Glenn Clark is an Ass

Back in August, Marty Knollenberg held a town hall meeting at Troy High School. Outside, Glenn Clark, Republican 9th District chair, was having a conversation with Will Molnar, who is running for Troy City Council. Will was wearing a name tag identifying him as a county commissioner. Will is a former commissioner, and therefore, in my opinion, has the right to identify himself as a commissioner for the rest of his life, much as former U.S. Senators and Representatives are referred to as Senator or Representative for life.

I happen to have video of the confrontation between Glenn Clark and Will Molnar.

Here is part of the article from today's Oakland Press:

By CHARLES CRUMM
Of The Oakland Press

Glenn Clark, the conservative chairman of the 9th Congressional District Republicans, says Will Molnar is misrepresenting himself as a county commissioner in his race for Troy City Council.

“Molnar has been introducing himself to voters as a county commissioner while he campaigns for council,” Clark said Thursday. “It is simply fraudulent for him to do so, a total lie perpetrated upon voters of our good city.”

Clark accuses Molnar of wearing a county commission badge while he campaigns and introducing himself as a county commissioner at a health care town hall meeting in August hosted by state Rep. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy.

Molnar served one term on the county commission as a Republican before he was defeated in 2006 by term-limited Republican state lawmaker Robert Gosselin.
Click here for the rest of the story.

Democrats Favor Paying Living Wage on County Construction Projects

Oakland County Commissioner, Tim Greimel, introduced a resolution that would require all contractors working on county construction project over $10,000, pay a living wage. Of course, Republicans are opposed to this move, as we've come to expect from the current crop of anti-middle class Republicans. You wouldn't think anyone could be against paying workers enough money to buy the necessities of life, would you?

Oakland County Commissioner Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills, hopes his county will follow Wayne and Macomb and adopt a policy that pays a prevailing wage on all county construction projects costing more than $10,000.
"The principal is simple: When tax dollars are used for a construction project, the construction project should pay people a decent average wage in the industry," said Greimel, whose proposal faces a key test this morning, when the county's finance committee is to take it up. The panel has five Democrats and seven Republicans -- none of the GOP members have backed the idea.
Critics insist it will increase costs, but Greimel said that would be true only if the county currently is paying substandard wages. Greimel's proposal essentially would require workers to be paid union scale.
"If it increases costs to pay people a decent wage, so be it," Greimel said.
Deputy County Executive Gerald Poisson said many projects already are done by union contractors, but the administration doesn't want it required because it would keep nonunion firms from bidding.
"We'll oppose it," Poisson said. "The right to compete has served Oakland well for years." Click here to read the rest of the story.

Glenn Clark Leaving Oakland County Board - Good Riddance

I attended the Republican Caucus of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to urge them to reconsider the number of Democrats on the various committees.

During the full board meeting, outgoing board members were presented with a tie or scarf, thanking them for their service. Glenn Clark couldn't help but take a shot at local designer, Dominic Pangborn, but stating he'd be calling Purple Heart to donate his tie this afternoon. The commissioners reacted with groans.

Republicans Are Slow Learners - They Seem to Need Remedial Politics Lessons

Republicans appear to be very slow learners. Even after voters in Oakland County gave historic wins to Democrats nationally and voted in for the first time a Democratic Prosecutor and Democratic Treasurer, they still insist on playing the hyperpartisan games taught to them by Karl Rove and the national Republican party. Instead of letting the standing committees of the Oakland County Commission reflect the current 13-12 makeup of the full Commission, they have decided to weight committee assignments heavily in favor of Republicans. The prior committee makeup had reflected the close makeup of the full board.

We the people are sick and tired of this political gamesmanship. We are supposed to have representative government in this country and those representatives are chosen through fair elections, hopefully. I urge you to write an e-mail to the Republican commissioners and express your displeasure about their actions. Here are the Republican Commissioners e-mail addresses, to save you the trouble of looking them up on their individual bio pages on the Commission web site. (bradjgolf@yahoo.com;billbullard@journey.com;
gingellm@oakgov.com;middletont@oakgov.com;scottj@oakgov.com;
kowalle@oakgov.com;LongC@oakgov.com;potterj@oakgov.com;
hughcrawford@msn.com ;Douglass@oakgov.com;gosselinr@oakgov.com;gosselin@mich.com;
mike@5se.biz;rogersm@oakgov.com;
glennclark116@gmail.com;potts@butzel.com)

Oakland County Commission - Citizens Speak Up for Fair Elections

On Thursday, myself and five others attended the Oakland County Commission to put forth a resolution asking that the county pay for requested hand counted recounts due to the problems noted with M100 voting machines in Clerk Ruth Johnson's letter to the Election Assistance Commission.

