A VIEW FROM THE RIGHT

Remember growing up when you’d bring your newest GI Joe or Transformer or the black Voltron lion to school for recess and that punk kid in your class would kick and scream and throw his cheerios because he didn’t have one too?

Of course then the teacher would walk over and tell him to stop.  So then he’d hold his breath and stamp his feet and make as big a scene as possible.  You almost wanted to give him your new toy just to make him shut the heck up, right? 

Yeah, almost.  But eventually he’d figure out that acting like a two year old isn’t becoming a second grader, even if it took a “time out” to drill it into him.  And invariably that kid grew up and became a normal well adjusted human being.  Well, almost invariably. 

Somehow, somewhere along the line Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell missed that life lesson and still plays the part of the spoiled kid with the best of the playground set.  Sure, he’s bigger now. He dresses better.  And for all the sycophantic adulation he pours at the feet of the governor he’s managed to round up a nice set of yes men who love to be in his very presence.  The Fountain Street Church country club set is proud to have him and he’s proud to be a part.  If someone has the newest Go-Bot he always gets to play with it.

Which is good for his ego, I suppose, but it hasn’t worked out so well for Grand Rapids.  Whether it’s throwing a hissy fit and putting his own needs above the cities by insisting on purchasing himself a ( http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2007/4/4/8451/91212) shiny new car at the taxpayers’ expense or having a temper tantrum because local elected officials in Lansing won’t vote to raise taxes (think of how much nicer a car he could have bought himself if they had), he still acts the part of the second grader.

While the DeVos and Van Andel and Meijer families (and countless others) build the Grand Rapids of the future with grants and endowments and gifts and donated children’s hospitals (etc etc etc etc etc) Heartwell’s frustrated and acting out.  Maybe it’s because no one’s given the Mayor’s Office a million dollar grant.  Maybe it’s because private citizens are doing more for the city in a day than his crush Jennifer Granholm has managed in nearly five years.  The potential reasons could go on and on.  But his reaction is inexusible. 

The answer seems to always be “give me more.”  Whether it’s more for the RAPID, more for GRCC, more for his personal automotive needs or more from Lansing just because, he’s keeps holding his breath and stamping his feet.

So what’s a voter to do? 

This coming Tuesday the man has three opponents.  A retail clerk (God bless her), a far left radical school board member who’s substantially MORE liberal AND a bigger tax-and-spender than Granholm’s buddy Heartwell in Jim Rinck and then there’s Richard Tormala, a current City Commissioner.

In a major coup, the relatively more conservative Tormala rounded up the (http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2007/07/unions_give_tormalas_campaign.html) endorsement of the city’s police and firefighters unions.  And that’s telling.  Heartwell fashions and presents himself the great defender of the first responder.  But he delivers more to his home garage than he’s ever delivered to the Grand Rapids Police and Fire Departments’ and they’ve noticed.

And while the mayor’s office isn’t exactly on the front lines of the abortion debate Tormala’s also garnered the (http://www.rtl.org/html/elections/endorsed.html) Right to Life endorsement. 

The man’s managed to build a name for himself standing up against wasteful spending and telling it like it is, often in a… well… let’s call it a “blunt” manner. 

Tormala’s the guy to look out for our police and firefighters.  He’s the guy to look out for Grand Rapids tax payers.  And he’s the guy to look out, in whatever capacity, for the unborn.

But for all of Tormala’s strengths and the breath of fresh air (and straight shooting) he’d bring to city hall this election ultimately boils down to one underlying and fundamental truth.  George Heartwell needs to go to the corner and take a time out.

Submitted By Guest Writer,

Nick De Leeuw

www.rightmichigan.com

Comments

[Jeff Winston]

Jim Rinck has never tried to hide the fact that he is a Democrat. However, this is a non-partisan position. He has proposed NO new spending and had campaigned on reducing the cost of city government. You, in your true conservative manner, have decided that Rinck is not a viable candidate because he a member of the Democratic party. You have NOT seen any evidence of Rinck showing partisanship during his race, and in fact has declared that if elected he would cancel his membership with the Democratic Party to remain non-partisan in his office.

