Paul Ray of Caledonia Township announced his candidacy for the 85th Michigan House of Representatives as a Democrat.

Mr. Ray has been a resident of Shiawassee County and the 85th district for 33 years. He and his wife, Jan, have been married thirty-six years and have a total of six adult children and five [...]]]>

Paul Ray of Caledonia Township announced his candidacy for the 85th Michigan House of Representatives as a Democrat.

Mr. Ray has been a resident of Shiawassee County and the 85th district for 33 years. He and his wife, Jan, have been married thirty-six years and have a total of six adult children and five grandchildren. Their youngest two children graduated from Corunna High School, U of M, and their son also graduated from Harvard Law. The older four children graduated from DeWitt High School, then variously from MSU, Oakland University, LCC, and the University of South Carolina. The Rays have volunteered in the community with the Corunna VFW, local food drives, and the Corunna High School Odyssey of the Mind fundraisers. Mr Ray stated, “Education is important to us.”

Paul is a retired member of UAW Local 652 in Lansing, and worked for General Motors for 32 years, 25 years as a Skilled Tradesman. After retirement from GM, he ran a small business in Corunna for another 19 years. “SYSTECH Computers gave me a wonderful opportunity to meet many people and help some of our local businesses with their technology needs.”

The people of Michigan, disappointed and frustrated that the greatest economic collapse since 1929 had not recovered completely in just two years, gave control of our great state to the Republican Party in 2010. They ran a campaign that seemed to focus like a laser on the theme of jobs, jobs, jobs.

We are now beginning to see the results of nearly two years of the program crafted by the Republicans, including our current Representative in the Michigan house. After more than 30 years of falsely accusing Democrats of “spending our way to prosperity”, Republicans are working full time to “cut and slash” our way to prosperity.

A $1.8 billion tax cut to corporations, businesses, and the Extremely Well to Do has not produced any substantial increase in jobs or hiring. There is zero accountability for any jobs in that tax cut.

The cuts in education, our state government, programs to assist local governments, and the new taxes on pensions to pay for the $1.8 billion tax cut has not produced any jobs.

The cuts have produced major stress on the budgets of local schools and governments, leading to deep cuts in education, local services such as police and fire protection, and jobs being cut in those areas.

The Republican sponsored Emergency Manager Law allows those schools boards and local governments put under stress to be taken over by emergency czars, appointed by the state, with power to unilaterally terminate contracts, to privatize services, and to strip the constitutional powers of your locally elected governments or school boards.

Perhaps the most damaging part of the Republican plan is the assault on the bargaining rights of public employees and school employees. Over 80 years of negotiations have been thrown under the bus for all public and school employees, and their bargaining abilities have been greatly restricted.

Their next move is to make Michigan a “Right to Work for Less” state.

Paul said, “I look forward to meeting you between now and November!”

2012 PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS—MAY 5TH, 2012

Site: Caledonia Charter Township Hall 135 N. State Road (Across from Meijers) Owosso, Michigan County: Shiawassee County Congressional Districts: 4th and 8th Zone: All of Shiawassee County Site Manager: Carol Spaniola Assistants: Paul & Janice Ray, Barbara Lewis & Francis “Bus” Spaniola AGENDA

REGISTRATION (9 AM – 11 [...]]]>

REGISTRATION (9 AM – 11 AM) All registration forms complete.
During this time period there will be light refreshments, DVD of the
three MDP Endorsed Supreme Court Justices, and Petitions for Precinct
Delegates—Sen. Stabenow petitions—along with other petitions.
Candidates and elected officials will be introduced.

CALL THE CAUCUS TO ORDER 11:00 AM
No further registrations will be taken.

CREDENTIALS REPORT
Number of eligible Caucus voters.

READ THE NAMES OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

HAND VOTE AND COUNTING FOR EACH CANDIDATE INCLUDING UNCOMMITTED
Voting and Counting will be done by Congressional Districts—4th and 8th.

COMPLETE REPORTING FORM

ADJOURN CAUCUS

2012 Presidential Caucus
Shiawassee County Democratic Party
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Caucus Information

Registration will be from 9 AM and close at 11 AM unless there is someone in line at 11 AM.

People do not need to be members of the Michigan Democratic Party to vote—they simply have to indicate at registration that they are participating as a Democrat by their signature on the registration form which states, “I am a registered voter or will be 18 years of age and registered to vote in the November 2012 General Election. I am participating in the Caucus as a Democrat.”

Voters who voted in the February 28th Primary are eligible to vote on May 5th.

To register voters will need some form of ID—does not have to be a photo ID.

Caucus should be completed before noon.

Contact Carol Spaniola at 989-743-3293 or by email cburger7@gmail.com for further information.