Oakland Press- Activist Seeks Hand Recount

On Thursday morning at the bi-weekly meeting of the Oakland County Board of Commissions, myself and several other election reform advocates will argue for a hand recount of some of the races in Oakland County based on Ruth Johnson's 10/24 letter to the Election Assistance Commission, stating that there were problems with some of the machines in Oakland County, prior to the November 4 election.
Do you think just because we have paper ballots counted by machines that election fraud can't happen in Michigan? You'd be wrong. Watch this video.

Join Me at the Oakland County Commission on Thursday Nov. 20, 9 a.m.

On Thursday, November 20, 2008, I hope you can join me to speak to the idea of the County of Oakland, due to the malfunctions that Ruth Johnson's letters speaks to, offering to pay for recounts of races that occurred in 2008 election. Four races were decided by less than 1% of the votes. I have put forth a resolution that would make this possible. I am asking my readers to attend the meeting on Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. in the Commissioner's Auditorium at 1200 N. Telegraph in Pontiac. There is an opportunity for public comment at the beginning of the meeting for up to 5 minutes. Please join me in asking the Commission to adopt my resolution.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deed, Ruth Johnson wrote a letter to the Election Assistance Commission on October 24th, 2008 warning that the ES&S M100 voting machines used in Oakland County had failed their logic and accuracy tests, yielding different results when the same ballots were run through the machines, producing different results each time

WHEREAS, when this issue was brought to the attention of the Oakland County Director of Elections, Joe Rozell and it was determined that dust and debris buildup on the sensors inside the M100 machines was the reason for the failure of the logic and accuracy tests

WHEREAS, conflicting vote totals have reportedly surfaced in other areas of Michigan and a record number of ballots went through the M100 voting machines across Oakland County and across the state of Michigan on November 4, 2008

WHEREAS, according to Ruth Johnson’s letter to the EAC, there has been no maintenance performed on the M100 voting machines due to the fact that performing such maintenance would void the warranty on said machines and that ES&S has not performed any preventative maintenance under the state contract since the machines were delivered three years ago

WHEREAS, Ruth Johnson, in her letter to the EAC has asked for a federal directive or law that would allow county clerks, under the supervision of their bi-partisan canvas board to conduct random audits to test machine accuracy using voting tabulators that have had preventative maintenance within the last year

WHEREAS, fair and accurate tallying of all votes is essential to ensure that the voting system in the United States of America is fair and that the proper candidates are selected to serve as elected representatives of the people

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in order to insure voters in Oakland County and in the United States of America that the November 4, 2008 results are accurate, a hand count of all ballots in Oakland County shall be conducted in order to determine the accurate counting of votes and the intent of the voters, and that such hand recount of all ballots cast in Oakland County shall be conducted in all races where any candidate shall request such hand count of the ballots at county expense and that such recount be done as expeditiously as possible so that the proper candidates shall serve as the elected representative of the people.

More Republican Shenanigans at the Oakland County Commission

I attended the Oakland County Commission today. One of the issues that came us was the appointment of a Democratic Vice Chair to the General Government committee. Karen Spector from West Bloomfield had been serving in this capacity without the official title since George Suarez had gotten ill. Out of respect for Suarez, Spector chose not to take the official title, since she hoped that George would recover from his illness.

Today, however, the Republicans took the outrageous step of not allowing Spector to be officially named vice chair because they felt it would give her an undue advantage in the upcoming election. Bottom line, the Republicans blocked the Democrats from choosing their own leadership.

Troy Eccentric: Activist Protests Appointment of GOP Member to Commission

Bob Gosselin must have a desire to be a comedian, calling me a bully. I guess I'll just have to consider the source.

Activist protests appointment of GOP member to commission

By Steve Kowalski • ECCENTRIC STAFF WRITER • September 11, 2008

Democratic activist Bruce Fealk showed up at the Sept. 4 public meeting of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to protest the appointment of Republican Glenn Clark to replace Democrat George W. Suarez in District 24.

Suarez died of cancer Aug. 12, and nine days later, the county commission voted along party lines, 13-11, to appoint Clark until the end of the two-year term, Dec. 31.

Clark is a Troy resident, party delegate and 9th Congressional District GOP chairman. Republican Robert Gosselin, the District 13 commissioner from Troy, nominated Clark.

