Call'-em Out!!! Mayoral Forum in Detroit

By Gwendolyn Gaines and Sylvia Orduño
Call’-em Out!!! and MWRO members

Call’em Out!!! is a Detroit-based community political action group “dedicated to the mission of stamping out samboing and selling-out of our community by elected officials.” For the past several years, Call’em-Out!!! has held various meetings, pickets, and community actions to hold elected officials accountable to the people with the motto:

When Elected Officials in the City of Detroit Do Not Serve in the Interest of the People in the City of Detroit, Call'em-Out!!!

Last Tuesday, Call’em-Out!!! organized a mayoral forum, “An Agenda for the People of Detroit.” All of the 18 candidates for next year’s special election were invited to sit and listen to the community’s concerns. Mayoral candidates were not allowed to give any campaign speeches and could only ask clarification questions. Seven candidates attended—Wayne Co Sheriff Warren Evans, Rev. Nicholas Hood, Freman Hendrix, state Rep. Coleman Young II, Sharon McPhail, D. Etta Wilcoxon, and Jerroll Sanders—and spoke to the gathering of over 200 people.

The program opened with a welcome and forum introduction by Agnes Hitchcock. Janella Frazier was the mistress of ceremony and she began with the introduction of the mayoral candidates. This was followed by brief presentations from community activists: Jerry Goldberg, [foreclosures], Maureen Taylor, [water affordability program], Denise Hearn [southwest Detroit], Dee Dee Harris [recreation], Marie Thornton [public school education], Sam Riddle [grassroots organizations and the work that they do], and Emanuel Roberson [youth]. After all the presenters spoke on issues of concern to Call’em Out!! members and other Detroiters, they were given the chance to meet and talk with the candidates. Prior to this, Call’-em Out!!! had been doing surveys about our issues, the candidates were there to listen and to ask for clarity on an issue.

The next Call’-em Out!!! program will be January 6, 2009 when the candidates will respond to community issues and questions. It was a good program and a nice size group that attended!

(Image from Call'-em Out!!! web-archived site. A new site will be up soon.)

The Death Of Youth?

By Maureen D. Taylor
State Chair, MWRO

Little “Daniel” was eleven years old when he wondered into the thick brush near his home. Among the unkempt shrubs and trees, he found a discarded .22 caliber pistol. To his delight, after several tries, the gun discharged so he shot it several times into the air. One of the bullets found and killed “Mr. Bean” who was an innocent twenty-one year old walking down the street.

The Michigan courts decided after reviewing the background of “Daniel” that he was unsupervised and unaccounted for, especially since his mother was away from home at her job. Uncles and other relatives were asked to attend him, so sometimes they did, and other times, they didn’t.

Since no one cared, he was tried as an adult, found guilty, and sentenced to ten years in “kid” jail. When he was twenty-one, he was released. To the delight of the press, they photographed him as he walked away, wearing a fake-fur coat, a “zoot-suit,” a “pimp hat,” and red shoes someone had purchased for him.

Howls went up when it was suggested that the Governor had arranged for a job. “Why should this jail-bird get work when my kid can’t find a job?” The job vanished along with the apartment that he had been promised, and the educational spot that was arranged also went away.

Some months later after several minor offenses, he was stopped again by local authorities, and they found 232 “ecstasy” pills in his possession. He was charged with another crime of intending to sell drugs. Wonder where he got 232 pills from? Probably from the same person who bought those clothes and those red shoes.

Anyway, rather than go through another court case, this 22 year old shocked the court by telling his attorney that he was pleading guilty. He was sentenced to 4 years in an adult jail, and that was that. He will come back to us again in 2012, and I wonder how old will he be then?

Daniel was eleven when this terrible tragedy happened to him and to the young man who he shot. He was twenty-one when released, going on thirteen, and will be twenty-six when he is released again in 2012, going on fourteen. How could mothers and fathers let this happen? Oh well, just another “Bronx tail” about the death of youth.

(Image courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons)

Poverty Statistics in Michigan

Like everyone else, we're reading the news and trying to keep up with what's happening. But along the way MWRO notices that a lot of statistics in Michigan are increasing.