Caledonia Charter Township Hall 135 N. State Road (Across from Meijers) Owosso, Michigan

County: Shiawassee County Congressional Districts: 4th and 8th Zone: All of Shiawassee County Site Manager: Carol Spaniola Assistants: Paul & Janice Ray, Barbara Lewis & Francis “Bus” Spaniola

AGENDA

REGISTRATION (9 AM – 11 [...]]]> DEMOCRATIC PARTY – 2012 PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS—MAY 5TH, 2012

Caledonia Charter Township Hall
135 N. State Road (Across from Meijers)
Owosso, Michigan

County: Shiawassee County
Congressional Districts: 4th and 8th
Zone: All of Shiawassee County
Site Manager: Carol Spaniola
Assistants: Paul & Janice Ray, Barbara Lewis & Francis “Bus” Spaniola

AGENDA

REGISTRATION (9 AM – 11 AM) All registration forms completed. During this time period there will be light refreshments, DVD of the three MDP Endorsed Supreme Court Justices, and petitions for Precinct Delegates—Sen. Stabenow petitions—along with other petitions. Candidates and elected officials will be introduced.

CALL THE CAUCUS TO ORDER 11:00 AM. No further registrations will be taken.

CREDENTIALS REPORT Number of eligible Caucus voters.

READ THE NAMES OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

HAND VOTE AND COUNTING FOR EACH CANDIDATE INCLUDING UNCOMMITTED: Voting and Counting will be done by Congressional Districts—4th and 8th.

COMPLETE REPORTING FORM

ADJOURN CAUCUS

Caucus Information

Registration will be from 9 AM and close at 11 AM unless there is someone in line at 11 AM.

People do not need to be members of the Michigan Democratic Party to vote—they simply have to indicate at registration that they are participating as a Democrat by their signature on the registration form which states, “I am a registered voter or will be 18 years of age and registered to vote in the November 2012 General Election. I am participating in the Caucus as a Democrat.”

Voters who voted in the February 28th Primary are eligible to vote on May 5th.

To register voters will need some form of ID—does not have to be a photo ID.

Caucus should be completed before noon.

Contact Carol Spaniola at 989-743-3293 or by email cburger7@gmail.com for further information.

“A deep organization like the one Romney has built in Michigan in two election cycles, including a hard-fought primary this year, is going to be key if he hopes to win [...]]]> As general election begins to take shape, Romney campaign – true to form – substitutes campaign cash for non-existent grassroots organization

“A deep organization like the one Romney has built in Michigan in two election cycles, including a hard-fought primary this year, is going to be key if he hopes to win a state that hasn’t supported a Republican presidential contender since George Bush in 1988.” – Detroit Free Press, 4/16/12

LANSING, MI – As the general election begins to take shape, press accounts this week took the lay of the land in Michigan. While there is little dispute that the Obama campaign has a much more robust local grassroots presence, some pundits and Romney supporters sought to boost their candidate’s standing in Michigan, touting a ‘deep organization’ that includes wealthy campaign contributors and longstanding ties to the Republican establishment. Curious, the Michigan Democratic Party took a look at that organization this week, and this is what we found:

Mitt Romney’s grassroots campaign operation, April 20, 2012:

“Obama already has eight ‘regional grassroots offices’ in Michigan, with plans to expand to a dozen in the coming weeks. Mitt Romney, by contrast, apparently shut down his Michigan office soon after he won the primary on February 28th. A call to Romney’s press office to arrange a visit to a field office in Michigan produces only puzzlement. ‘In Michigan?’ a bewildered spokeswoman tells me. ‘We obviously had one. I don’t even know if I still have the address.’” [Rolling Stone, 3/29/12]

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer issued the following statement:

“Michiganders will never forget that Mitt Romney turned his back on our state when we were laid low, suggesting that the auto industry ‘go bankrupt,’ and there’s not a so-called ‘deep organization’ in the world that can change that fact. For all of Governor Romney’s fundraising and Republican establishment support, the best he could do in Michigan was to eke out a three-point victory over a deeply flawed and underfunded primary opponent – and his campaign has since pulled up stakes. No, Governor Romney will not be enjoying any sort of ‘home field advantage’ in Michigan, any more than the Colts would in Baltimore or Art Modell’s Ravens would in Cleveland. In fact, I’d suggest a famous photo of another NFL venue says it all about Mitt Romney’s campaign in Michigan: nobody’s home.”

A visual approximation of Mitt Romney’s “Deep Organization” in Michigan.

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Lansing – According to newly released FEC reports obtained by the Associated Press, Pete Hoekstra’s campaign for U.S. Senate is in serious trouble. In an attempt to bury the announcement of his fundraising totals, Hoekstra posted on his Facebook page late last Friday night [...]]]>

Lansing – According to newly released FEC reports obtained by the Associated Press, Pete Hoekstra’s campaign for U.S. Senate is in serious trouble. In an attempt to bury the announcement of his fundraising totals, Hoekstra posted on his Facebook page late last Friday night that he had raised $700,000 during the quarter. No official press release or comment was made by his campaign, although his lackluster total was reported on by both national and Michigan outlets.