"I come before (the commission) to express my outrage at the appointment of a Republican, Glenn Clark, to replace the recently deceased George Suarez," Fealk read in a statement. "Glenn Clark represents the far right wing of the Republican party."

Fealk, a Rochester Hills resident, described Clark as "a political bully" and said "Bob Gosselin and the rest of the Republicans on this commission should be ashamed of themselves for committing such an open act of partisan politics."

Suarez, who lived in Madison Heights, had been the district representative since 1999. Democrat Gary McGillivray and Republican Daniel K. Milz, both from Madison Heights, are opponents in the November election. With a Republican temporarily filling the District 24 seat, the GOP has a 14-11 edge on the board.

Gosselin called Fealk a "partisan bully."

"Fealk is just a Democrat activist that carries things way over the top," Gosselin said. "He's very offensive, writes bizarre editorials, is looking to pick a fight. It's sad to say that we have bullies in society like that."

Fealk won the Progressive Activist of the Year award earlier this year, given by Blogging for Michigan, and he has been known to confront District 9 Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield), who is running for re-election against Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township).

Gosselin introduced Clark to the Troy City Council at Monday's public meeting.

"He's a liberal Democrat, I'm a conservative Republican," Clark said, when asked about Fealk's protest. "If he doesn't care for me, that's his right. America is a great place and the First Amendment right is a great concept."

skowalsk@hometownlife.com|(248) 901-2571

Troy Eccentric Echoes My Sentiments

As I wrote last week, the appointment of Glenn Clark to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners could have a backlash effect on Republicans in November. This kind of power politics doesn't sit well with voters. This article is from the Troy Eccentric.

GOP power play could result in a backlash

August 28, 2008

Democrats are crying foul over last week's appointment of 9th Congressional District GOP Chairman Glenn Clark to fill the unexpired term of George Suarez on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

Suarez, a Madison Heights Democrat, died Aug. 12 after battling cancer. Clark, his replacement, is considered an ultra-conservative Republican.

The appointment of Clark is a perfect example of power politics at work, and it should not have come as any surprise to the Democrats on the board.

Before Suarez's death, the Republicans held a slim, 13-12 margin on the board. They've been looking at the November election, hoping to increase that lead.

Even with Suarez's seat open - he did not run for re-election, and the race drew hopefuls from both parties - Republicans face a battle in his 24th District. A deeply entrenched Democrat in Madison Heights politics, Gary McGillivray, is running against lesser-known Republican Dan Milz.

The move is a clear-cut attempt to elect Milz, according to the board's Democratic caucus chair, David Coulter of Ferndale, who represents the 25th District. Coulter believes Republicans hope that, by having one of their own in the seat, voters may be more inclined to vote Republican in November.

That seems like a stretch. While Troy has voted Republican, some view the city as having a more "purple" tinge, meaning a growing number are voting Democratic. But southeastern Troy is only a small part of the district, the bulk of which is in heavily Democratic Madison Heights, with a smaller portion in Royal Oak.

What seems more significant is that, with the appointment, the Republicans now have a 14-11 majority on the board. Clearly any disputes or controversial legislation on the board will have a one-sided resolution, namely one favored by the Republicans.

What does that translate into in real terms?

Nominating Clark unexpectedly on Aug. 21 was an equally conservative Republican, Bob Gosselin. Both are Troy residents and both wield considerable political influence in Oakland County.

They likely will join forces in any spending and so-called family values issues brought before the board.

But there are other concerns as well. According to Coulter, the appointment was not on the agenda, and no candidates for the position were interviewed.

While it may not have been a violation of the state's Open Meetings Act, it's no way to engender the cooperation needed to move the region forward.

Keeping the seat vacant until it expires on Dec. 31 would have been a mistake, but so was the process used to fill it. Republicans could see a backlash because of it.

Republicans Replace Democrat Suarez with Far Right Winger and McCain Vice Chair, Glenn Clark

In an outrageous move, the Republicans on the Oakland County Commission replaced Democrat, George Suarez, who recently passed away, with far right wingnut, Glenn Clark, from the Tom McMillin wing of the Oakland County Republican Party. The Democrats were honoring Suarez with a black drape over his chair and the Republicans use the opportunity to make the shameful move of appointing Clark to the commission to replace Suarez until January, when the person elected to the seat formerly by Suarez will take over.

Democrats, let's use this outrageous move the the Republicans as motivation to make sure we do even more than we would have before, knock 100 more doors on behalf of a Democrat, make 100 more phone calls. If you haven't volunteered, do it now. Not one Republican deserves to be in office on the county commission. Not ONE!

If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.

