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REFLECTIONS ON THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION Hey Bob, It's been a long time since we last crossed paths. This is a friendly little note to say, keep up the good work of informing the people. I was curious about what's going on in the Saginaw City Council race this year and caught your candidate interviews through your online archives. Sometimes I have to wonder if the problem with low voter turnout for City/School elections is a function, in part, to boredom with the "same ol' same ol." The candidates this year are all seeming to say pretty much the same things that my fellow candidates and I were saying ten years ago. Nothing new. No one cares enough to invest the time or money in such research for Saginaw... but it would be worthy of speculation whether or not an accurate poll would reveal that boredom with "nothing new" keeps people at home on election day. I see that Mr. Schmid is promoting the charter revision idea. I don't know why people (politicians) dance around the idea of strong mayor so much. If the current way of doing things is so broke as to be worthy of a revision, ought not any possible solutions be worthy of at least consideration rather than summary dismissal? For every Flint, there are dozens of strong mayor cities that never have been insolvent or as grossly corrupt. I like your reply to a recent editorial letter wherein you state your avoiding the political labels of left or right, and such. Ad hominem arguments have no place in a legitimate discourse about matters of truth. I predict that in ten years, we will read the candidates' replies in your publication, and could easily copy this year's responses and paste different names, and find that it wouldn't matter. Once again, "same ol' same ol." "We have been working together nicely," says an incumbent. "We need change, but don't really have any specific plan to implement it," says a challenger. "Reduction of crime and attention to public safety should be our top priority," says any candidate. "I think its time to look at Charter revision," says the new person who steps up next decade to raise the issue after Mr. Schmid gives up the cause this decade, after I gave it up last decade. Speaking of Charter Revision, I am glad to read that the question may finally be on the ballot! The wonderful thing about the question of charter revision is that it is a totally open process. A charter revision commission could be elected which could propose a charter that might not be what Mr. Schmid, the present City Council, you, or I would desire. The electors get to vote. I offer him my congratulations on getting it submitted, and whatever support I can give from afar on the matter. I have found it interesting to see urban renewal on a larger scale in Chicago. To be sure, Chicago is it's own case, by virtue of its mere size and history, but perhaps some lessons could be learned regarding development in an urban setting amid difficult economic constraints. Anyway... I hope all is well with you. Despite my no longer living in Saginaw, I guess I feel some stake in it, and still scratch my head over those two crazy years in 1994 and 95 when I sat in the chair near the end of the table in that room on South Washington Avenue. Ciao! James W. Gault III Chicago, Illinois Editor's Reply; Regarding your observations about the 'same ole, same ole', that is very true to a large extent, but then 10 years ago we were still talking about health care & budget deficits and the same issues on a national level, weren't we? Things are actually improving here since you sat on the City Council. Mayor Ham is actually a nice 'leveling' force in terms of functioning as Mayor. Riverfront Development is finally doing something with docks and condos, we have more new businesses on the West Side, and last weekend so many people attended packed events at the County Events Center and the newly refurbished Temple Theatre that I had to actually part six blocks away from the main parking ramp, so I am optimistic about the future. Regarding the recent election that returned all the incumbents to City Council, a review of precinct results shows that people will go out to vote to oppose any new tax increases, but do not feel inspired enough or represented by the contingent running to bother to vote. This makes a good argument for Charter Revision. Out of a possible 42,000 ballots possible, only 6,996 ballots were cast. Mayor Ham was returned to office with only 14 percent of votes cast, and 10 percent of the registered voters, which is hardly a mandate for sweeping change. Meanwhile, during the September School Facilities election, many precincts witnessed double the amount of voters turn out than for the recent council election. The Review welcomes your letters and comments. Please send all correspondence to: Letters to the Editor, Review Magazine, 318 S. Hamilton St., Saginaw, MI 48602. Or you can e-mail us online at acidpen@cris.com
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