I am appalled that a so-called conservative like yourself would look to Tormala. I take it that you haven't had the privilege of reading his campaign statement press release when he announced that he was running. Tormala is the ONLY candidate out there that says that he wants to increase spending. He claims that he can pay for his spending by selling or leasing the city parking. He goes on to say:

I would raise revenue for my initiatives by the following measures:
1) Savings from the consolidation of services and the efficient restructuring of our budget.
2) The leasing of a portion of our Parking System facilities and the sale of surplus city property which could bring in tens of millions of dollars
3) Utilizing surplus millions in our Engineering and Parking Systems Enterprise Funds while pushing the Downtown Development Authority to pay for a portion of our Police and Fire budgets. We must build a pipeline to bring money from our flourishing downtown to directly help serve our neighborhoods.
4) Advocate for state and federal funding increases.
5) And finally if all other avenues have been exhausted, and all fat eliminated from our city budget, as a last resort go to our citizens for a reasonable income tax increase.

Lets examine Tormala's master plan:
1 - Great idea Rick - lest I remind you that Rinck was the first candidate to talk about the importance of consolidation to trim our budget. Rinck is the ONLY candidate that has talked about the ability to consolidate services WITHOUT having to get rid of PA 312.

2 - Sell parking - can't do it, Kimball said NO because we owe too much on the bonds and the parking GENERATES income. It is not like we are taking a loss here where the city could save some of its expenses by getting rid of the parking. The Parking Commission said NO, stating that it is not in the best interests of the city.

3a - Use Surplus Engineering Funds - can't do it, much of these funds are restricted funds received from state or federal grants and may only be used for their intended purpose.
3b - Force the DDA to pay for additional downtown security - I like this idea, but it would only generate enough funds for Tormala's Police department spending plan.

4 - Advocate for more state and federal funding - This one is my favorite, because I am sure that no one in GR has thought of, or tried to get more money from the state or feds before. In fact, I'd bet that no other city has tried it either... now is the time to act Rick; there must not be any competition out there for GR. Seriously though, as a Commissioner he has had the ability to advocate for funding from other sources and he hasn't. I think that he just threw this one in to his list as a small, useless buffer to make the next option seem like it is further down the list than it really is.

5 - RAISE TAXES! - Ah, here is how Tormala can pay for his spending plans.

For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to read Tormala's master plan - I have posted it below. This is the actual Press Release sent by Tormala to announce that he was running. Enjoy!
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5/14/07 - 2:24am

Grand Rapids is a great city but our future hangs in the balance. Cuts in vital services have tarnished our public image and placed the public safety and quality of life in our neighborhoods at risk. Downtown and Michigan Hill are flourishing while our neighborhoods suffer. We need to find solutions not scapegoats. After being encouraged by citizens throughout our City and with the support of my family I am announcing today my candidacy for the office of Mayor of Grand Rapids.

I run in the name of the citizens of our neighborhoods some of whom feel neglected and ignored. I run in the name of working families, seniors, and the vulnerable who struggle every day to make ends meet and want a fiscally responsible budget for our city supplying them with the vital services they need and expect. And, on a personal note, I run in the name of my Father, Dick Tormala, who served the Park Department that he loved, faithfully and effectively for 28 years until his untimely death and who taught me that public service is a worthy vocation and that you always have to do the right thing regardless of the consequences.

Four years of weak and ineffective leadership by Mayor Heartwell have created a vacuum of leadership at City Hall that has been filled by an entrenched bureaucracy. As a result priorities are more often dictated by staff rather than the City Commission. Whether it is the bungled and unwise proposed sale of public park property, the elimination of vital police and firefighter positions, the closing of pools and park restrooms while millions of dollars beyond the need of bonding requirements are placed in surplus savings accounts, it is clear the priorities and needs of our citizens are not being met. When a Mayor rubberstamps the policy proposed by the City Manager the majority of Commissioners are inclined to follow without major challenges. George Heartwell has been the Manager’s Mayor. I will be the Mayor of the people. My campaign will be a referendum on who runs this City– an entrenched bureaucracy or the elected representatives of the people.