Dem chair: GOP commission appointment 'outrageous'

By Steve Kowalski • ECCENTRIC STAFF WRITER • August 24, 2008

The appointment of a Republican to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to replace Democrat George W. Suarez, the District 24 representative who died of cancer Aug. 12, has quickly drawn fire.

"I think it was outrageous what they did; it was a stealth appointment, not on the agenda, nobody was interviewed," said David Coulter, Democratic caucus chair.

Troy Republican Glenn Clark, the 9th Congressional District GOP chairman and a party delegate, was appointed at Thursday's commission meeting with a vote that followed party lines. Republicans had held a slim, 13-12 majority on the board before Suarez' death. With the appointment of Clark, the GOP majority now becomes 14-11.

Coulter, a Ferndale resident who represents District 25, said the appointment was not on the agenda. Robert Gosselin, another Troy Republican from District 13, nominated Clark during the "new business" portion of the meeting, Coulter said.

"George reflected the views and values of that district - working class, Democratic values. Glenn Clark is the opposite, very conservative, a Republican operative," said Coulter, who also represents Hazel Park and the southern end of Royal Oak.

"The most appropriate thing would have been to pick a Democrat nominee in a Democrat seat or to leave it vacant and let voters decide (about) 80 days from now (in the Nov. 4 general election)."

County commission vacancies may be filled by appointment within 30 days of the elected official's death or by special election, according to Judy Cunningham, corporate counsel for Oakland County. A special election was ruled out because elections may only be held in February, May, August and November, according to the state consolidated elections law, passed in 2005.

Coulter said nominees are supposed to be interviewed by the government committee. Gosselin said the interview process is optional.

"(The Democrats') tactic was to stall us, stall us, not have the people of the 24th District represented," Gosselin said. "We're elected to do our job. We have to remove the emotion out of it, basically do what we're elected to do. We have an agenda, they have an agenda and they conflict sometimes."

Coulter said the appointment of Clark, who will serve until Dec. 31, when Suarez's two-year term was due to expire, will increase Democrats' support for Gary McGillivray, the party's nominee in the November general election.

"We'll make sure we work hard to let voters of the district know what happened and know who shares your values and I believe that's Gary McGillivray," Coulter said.

Suarez's seat was unoccupied except for flowers and a photograph of him in his honor in the commissioners' first meeting since his death, Coulter said.

"We spent the first part of the meeting reminiscing George and remembering his legacy," Coulter said. "And at this meeting (the Republicans) choose to disrespect that legacy, replacing him with someone who doesn't share George's or the district's views."

McGillivray could not be reached for comment.

The Republican nominee, Daniel K. Milz of Madison Heights, said he wasn't offended another Republican was appointed instead of him. He said he didn't actively pursue an appointment.

"I think right now we just needed someone to fill the seat," Milz said. "Glenn's a good guy and will do a real good job until we have a candidate.

"I am the underdog, I guess you can see, and will work hard, hoping to get to people every day."

ROAD NAMED FOR SUAREZ

Another resolution by Gosselin passed unanimously that names John R Road, between 10 Mile Road in Madison Heights and Big Beaver Road in Troy, as the George W. Suarez Gentleman's Highway until Dec. 31.

The commissioners will pay for the cost of the signs made by the Road Commissioners of Oakland County, according to Gosselin.

"George was an exceptional man and he worked with Republicans and Democrats," Gosselin said.

skowalsk@hometownlife.com | (248) 901-2571

Upon further review

It has been pointed out that Glenn Clark aparently does reside in District 24 of Oakland County, however what the Republicans did is still despicable and Oakland County Democrats should do whatever it takes to make sure this move by the Republican majority of the Oakland County Commissioners and that Republicans pay a heavy price in the fall. Glenn Clark surely does not have the same values at Mr. Suarez, the commissioner Clark replaces.

Oakland County Commissioners Replace Democrat George Suarez with McCain co-chair, Glenn Clark

I'm not even sure this is legal, since Glenn Clark doesn't reside in Suarez' district, but today at the Oakland County Commissioners, the Republicans took the step of appointing John McCain's campaign state vice chair, to the seat that was formerly held by George Suarez, a Democrat. Clark is on the far right wing of the Republican party in Michigan. I have to ask myself by what authority the Republicans have taken this step.

Oakland County Year of the Woman

Will Lawrence, Cooper lead 'year of the woman'?
By Pat Murphy
ECCENTRIC STAFF WRITER

When political pundits speak of the "Year of the Woman," voters usually think Hillary Clinton - even though Barack Obama holds the lead in the race for the Democratic presidential nominee.