Here are some examples:

• In October, the Michigan's unemployment rate was 9.3%, the highest level since July 1992;
• 1 out of 5 Michigan residents live in or near poverty, including 500,000 children;
• 1 in 3 Detroit residents is poor making it the poorest large city in the nation;
• 47.8% of children live below the poverty line in Detroit;
• Between January-May 2008, DTE reported a 56% increase in shut-offs for non-payment;
• 77,900 jobs were cut in Michigan from September 2007-2008;
• In home foreclosures, Michigan ranked 7th nationally with 1 in every 396 homes receiving a foreclosure filing, in Detroit foreclosure filings were 1 in every 68 homes;
• The Michigan Dept of Corrections is the largest state program and accounts for 20% of the state's budget [PDF];
• Michigan has the 11th highest incarceration rate in the U.S. (more than Canada and Mexico);
  
• 44% of Michigan adults read at a 4th grade level or below;
• 1 in 8 Michigan residents receive Food Stamps; and
• More than 1 in 10 Michigan residents will need emergency food assistance.
  

For some readers, these statistics may be shocking but for poor and low-income workers in Michigan they mean day-to-day life is difficult and miserable!

The $700 billion bailout for Wall Street banks is offering nothing to uplift this economy, nor does it appear that it will help protect any more automotive sector job losses. Moreover, the $47.1 billion from HUD to Detroit for lessening the impact of foreclosures on hard hit communities seems destined for the coffers of more unscrupulous banks and greedy developers.

The recession in Michigan has been going on much longer than in other parts of the country, at least since 2004. In Detroit, the impact has been felt the hardest by the city's most vulnerable groups--children, seniors, single-mothers, ex-offenders, homeless, disabled, welfare recipients, immigrants, and those poorly educated.

It seems around every corner there is a new problem or a new vulture waiting to take what little you have left. Poor people are resilient...finding ways to make something out of nothing, and sharing what little they have with others in need. But low-income and poor families need to do more to make their voices heard! We are the majority--a majority who has a right to the same quality of life that is enjoyed by others across this state and country.

Now is the time to stand up and fight for the things we need to survive...to fight for our human rights!

(Image from Flickr Creative Commons)

"Bail out the People, not the banks!"

In two days, on November 20th, Detroiters will have their last chance to comment on how the City of Detroit will spend $47.1 million from HUD. "What?!" you say, that's right because on November 21 it goes to City Council for a vote, then it's off to HUD for a December 1 Action Plan submission.

So, here's our quick review of this:
In July 2008, Congress passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act to address the impact of foreclosures in communities hardest hit by the crisis. Later that month, new HUD Secretary Preston announced in Detroit, "the epicenter of the foreclosure crisis," that the federal government was launching an aggressive foreclosure prevention assistance program to buy bad loans from lenders. The following month, the Detroit Economic Growth Association hired staff and opened the Office of Foreclosure Prevention to ready itself for these funds. [We can't find its website or location!]

Meanwhile, the Detroit Planning and Development Dept, developed a Neighborhood Stabilization Plan (NSP) partly based upon HUD's guidelines but with an emphasis on demolishing homes. The NSP Executive Summary states:

It is important to note the strong focus on demolition activity in the plan, which accounts for approximately 50% of the total award amount. Due to the number of vacant properties, duration of vacancy and the market conditions, eliminating blighted structures in the target neighborhoods for future development or alternative land uses will have a tremendous stabilizing impact. Priorities for demolition will include structures adjacent to development projects nearing completion, and concentrations of blighted, vacant properties.

We agree that dangerous and abandoned homes in Detroit need to be cleared for neighborhood safety and quality of life matters. But the NSP, along with demolition businesses, banks, and others want to clear huge parcels of land for new development with new residents. Nowhere do they mention the option of creating Detroit jobs that will lead to home stabilization and neighborhood security.

Many of the homes they propose to tear down are good homes in need of repair. The residents who moved out were hard working men and women who lost their jobs, lost their pensions, died in debt from medical and utility bills. In the effort to save their home, they often took out loans from unscrupulous predatory lenders, got involved in foreclosure rescue scams, and lost their homes in reverse mortgages. Rather than tear down these homes, hire Detroiters to fix them, paint them, landscape them, furnish them, thereby providing every manner of work and community pride!

Councilmember Joann Watson's Housing Task Force met on November 6 with Moratorium Now members who condemned the NSP and demanded that these federal funds be used as designed--to assist families in foreclosure, fix up vacated homes, and resettle families in them! The Michigan Citizen reports this in a November 15 story, "Demolition or Repair?"

