Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Until I do a little research, I don't have a lot to say about the announced candidates. I just want to open a forum where we can start to get their stories out into the open. I have some first-hand knowledge about one of the School Board candidates, but I don't want to draw first blood from him. If he joins in and speaks here and addresses issues, I?’ll gladly join him then.

I invite all of the candidates to speak out here and address some of the issues brought forth in earlier discussions. I think that for the most part, all of the previous discussions have merit and need to be addressed by the candidates.

Keep in mind, Citizen Voters and Taxpayers, change will only happen in the voting booth. The incumbents and those running for RE-election have defined themselves by their actions. Nothing they say between now and the first Tuesday in November will change what they are or what they have done. No matter how many times they say ?“cooperation between City and Township?”, ?“controlled growth?”, ?“balancing commercial and residential development?”, they have a proven track record they cannot escape. There?’s no mystery to solve here. You have seen what they have done and what they are capable of. Regardless of any flowery political messages they put in print, you don?’t have to believe everything you read in the press in the forthcoming months. Simply look at the overcrowded schools, the $77,000,000 educational palaces we just HAD to have, the $7,000,000 sports and entertainment complex we just HAD to have, the contract with our educators we just CAN?’T seem to have, the gridlocked traffic, the ever increasing crime rate, the dismal future of Pickerington Ponds, your property tax bill ?– look closely at all they?’ve already done for you and decide. Decide if everything is OK or decide it?’s time for change.

Some closing thoughts and I?’ll fade into the background to see if anyone shares my desire to see this forum develop.

For the incumbents seeking reelection, two things:

First, please keep detailed and accurate records of your campaign contributions. We will take every measure possible to be sure the Voters understand completely where your support comes from.

Second, contrary to what the developer/supporters of your run for office will tell you, the general voting public is NOT stupid. Please don?’t treat us as such.

For the readers of this forum:

Someone has to be able to come up with the facts that will clearly spell out to the incumbents and the voters as to what they said and how they voted. Post to this forum and tell us what Mr. Candidate said in his last run for office and how he really voted during his tenure. Those contradictions alone should be fodder for discussion from now until well after elections.


By Soap Box Hero

Marquis of Queensbury Rules

Subject: Candidate Profiles ?–

This has the potential for a great discussion page topic. However - like all good boxing matches - there are rules. Stick to issues, stances, voting / positions histories and statements. No hitting below the belt. Postings that violate the rules are invited to post their messages in another forum. Decisions of the ringside judges will be final.

P.S. Signed postings always have more credence.


By Webmaster

Vote Blanks

I understand there are several individuals who will be running for offices in November, some I like, some I don't. That's my business. You have to make your choices.
In the Pickerington City Council arena I wish there were more choices, but there aren't. I would probably cast only one vote for only one candidate. I would leave the rest blank. I would not want to be responsible for putting another candidate ahead of my own, possibly into office. Imagine the vote was so close that only one vote made the difference and I voted for my candidate and just because they were there I voted for three others and my man lost by one vote. If I had left the others blank it would been much different.
Do not cast votes for people you really do not want in office.

By Violet

Been there...done that

Violet,

I believe it's called a vote of confidence. Think back to when ''Mr. Wonderful'' ran for Mayor. He was utterly and completely unopposed, for reasons we might get into later here. Look at the total number of voters that went to the polls that day and look at the number of votes Randall got. Did he even get 50%?

Hmmm. Disparity? Incongruity? Disproportion? It tells the tale. Randall was first appointed to the job. Of course we had no choice in that matter. Then he ran unopposed. We had a choice but didn?’t make it (could have at least written someone in). But how many votes did he get and what did that show the residents. What should it have shown him and the other elected officials? Answer: A total lack of confidence in our leadership.

Part time Mayor vs. full time Mayor. There?’s something we looked at and didn?’t want. Was it because of who was in office at the time? Would the same vote be different now? Would it be different if we had a different Mayor now?

Sorry to stray off to a puppet that is not up for reelection but people need to get the big picture on how elections work in good ol?’ Picktown. As my mentor put it elsewhere ?– CONTROL!


By Soap Box Hero