But with the May 13 filing deadline less than two months away, it looks like 2008 could be the year of the woman in Oakland County as well.

At least half of the candidates for the top political jobs in Oakland County will be women in the Aug. 5 primary or the Nov. 4 general election.

"It's about time, don't you think?" said Jessica Cooper, the former Oakland Circuit judge running as a Democrat for prosecutor, where incumbent Republican David Gorcyca is not seeking re-election.

Cooper lives in Beverly Hills and was a judge in the Southfield-based 46th District Court from 1977 until 1986, when she became an Oakland circuit judge. She resigned that post in 2000, and currently practices law from her office in Bingham Farms.

Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, who is expected to announce her candidacy for county executive on April 1, also thinks it's time for new ideas and fresh thinking. As a Democrat, Lawrence would be challenging incumbent L. Brooks Patterson, a Republican.

It was a Republican, Ruth Johnson who in 2004 became the first woman to be elected county clerk/register of deeds in recent history.

"I'm definitely running again," said Johnson, who broke the gender barrier by defeating incumbent William Caddell in the GOP primary.

Clerk/register of deeds is one of the most important and influential elected positions in county government. The others, in addition to executive, are sheriff, prosecutor, treasurer and drain commissioner - currently held by Republicans Patterson, Michael Bouchard, David Gorcyca, Patrick Dohany and John McCulloch, respectively.

Women have held one or two of those positions briefly, said Tracy Warner, spokesperson for the clerk's office. But generally men have dominated those elected positions for decades, according to county records.

Neither Cooper, Lawrence nor Johnson thinks being a woman is - or should be - the main qualification for holding public office.

"There's no substitute for experience or qualifications," said the clerk.

But they also know times have changed.

"It's a different ball game," Johnson said. Many voters want elected officials to reflect the general population when it comes to age, ethnic background, gender and occupation, she said.

"And I think more people want to get involved in public service," Johnson said.

A complete list of candidates who have filed nominating petitions - or paid the $100 filing fee as an alternative - is available in the election division of the clerk's Web site, www.oakgov.com/clerkrod.

When it comes to the races for county commission in the 21st District (Berkley, Lathrup Village and northeast Southfield) three candidates, all Democrats, have filed. They are Kyrian Nwagwu of Lathrup Village and Roy Bell and Charles Robinson, both of Southfield.

The three are vying to succeed Vincent Gregory who is running for the state representative position currently held by Paul Condino.

No one has filed in the 23rd District (most of Southfield) nobody has yet filed to challenge incumbent Democrat Eric Coleman, who said he was filing for re-election Friday afternoon.

Oakland County Commissioners Meeting Report

I attended my first Oakland County Commissioners Meeting since starting the Oakland Democratic Politics blog. It's simply amazing to watch the obstructionist Republican at play at the local level. My favorite obstructionist is my very own commissioner, Sue Ann Douglas. Commissoner Douglas has been on the commission for 15 years, which in my opinion, is 15 years too long. It's too bad she lives in a safe Republican commission seat. If the residents of Rochester and Rochester Hills knew how she voted and how much of an obstructionist Sue Ann is, they might even vote her out office.

Today was a good example. Helaine Zack (D) introduced a resolution to support legislation being introduced by State Senator Gilda Jacobs to allow counties to set up commissions to oversee any monies that Oakland county may allocate to the Detroit Zoo, should a millage for that purpose be adopted by the voters.

The vote was 18-4, with all four no votes coming from the Republican side of the aisle, including Sue Ann Douglas. It seems even most Republicans on the Commission recognize the value of the zoo to the community and the wisdom of Zack's resolution in support of Senator Jacobs legislation.

Sue Ann Douglas, Today's Worst Oakland County Commissioner in the World (OK, so I borrowed the idea from Keith Olbermann)

The Oakland Press coverage of the story

Oakland Commissioners Newsletter

In doing research for this new blog about politics in Oakland county, I've been going over the Oakland county commissioners' web site. Most of the commissioners have a template newsletter. However, an interesting observation is very evident. The newsletter hasn't been updates since the spring of 2007. Hasn't anything happened worthy of being in the newsletter and conveyed to the citizens of Oakland county for almost a year?

Let's focus some sun shine on our county government and ask for at least 4 newsletters per year with information relevant to Oakland county residents.

It does appear that Commissioner Coulter has updated his newsletter as of the fall of 2007.

Oakland County Commissioners Minutes 2/7 Meeting

Click here to read the minutes of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners meeting from February 7, 2008.