If at first you don't succeed, try to get elected. Apparently that's the motto of at least one, if not both candidates for the two Sylvania Township trustee positions on the ballot in November. The incumbents, Pam Hanley and DeeDee Liedel worked to protect the Sylvania Township residents when the question of a 'merger' with the city of Sylvania was on the November ballot in 2008. The merger was defeated by 72% in Sylvania Township. Feeling a little stung by their defeat, the city government might be duplicitous enough to slip in a couple of frauds.
Courtesy of the Toledo Blade: Boyle announces he'll run for seat on Sylvania Township board
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/NEIGHBORS...
Former Sylvania Township Trustee Dennis Boyle has thrown his hat back into the ring for the autumnal township election.
Last year he finished fifth out of seven. So why does Mr. Boyle think he should be elected?
From the article: ...he may have "taken a little too much for granted" in running his unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2005. Also from the article: said that if elected he will strive to cooperate more with the city of Sylvania, including healing a rift that developed in recent years over the township fire department, and promote greater financial accountability in township government.
Or, put in more honest and forthright terms, give the city of Sylvania whatever it wants until the next attempt by the city to annex Sylvania Township, at which time he will fully support the annexation. For the children.
Then there's Penny Levine, who at least is honest enough to admit she supports the city in its attempts to take over the Township.
Brought to you by the Toledo Blade: Second challenger enters race for post as Sylvania Township trustee
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090211/NEIGHBORS...
From the article: A second challenger has entered the race for Sylvania Township trustee in the Nov. 3 general election.
Ms. Levine says the Township residents need her desperately because she'll make the Township fiscally responsible, and, if you believe The Blade, she will also work at:
Communicating and addressing the needs of our township citizens, its employees, and creating a healthy relationship between the township and Sylvania city government are essential to the future and welfare of all Sylvania residents
Healthy? Healthy for who? Why is this essential for Sylvania Township residents? Of course the real truth of the matter is not mentioned just now, but doing a little digging in the Sylvania Township meeting minutes from the special meeting last year reveals that Levine was outspoken in her support of the Sylvania takeover:
Sylvania Township Trustees - Special Meeting
http://www.sylvaniatownship.com/MeetingMinutesDetail.aspx?id=78e1f595-bd...
From the Meeting Minutes: Those speaking in support of the merger were: Penny Levine, Carol Lindhuber, Gary Sommer, Dorothy McFarland, Bruce Wharram, and Doug Hayman.
These two duplicitous reprobates ought to be tarred and feathered then run out of town on a rail.
That's basically what you are suggesting by stating they should be "tarred and feathered then run out of town on a rail" when the reality is 28% of Sylvania Township residents wanted the merger study. They were the minority, they lost, but someone believing in that position running is not a crime.
It's up to the residents of Sylvania to then decide if they want to keep their present trustees or not. It's part of the way our government is designed, anyone can run for office that meets the standards and that should be encouraged.
We don't remember days only moments...
Right, Lisa. So if I'm going to support Judge Linda Jennings in the next election, is that something you'd encourage? Because everyone should have a chance, right? That's fair, right?
These two are running for office and are misrepresenting themselves. They do not have the welfare of the Township residents on their list of priorities. In fact the rift between the city and the township is so great that city residents shouldn't be allowed to vote for township trustees due to an obvious conflict of interest.
Mad Jack
Mad Jack's Shack
Since you feel that everyone's agenda/motives should be out in the open, I have a question for you. (Not an accusatory question - just a question.)
You live in Wisconsin, correct? If so, then what is your connection to Sylvania/Sylvania Twp? I find it interesting that you have the most to say about Sylvania politics of anyone on the local blogs, yet you don't seem to be a local resident.
(Not that former residents can't still be interested in local politics, of course. But since you feel that no one should have a hidden agenda, it couldn't hurt to mention your past or present ties to Sylvania also.)
I was born and raised in Sylvania Township and my family still lives there. Had the merger succeeded it would have meant the end of a way of life for us and a lot of other people, some of whom are too dumb to realize what was about to happen.
Mad Jack
Mad Jack's Shack
Thanks for answering.
I didn't mean my question in a snarky way. Just thought that since you were discussing hidden agendas that other people had, it might be relevant to state your affiliation too. :)
As a Sylvania Township resident, I was involved in the effort to stop the merger "study" scam last fall. I agree that city residents shouldn't be voting for township trustees. It's really no different that someone who lives in the township and works in the city. That person gets no vote in city elections. The city contracts with the township for fire services. That's all it should be, a contract, not a vote.
I've heard of efforts to remove city voters from township elections, but it's been a slow go. If these two candidates are successful it'll be because they've convinced city voters to try and retake control of the township via the trustees. Township voters got a good education last fall and saw the city leadership as scammers out for tax revenue. That's all it's about.
The city wants to do 2 things. One is to tax those who live and work in the township. The second is to eliminate competition for new businesses. The income tax makes the city non-competitive. For example, why has Starlight Plaza languished? The whole place could be bulldozed and redeveloped, except it's cheaper to do business in the township. There were so many reasons why a merger was a bad idea. Sucking up to city leadership isn't the way to protect the township. Standing up to the city is.
You may not like the idea of electing new blood to Sylvania Township's leadership, but you may wish to consider doing so this November to break apart the tandem incumbants, Pam Hanley and Dee Dee Liedel. Their votes go hand-in-hand; they are a dangerous political monopoly. That is the way they designed their original pathway into Sylvania Township - (Pam Hanley saying from the beginning that she would not run if her friend Dee Dee Liedel did not run.) Since the trustee voting is set up 3 to 1, it leaves the Hanley and Liedel team a little heavy-handed and for anyone who has not had the disillusioning privilege to go behind the scenes and see their tandem voting in operation, again, you might want to think long and hard about allowing that situation for 4 more years!
Money-wise - You might actually want to see how your money has been spent in massive legal fees to one Johnson, Schmitt, and Miller law firm. These women used Sylvania Township tax dollars to take aim on tandem personal politics directed at undermining the men and women loyally and diligently serving your Sylvania Township Police Department and the safety of your community. These two women should never be allowed to run in tandem and "rule" over Sylvania Township again. They have hurt an awfully lot of men and women, deeply and personally while playing and dictating in their political playground - your Sylvania Township. If you value your police department, if you value people, you won't let the Hanley/Liedel two-for-one happen to Sylvania Township again. Break the vote this time around if you care about people and people treating people with integrity.