MWRO also calls for these federal foreclosure assistance funds to be used as intended: to protect against more Detroit families losing their home, to safeguard and rehabilitate existing low-income housing; and not to be used at the pleasure of banks, developers, and officials looking for more easy money at taxpayer expense!

Read the City's Neighborhood Stabilization Plan Executive Report (and full report), along with a map of the Detroit Target Communities that are selected for assistance. Submit your comments by November 20...call 313-224-6380 or email NSP@detroitmi.gov

(Image from Flickr Creative Commons)

The Real Stimulus Strategy!!

by Maureen D Taylor, MWRO State Chairperson

Has it not yet occurred to regular, blue-collar, working or in-between job folks that the real way to stimulate the economy is to make resources directly available to us!

Every family who was deemed eligible for the $600 or $300 check is already listed and on paper with current addresses or current bank account numbers, right? Send us all a check for $60,000, or $30,000 each and exempt us from paying taxes on just that amount since whatever we purchase, will be taxed. Make it clear that this is a one time event, and then make it mandatory that all receivers MUST open a bank or Credit Union account.

How long will it take to stimulate the economy? About as long as it takes to get dressed and get out the door! We will buy cars, and refrigerators, and stoves, and clothing, and shoes. We will pay off arrearage utility bills, catch-up on mortgages and rents, and re-invest in car insurance. We will buy food, birthday gifts, get married, fly South to visit grandma, rent a car to take the kids to the Grand Canyon, buy books, go to the movies and take a stronger interest in charity events because we want to share our collective good fortune. This is a win-win scenario.

The regressive government that allowed this nightmare to happen slithers out of blame, the corporations rise or fall on their own greed, and the American people save the country from both of these scavengers. Working people put dollars into circulation. We start small businesses. We make things work, and when we are not in the mix, well you see what happens.

President-elect Obama...get those check printing machines oiled and ready if you want to quickly fix this "rich-man's" mess! With so many more Americans becoming homeless, unemployed, poorer and poorer, wonder why we didn't lose any millionaires or billionaires? Working people will purchase our way back to a level of stability. Knowing that we may not have jobs, we will make wise decisions that protect our families and keep us alive for the long run. You must know the feeling of being "without" before you can make plans to avoid that feeling again.

The fate of the nation and the world lies with us. Trickle down never works only plans to "lift all ships" from the bottom up has the blessing of God stamped on it!

(Image from Flickr Creative Commons)

Poverty Summit Analysis

by Maureen D Taylor, State Chairperson,
Michigan Welfare Rights Organization.

Yesterday, Nov. 13th, 2008, was the beginning of an activity seen last in the 1970's. An event labeled the Poverty Summit was touted as the meeting that would start a dialogue aimed at the ten year elimination of poverty, a laudable goal set by the new Director of the Michigan Dept. of Human Services, Ishmael Ahmed.

Knowing Ish as we do, we were saddened by this event, as it was not the summit he expected nor planned for. Welfare Rights has seen this type of movement before. Some Human Services organizations are like "African weasels" who are able to stand on their hind legs with their snouts pointed up, so they can smell funding on the way.

The country is becoming alarmed by the rising numbers of people in poverty, so these "poverty-pimps" need to get in position so when the poverty spigots are opened up, they will already be in line with lips open, ready to take in their fill. It was a disgusting sight, as they climbed over each other, declaring how each was better than the one before. Once again, poor people are the pawns being set-up for yet another plan to "help" us by funneling money through professional organizations.

The trickle down theory doesn't work anywhere. You want to eliminate poverty, increase Food Stamp allotments from the current level of $3.91/a day/per person. Remove barriers to post-secondary education applied to welfare recipients and let us attend college. Mandate GED courses for those who never finished high school. Make available affordable housing for us and our children. Help us find jobs, and stop forcing us into positions that we can't manage unless we compromise our morality. Don't penalize us for attending training that may lead to employment, and take away the financial punishment called "Drivers Responsibility" that fines poor people in the thousands.

(Image from MWRO, Detroit Water and Sewerage Dept protest against water shut-offs)

Poverty Summit Party Crashing

Today in Detroit, there are three events of concern to us...and we were invited to two of them. Working backwards, we're attending two evening events with great community organizations: United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC), and Detroit Summer.