But what “Penny-Pinching” Pete didn’t mention on his Facebook page is that reports revealed today show that he had actually brought in only $695,000 since the start of 2012…and that he spent a whopping $677,000 of it, blowing nearly everything he brought in. In spite of having almost no campaign presence around Michigan, Pete “Spend-it-Not” has magically turned into Pete “Spends All He’s Got”.

“It looks like Pete Hoekstra is spending like a drunken sailor,” said Mark Brewer, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. “While I’m sure divisive Super Bowl ads are expensive to make, it’s clear that if Hoekstra can’t keep spending under control on his own campaign, there’s no way he’ll be able to deal with the struggling economy in Michigan or effectively advocate for middle class families.”

One of Hoekstra’s main expenditures during the first quarter of 2011 was a divisive Super Bowl ad that was heavily criticized even by fellow Republicans.  The ad caused a surge in Senator Stabenow’s fundraising and suppressed Hoekstra’s fundraising.  Hoekstra’s mismanagement has set his campaign off to a rocky start to the election year.

Hoekstra’s $695,000 quarter is less than half of what was raised by Senator Stabenow (over $1.5 million) and a significant decrease from the $983,000 Hoekstra was able to raise in the last quarter of 2011.

Clark Durant, Hoekstra’s leading opponent for the Republican nomination, reported raising $558,000 and spending $234,000.  According to the Associate Press, Durant now has $1.51 million on hand, practically matching Hoekstra’s on hand total of $1.54 million.

Meanwhile, Senator Stabenow has approximately $7 million on hand.

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Romney’s Secret Plan for Housing Could Have Serious Consequences for Michigan

Lansing, MI – Tax day has arrived, and now Mitt Romney’s tax returns aren’t the only thing [...]]]> MDP Chair Mark Brewer and Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner Held a Press Conference Call on Mitt Romney’s Penchant for Secrecy

Romney’s Secret Plan for Housing Could Have Serious Consequences for Michigan

Lansing, MI – Tax day has arrived, and now Mitt Romney’s tax returns aren’t the only thing he’s hiding from the American public. Today, MDP Chair Mark Brewer and Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner held a press conference call to discuss Mitt Romney’s penchant for secrecy – and how Romney’s secret plan for gutting federal housing programs could have serious consequences for Michigan families.

Mitt Romney continues to conceal important details about his candidacy and campaign from the American people. This weekend, at a closed-door fundraiser, Romney revealed specific agencies he would cut if elected – information he did not share with the rest of the American people. Despite giving countless economic speeches, Romney chose not to reveal his plans to gut education and housing – except to high dollar donors.

This is just another example of Romney’s lack of transparency. Romney and his staff removed their servers and hard drives when they left the Massachusetts governorship, he has not revealed his campaign bundlers, explained offshore bank accounts, or provided a complete tax history. Mitt Romney refuses to be transparent about his personal finances and now, the very policies he would pursue as President.

Please see below for quotes from today’s call:

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer

“He revealed that in order to pay for his huge tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, he would make very deep cuts in programs essential to the economic security of middle-class families.  He said he’d even go as far as potentially eliminating the Department of Housing and Urban Development altogether. That would be disastrous for Michigan families and especially homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages and avoiding foreclosure.”

“…when he was on a campaign stop in Nevada, a state that was hit incredibly hard by foreclosures, he went as far as saying he would let the housing foreclosure crisis “run its course and hit the bottom,” leaving underwater those homeowners who are struggling and leaving them out to dry so that investors can come in and make a quick buck off their misfortune. So it looks like Mitt Romney clearly has a plan to make good on that promise, and if he has his way, the American people will be the last to know. But again that’s the pattern we’ve come to see with Mitt Romney. He doesn’t want to come clean about his taxes, he doesn’t want to come clean about his record as Massachusetts Governor, and he doesn’t want to come clean about his secret budget plan because he doesn’t want to pay the political consequences of voters learning the truth.”

Oakland Country Treasurer Andy Meisner

“Mitt Romney’s secret plan to eliminate the department of housing and urban development would also eliminate the neighborhood stabilization program as well as putting the refinancing of millions of mortgages of families across the country at risk. And these are everyday middle class families from Oakland County Michigan and across the country, as well as 3 million low income families and 38 thousand veterans who have been assisted by the department of housing and urban development since 2008.”

“I think it begs the question, why isn’t Mitt Romney telling the American people the truth up front about what he really plans to do and instead insisting on this clear strategy of his which is to say anything to get elected, never minding what the facts might be.”

“On this tax day, when Mitt Romney would otherwise be saying anything here publicly he’s saying nothing. And it’s the part that he is hiding that we are incredibly worried about here in Oakland County as well as across the state.”

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