There are clear differences between myself and George Heartwell. Even people who disagree with me admit I get things done, tell it like it is, fight for what I believe is right, and don’t flip flop on issues. Whether it was defeating the Town Hall proposal (saving the taxpayers $11 million dollars in construction costs), creating the Public Safety Committee, cleaning up the Assessor’s office, helping fix our 911 Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) problems, preserving GLR funds for seniors, children, families, neighborhoods, and other human service organizations, and establishing criteria to legally protect our city and provide transparency when dealing with confidentiality agreements to name a few accomplishments, I have proved my ability to effectively lead and take on the bureaucrats.

As Mayor I would push for fully restoring all of our vital services, including hiring the number of police officers and firefighters necessary to keep our neighborhoods safe. Not only would I support opening all pools, parks facilities, recreational programs, and public restrooms on an annual basis; but also will call for the reconstruction of Garfield Park’s swimming pool and the openings of it’s lodge and gym. I will also call for fully funding and implementing our successful 21st Century Infrastructure program to ensure every neighborhood has streets as good as the ones downtown.

As Mayor I would establish a Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee and charge them with reviewing the entire budget by justifying or removing every job and service in order to help the City Commission achieve the lean and efficient government we need to restore fiscal integrity to our budget. Additionally, I would create a Economic Climate Committee to review all city polices and streamline red tape to ensure all unreasonable impediments are removed that would discourage businesses from locating or remaining in Grand Rapids and to make recommendations on new job creation tools.

As Mayor I will also establish a city wide strategy to address the problems of violence, drugs and gang activity in our neighborhoods. We would work in tangent with our schools to provide recreational opportunities, mentoring programs, keeping open the Paul I. Phillips and other youth centers, job training and substance abuse treatment for our City’s children and young adults. Additionally, I’m calling for the creation of a Regional Anti-Gang Task Force comprised of the Grand Rapids Police Department, the Kent County Sheriff’s Department and every school district and law enforcement agency in West Michigan to take back our neighborhoods and prevent violence. I would also propose the City of Grand Rapids become the regional provider of fire staffing and 911 Dispatch.

I would raise revenue for my initiatives by the following measures:
1) Savings from the consolidation of services and the efficient restructuring of our budget.
2) The leasing of a portion of our Parking System facilities and the sale of surplus city property which could bring in tens of millions of dollars
3) Utilizing surplus millions in our Engineering and Parking Systems Enterprise Funds while pushing the Downtown Development Authority to pay for a portion of our Police and Fire budgets. We must build a pipeline to bring money from our flourishing downtown to directly help serve our neighborhoods.
4) Advocate for state and federal funding increases.
5) And finally if all other avenues have been exhausted, and all fat eliminated from our city budget, as a last resort go to our citizens for a reasonable income tax increase.

Mr. Kimball and Mr. Heartwell are good men, but we have a different philosophy of how this city should be run and how you present a tax proposal to our citizens and secure their support. I believe the City Commission should first set budget priorities and then the City Manager should design a budget reflecting those priorities. Mr. Kimball and Mr. Heartwell believe our citizens have to feel the pain of budget cuts before they will support a tax increase. I have more faith in our taxpayers’ judgement. I believe we should use our surplus to fund necessary services, cut or eliminate everything in our budget that is a want not a need, and then go to the public honestly explaining our situation, backing it up with all pertinent facts and trusting in their common sense and concern for our city to pass the proposal.

A tax increase should always be a last resort, after all other avenues of revenue and reduction have been exhausted. However if there were a need and all the aforementioned criteria were met I would as Mayor lead a campaign for a tax increase unlike Mr. Heartwell who floats trial balloons and then backs down

I look forward to a vigorous campaign of issues and ideas. It should be a hard fought campaign centered on the public records, positions, and accomplishments of all the candidates. The Office of Mayor of Grand Rapids will not be a prize awarded to the highest bidder. To that end I am calling for all candidates to sit down and discuss implementing and abiding by a mutually agreeable self imposed campaign spending limit as well as committing to a series of public debates and forums. As the self proclaimed “unbeatable” candidate Mayor Heartwell with more name recognition than anyone else and all the powers of incumbency should be willing to run for office on his merits not his money. As for myself I have always been comfortable in the role of a hard working underdog placing my faith in God and the wisdom of the citizens of Grand Rapids.

[Nick]

Jim Rinck's campaign manager doesn't think a different candidate is the right answer?

Wow.