UCHC is holding an annual fundraising dinner for their work to help low-income homeowners fight mortgage foreclosures. The youth organization, Detroit Summer, is beginning their Breaking Bread Action Series with speakers, music, videos, and a community action. We'll be there with bells and whistles to help these stalwart groups with the amazing work they do in our communities!

Earlier in the day, we'll be attending the Poverty Summit organized by the State of Michigan...but not because we (or other poor people's advocacy groups) were invited. In fact, at the last minute, MWRO was asked by a participating union leader to join a panel after discovering welfare rights was not included in this social service soirée at Detroit's downtown convention center. The Governor will be there along with hundreds of poverty-concerned bureaucrats, academics, faith-based funding organizations, and welfare-to-work contractors. The only ones who won't be there are the victims of poverty!


Welfare rights is not new to the "we forgot to invite you" game. But when the so-called leaders on poverty solutions are in your backyard, it's an added insult to the people who suffer daily from decisions made by well-dressed people in banquet halls.

So, we'll be there today and we'll report back tomorrow on what transpired. And to our friends at UCHC and Detroit Summer, we can't wait to see you!

UCHC Annual Fundraising Dinner & Silent Auction, 5:30pm
Central United Methodist Church, 23 E. Adams St, Detroit
Suggested donation: $20, or whatever you can afford

Detroit Summer "Breaking Bread Action Series," 6pm
CCNDC, 3535 Cass (No. of MLK Bl), Detroit
Bring a potluck dish.

(Images from State of Michigan Poverty in Michigan webpages)

Tonight: Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT) Public Meeting

The Michigan Dept of Transportation is holding a final environmental impact public hearing tonight in Southwest Detroit. Residents can make statements about their concerns on the impact of the massive railroad and truck freight terminal, traffic, freeway reconstruction, air quality, and neighborhood changes. Make your voices heard!

The DIFT hearing will be at:
LA SED Gymnasium
7150 W. Vernor, Detroit
5:30-8:30pm
YOUR PARTICIPATION MATTERS!!

For more info contact 248-799-0140 or visit the Michigan DOT project website at Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal - Environmental Impact Study

Aging Water Infrastructure Results in Water Shut-offs

(Reposted from Great Lakes Town Hall)

By Melissa Damaschke, Sierra Club (Detroit, MI); and
Maureen Taylor, MWRO (Detroit, MI)

The Great Lakes currently provide drinking water to over 42 million people. Yet not everyone in the region can afford this vital resource. Upgrading aging water and sewage infrastructure is placing an unaffordable cost on residents, resulting in water being turned off in thousands of homes in Detroit.

In addition, this aging infrastructure is causing pollution to our Great Lakes. According to the Sierra Legal Defense Fund’s “2006 Great Lakes Sewage Report Card,” cities dumped over 23 billion gallons of raw sewage into the Great Lakes in 2006.

The Detroit Wastewater Treatment Facility is the largest discharger in the Great Lakes basin, processing between 700 million and 1 billion gallons of municipal and industrial wastewater each day. Heavy rainfall events or melting snow often overload the system, causing sewage overflows. The city reported over 200 sewage overflows in 2005, earning it the lowest grade of “D” on the Sierra Legal Defense Fund’s Report Card.

A combined sewage overflow happens during and after wet weather events, when rainwater or melting snow overloads many combined sewer systems. In such instances, large volumes of untreated domestic sewage and industrial wastewater flow directly into local water bodies.

Pollution from combined sewage overflows causes considerable damage, including drinking water contamination, beach closings, algal blooms, basement backups, waterborne illness, closed fishing grounds, loss of tourism, and depressed property values.

The high cost of upgrading and expanding the aging sewage system, among other things, forced the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to raise its water rates numerous times in recent years. Water—a basic human right—became unaffordable to many residents, thousands of whom had their water shut off because of a failure to pay their bills.

The City of Detroit has now adopted the Water Affordability Plan, which when implemented will help protect low income residents from water shutoffs.

This story highlights the connection between sewage infrastructure and drinking water and the critical importance of maintaining both systems and keeping these basic services affordable and available in all Great Lakes cities.

Throughout the week, you will hear more about Detroit’s aging infrastructure and personal stories of people who have had their water shut off in a state that is surrounded by water.

