrow night’s election results come in, that as Democrats we work together to take back the House, and that whomever wins from all of our respective districts in November, that they can work with their colleagues across the aisle regardless of which of our favorite candidates can claim a primary victory.)
N’est pas?

Brandana’s endorsements are from people who represent Democratic values, as are your husband’s endorsements. As for the Taylor police, I really have no idea if they live in Taylor or not. What I do know is the city seems to want to blame PA 312 for the high salaries and the high pensions and want to repel it. The fact is PA 312 is not the culprit; the culprit is the City Council.

As for the ad, it’s accurate and relevant. You keep talking about “pooling money,” but it’s still dollars from Taylor taxpayers.

The bottom line is it’s great we have three qualified candidates. As I said on my blog, your husband is a great candidate, but he’s the second best candidate in the race.

When one is dissatisfied with government, you work to change it in a proactive manner. Grassroots organizations are wonderful, powerful things; but when they use hateful tactics, that’s not constructive at all. That’s all I’m saying, and that’s all I’m suggesting you do — be proactive, not a voice of hatred and if you really have a problem with the government, get involved and run for a seat that will give you the ability to implement the changes that you think should be made.

As untoward as Ms. Brandana’s ways might be with this campaign, and as much as I might criticize *how* she’s let her campaign be run, at least she has the guts to put herself out there. What have you done that’s constructive?

Have a pleasant evening, and I guess we’ll all see how things turn out when the polls close on Tuesday. I’ve already said it and I’ll say it again, when the polls close, win or lose, Doug and everyone associated with him will be able to rest peacefully, knowing that we have all conducted ourselves in a civil manner.