I'm shocked.

I need to go sit down.

:)

Jeff, if it makes you feel any better, in the event there's a run-off between Rinck and Heartwell I'll vote for your guy.

--Nick
www.RightMichigan.com

[Jeff Winston]

I was just shocked to read a conservative proclaim that they support the tax & spend / labor union guy.
I can only assume that it is his RTL endorsement that attracts you. How exactly will Tormala as a Commissioner or as Mayor protect the unborn? Rinck refused to answer PWA, RTL, and NARAL on this issue because it has no bearing on the duties or responsibilities of a city official. Issues like this are only distractions. I would rather see the issues of the city being discussed rather than social pandering. But hey... that's just me.

[The Executive Director]

Hi, Jeff.

I agree the G.R. mayor has little, if any, authority to change the current abortion regime. However, moral authority from the bully pulpit of the office is another matter. Even so a mayoral candidate's position on abortion is not a front-and-center one.

Nevertheless, I think it's off-base to say that a candidate's declaration of his position on abortion amounts to social pandering. For example, a Democrat who is pro-life tells the voters something about his political character. For one thing, he is not captive to his party affiliation; he doesn't toe the party line. The same would apply to a pro-abortion Republican.

Moreover, the abortion issue is very important to many voters, and not for frivolous reasons. For example, even though I am conservative, I am not averse to voting for Democrats in local elections. Yet I am a Catholic and would be loathe to vote for a candidate who is pro-abortion, because I believe his position on abortion reflects a worldview that cannot be disentangled from his other political beliefs. So that information tells me something I think is very important about a candidate.

So, while I don't think Rinck's silence on the issue is unreasonable considering the office he is running for, I don't believe declarations on abortion by other candidates require the conclusion that they are panderers.

Regards, Bill

[Anonymous on this one]

Unfortunately as a city employee living outside the city I don't get a vote even though since I spend half my life downtown I feel I should have some say....anyway.

Heartwell has proven to be in the pockets of all the influencials. Some of these individuals have done great things for this city but in some of the more recent cases they've had their hands in the pot when it had no business being there. There has been enough written proof of underhanded cronyism that Heartwell should be swept out - PERIOD. He has the interests of too few in his sights and has lost sight of who elected him.

I'm not sure how I feel about either of the remaining candidates. Rinck I believe is definitely up for the job but I look at Tormala's background in fighting waste and that's the kicker to me. It's time someone walk in and say "this is how business is going to be done around here". Until another candidate can stand up and do this Tormala has my backing (and would have my vote, had I had one).

[Leonard Wood Grotenrath Jr.]

William :

Re your rejoinder to Citizen Winston on abortion :

"The wise of heart is called a man of discernment, and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness." Proverbs 16:21.

Spot-on!

Leonardo

[The Executive Director]

Yes, indeed, Leonard.

Considering the pervasive and unrestrained abortion regime of the country, there are very few races for public office in which a candidate's stand on abortion is entirely irrelevant. (Drain commissioner, perhaps?) Of course, there are better and worse ways for a candidate to advocate for the protection of the unborn, but a clear and simple pro-life declaration hardly amounts to pandering.

Thanks for brightening our site with a bit of Scripture.

Regards, Bill

[The Executive Director]

Dear Anonymous,

I agree that there is plenty of information available to show that Heartwell has sold himself to the players. It is disheartening that the media doesn't do its job to report this to the public or that Heartwell's challengers are not more forceful in this regard. We don't need four more years of Logie-Lite. It's time to exorcise the ghost of Boss Logie from city government (which means chucking out Kimball as city manager, too).

Regards, Bill

[Nick]

Hey now, no picking on Kimball! His daughter Kerri graduated from Ghetto High a year in front of me and was one of the most classically and genuinely nice people I've ever met.

I haven't talked to her in, oh, 13 years? But nothing but fond memories.

(Please note that I don't actually believe having a nice daughter serves as a sufficient reason to keep a job. I'm just saying...) :)

--Nick
www.RightMichigan.com

[The Executive Director]

Hi, Nick.

Seeing that Stalin's daughter did not turn out to be a mass-murdering tyrant, I suppose there's no reason by the same token that Kimball's daughter could not be a class act.

Regards, Bill