See Great Lakes Town Hall for more stories and to post your thoughts.

(BTW, today is the birthday of Maureen Taylor, MWRO State Chairperson--Happy Birthday!)

Liquid Assets Documentary on Water Infrastructure

Liquid Assets is another anticipated documentary on the nation's water crisis. But this time it's not about the water shut-off and affordability problems that we're familiar with. Instead, this film reports on the decaying infrastructure of water systems in the U.S.

Michiganders know all too well about broken water and sewer lines in their neighborhoods, and along busy streets and highways. Every winter, residents witness frozen household and street pipes reach their limit and burst from years of usage, erosion, and damage. While homeowners are responsible for fixing pipes on and near their property lines, there is a vast network of underground pipes that belong to the general public. There are, however, too few resources and even fewer large-scale plans to address this impending crisis.

Liquid Assets investigates this problem and interviews a variety of political leaders, industry officials, and community activists. Their responses tell of the need for what could be the nation's single largest public works project in history. Learn more by viewing the Liquid Assets trailer, and reading the website's Synopsis and Themes.

Cynthia McKinney Comments on Obama Win

Green Party Presidential Candidate, Cynthia McKinney, recently spoke with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! about President-elect Obama's historic win. (See transcript.) McKinney discussed the many differences that her campaign had with the Democratic Party platform, especially in regard to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the Wall Street bailout. Professor Manning Marable of Columbia University was also a guest for this segment and commented on progressive issues in both campaigns.

Cynthia McKinney ranked 6th in national voting results. We applaud this courageous leader and the Green Party for bringing to the forefront the issues and concerns of low-income individuals and families across this country!

Election Comments from MWRO State Chair

By Maureen D. Taylor
State Chairperson, Michigan Welfare Rights Organization

When President-elect Obama first went to Iowa and won that primary, I thought it was an anomaly. When he won again in New Hampshire among a similar crowd of predominantly white college students and rural workers, I saw something. By the third victory, I understood that he was on to something, so I looked for the answer among those who were supporting his concept of "change."

Again, the use of technology was the trump card, and he and his campaign found that out. Technology has replaced the need for workers around the world, throwing millions out onto the streets with no income, no health care, and no hope. That paradigm shift has finally hit American workers, and the race to reconstruct society is on!

The misery index is on the rise while General Motors wants taxpayers to help them buy Chrysler, and then they will put another 35,000 workers out and on the unemployment line. Throwing $800B toward these banks has done nothing to help those millions who have already lost their homes, and talks of giving these banks even more money are being held.

What President-elect Obama was able to see was that technology was a tool that would put his campaign in contact with a totally new voting block...18 to 30 year olds who don't have landlines! They use cell phones and communicate through text-messages. Republicans didn't see that leap, and were shutout of that entire market. WOW!! No robo-calls reached that group, and the use of technology was one of the main instruments that ushered in this great international victory.

Imagine, using the tools that have replaced so many of us, to win this election. Workers should never again not see the entire picture relative to the importance that new innovations can be used to hurt, and also help us, when they remain in the hands of those capitalists who don't care if we eat, or live inside, or have healthcare, or anything else we need to merely survive. We must capture all means of production and institute an American system that maintains a level of survival regardless of if we are working or not.

Our's is a moral issue. It is wrong to deprive people of water, of food, of housing based on the whims of the marketplace. Stand up American workers, and get your "fight on." Take the country back and let's make her what she was meant to be. Like Obama says, "...it's not that America is perfect, it is that she can be perfect if we work block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, and institute the concept of taking care of each other. We can fix this if we try!

Image courtesy of Flickr.

What a Night! See the excitement in Detroit!

The election results are in and we have a winner...the people of the U.S.! President-Elect Obama has energized people like we haven't seen in years, and this country's hope for a better future is looking possible.

Some of the election results remind us that we still have a lot of work to do in organizing our communities. Yesterday's exit polls from CNN indicated that young people 18-29 years old voted overwhelmingly for Obama 66%, McCain 32%. Among other groups: African Americans 96% for Obama to 3% McCain; Latinos, 67% Obama to 30% McCain; and Asian Americans, 63% Obama to 34% McCain.

The polling data on income levels indicates that among people earning under $15k/yr, 75% voted Obama, 23% McCain; and those earning $15-30k/yr voted 60% for Obama, 37% McCain. Voters without a high school diploma chose Obama 63% to McCain 35%.

This election demonstrates that the masses can be moved when they are inspired and determined to do so! The people of this country (and worldwide) are demanding significant change. Poor people's advocates must organize their communities more strongly to take advantage of this wave of promise, hope, and energy. We can do it!

Thanks to the young people at Allied Media Conference/Project for their great street video on election night in Detroit!

Telephone Help for Polling Place Problems

If you encounter or witness any voting problems or irregularities at your polling site today, there are several numbers you can call for help.

Election Protection: Call (866) OUR-VOTE. It is the nation's largest non-partisan voter protection coalition; sponsored by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, NAACP, ACLU, Common Cause, and more. Detroit is one of the many cities where they have dispatched volunteers who are ready to help. Download their FAQ sheet on Michigan voting rights.

Election Protection in Spanish: (888) VE-Y-VOTA (sponsored by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Education Fund)

Email Election Protection problems to help@866ourvote.org

For more information about Election Protection and voter rights, see the 10/29/08 Detroit Metro Times story Election Protection: Watching the Polls and Watching the Poll Watchers.

You can also report polling site problems to the CNN Voter Hotline at (877) GOCNN-08. The webpage includes a national map with reported complaints.

Election Jitters From Utah's Right

The usually unflappable Sen. Orrin Hatch from Utah seems worried. In an interview today on Fox News (open Yahoo! Video link), he told of the catastrophic changes that would take place under a President Obama administration. His passionate fears ranged from increased unionization, poor people's representation on the U.S. Supreme Court, and a return to "the old welfare system." Sounds good to us!

This is the same Sen. Hatch who refused to meet a few years ago with Utah welfare rights members, JEDI Women, in Washington DC. With the Welfare Made a Difference Campaign, JEDI Women and National Welfare Rights Union members tried to meet with the Senator to voice our concerns about problems with welfare reform legislation. We wanted to ask his support for college degrees that would allow more families to earn a better living.

In December 2004, Utah was given an 'F' on welfare for its failures on welfare policy and results. As a representative of low-income people, Senator Hatch deserves his own 'F.'

Note: Both the JEDI Women (www.jedi4women.org) and Welfare Made a Difference Campaign (www.wmadcampaign.org) sites are down.

Editorial - Green Candidates in Michigan

The Green Party of Michigan candidates support the program and work of Michigan Welfare Rights Organization. Green Party candidates support an immediate moratorium on utility shutoffs and foreclosures, a living wage and good paying jobs for everyone.

Please consider voting for Green Party candidates. Bail out the people, not the bankers!


For President & Vice-President
Cynthia McKinney & Rosa Clemente

US Senate
Harley Mikkelson

State Board of Education
Dwain C. Reynolds

Michigan State University, Board of Trustees
Therese Marie Storm

University of Michigan, Board of Regents
Ellis Boal

Wayne State University, Board of Governors
Margaret Guttshall

US House of Representatives

Rev. Edward Pinkney, 6th District
He is in prison because he is fighting for you! Don’t forget him!

Aimee Smith, 15th District

Clyde Shabazz, 14th District

George Corsetti, 13th District

William Opalicky, 12th District

Erik Shelley, 11th District

Candace Caveney, 10th District

Doug Campbell, 9th District

Aaron Stuttman, 8th District

Lynn Meadows, 7th District

Ken Mathenia, 5th District

Jean Treacy, 1st District

Other Local Offices

Matt Erard, MI House/53rd

Frank Delano Harden, MI House/35th

Richard Kuszmar, MI House/25th

Derek Grigsby, MI House/7th

Fred Vitale, MI House/3rd

Shelly Bane, MI House/27th

Dianne Feeley, Wayne County/5th

John A. LaPietra, Calhoun County Clerk Register

Matt Abel, Wayne County Prosecutor

Louis Novak, Wayne County Commissioner, District 6

Stephen Weed, Macomb County Commissioner, District 1

Tom Mair, Grand Traverse County Commissioner, District 7

Korine Bachleda, Clerk, Newburg Township, Cass County (I)

Here is a link to our Slate Card. http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/freddetroit@sbcglobal.net/lst?.dir=/Campaign+Materials&.view=l

Click on Slate Card to see it.