Negative campaign from Mark Ouimet makes House choice easier
As a Dexter resident, my mailbox has been filled with mailers claiming state house candidate Gretchen Driskell will raise my taxes. But current representative Mark Ouimet has already voted for a budget that AnnArbor.com reported was "a whopper of a tax increase for hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents."
These increases included taxing senior pensions and eliminating or reducing deductions for college tuition and charitable gifts to universities, museums and libraries.
It seems disingenuous for Ouimet's supporters to scare me about tax increases when Mark Ouimet actually has raised taxes. It seems similarly disingenuous for Ouimet to question Driskell's travel expenses when an independent investigation found Ouimet improperly billed Washtenaw County for more than $14,000 in expenses as a county commissioner.
Mark Ouimet's negative campaign has made my vote easy this election cycle. I'll be voting for Gretchen Driskell.
Jim Carty
Dexter
Comments
BettyS
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 8:33 p.m.
Michigan was in bad shape when Mark Ouimet took office and bold decisions needed to be made. The Tax and Spend ways of the Granholm administration had to end for the state to move forward. Driskell would continue that form of government and set the state back. Her campaign commercials are absurd - I would be embarrassed if I we her. Ouimet will continue to make Michigan a better place to live. I will be voting for him on November 6th.
ScioIndy
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Just the fact that Wieder is supporting Driskell is enough for me to know that Ouimet is the better person for the 52nd Disstrict. Remember, he is the leader of the radical left wing Democratic party which would have complete influence over Driskell if she were elected to the House.
Tom Wieder
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 9:03 p.m.
Wow, I didn't know I was the leader of anything! I'm a Democrat, yes, but I hold no public or party position (except precinct delegate) and haven't for years. What radical position can you cite that I have ever taken?
52ndGirl
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
Mr. Carty must not be looking at any literature coming from the Driskell camp; nasty, devoid of facts and using multiple scare tactics. The nastiness from her left wing radical supporters convinces more and more that Ouimet is the best candidate. We don't need this type of negativity in Lansing.
Robert Gordon
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 4:47 p.m.
The reason our economy is marginally better than two years ago is because the entire country is doing better. I credit Mark with nothing. He ran as a moderate. He is actually an ideologue who never has once broken with Republican dogma on a substantial vote. He is an enemy of the environment, of public schools, of senior citizens, and everyone else except banks and insurance companies. Go Gretchen.
Urban Sombrero
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 3:37 p.m.
I'm not a Ouimet fan, AT ALL. And, I plan on voting against him. However, I've heard some pretty negative ads from the Driskell campaign, aimed at attacking Ouimet, on the Ann Arbor radio station that I listen to at work. (107.1) Both sides are guilty of attack ads. I honestly think that's pretty much par for the course, as far as politics nowadays go, however. Sad, but a fact of life, I guess.
Tom Wieder
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 4:08 a.m.
@Saline Teacher - Of course there was an "independent investigation" of Ouimet's (and the other Commissioners') improper compensation and expenses. It was conducted by the County's private, outside auditors. Here's a link to the article that discusses it, which has a link to audit report, itself: http://www.annarbor.com/news/mark-ouimet-cuts-check-to-county-for-14386-after-audit-finds-commissioners-improperly-collected-pay/. Ouimet supported conducting that audit and subsequently repaid the County $14,386. You are the one rewriting history. I certainly hope that you're not a history teacher.
SalineTeacher
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.
You know full well that an audit is not the same as an investigation. Mark repaid what the audit claimed he received in error and moved on. Why can't you do the same? This is old--and rather tainted--news.
Tom Wieder
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 4:01 a.m.
The GOP-Mark Ouimet party line that Snyder and the Legislature have turned the state around is just plain nonsense. They are not responsible for the improvement in Michigan's economy and the state budget, and Granholm was not responsible for its problems. The weakness of the auto industry in a global marketplace is what was dragging Michigan down, and state government has little influence on that. If there is any government action that has put Michigan on the upswing, it was the federal bailout of the auto industry which the GOP so opposed. That's why son-of-Michigan Mitt Romney isn't even seriously contesting Michigan, because voters here recognize which party has helped them get back on their feet, and which one hasn't.
SalineTeacher
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 11:40 p.m.
Compare this letter to http://www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/community-connection-shows-mark-ouimets-value-as-elected-official/ where Mark's opponent wasn't even mentioned. It's seems it's always attack Mark but never anything positive about the other candidate. And you're rewriting history with "independent investigation," there was no such thing.
Paul Fisher
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 2:05 a.m.
That's what happens when the opponent has nothing to run on. Hopefully people see through all the mudslinging and vote for the right person for the job: Mark!
Jake Morano
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
I have to agree with Paul Fisher. Much progress has been made in Lansing and there is more work to be done. We need to send Mark back in order to get Michigan back on track
Paul Fisher
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 10:34 p.m.
It seems like every letter attacking Mark has been completely void of fact. The unemployment rate is DOWN, long term debt is DOWN, interest payments are DOWN, and the INDIVIDUAL TAX RATE IS DOWN from where it was two years ago. Ouimet is clearly making the right decisions for Michigan. And if you are this easily swayed by advertisements that do not even come from his campaign, you are clearly not an informed voter, which seems to be a trend among Driskell supporters.
samseaborn
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 10:26 p.m.
We have been over this soo many times. Mark has not control over what goes out on his behalf nor does Gretchen. Mark has done a great job in only two years and we need to allow him and his fellow reps to finish what they started. I will be voting for Mark on election day
A2democrat
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 10:21 p.m.
I consider myself a Democrat but will vote for Republicans when I believe they are the better choice. For example, I voted for Joe Schwarz twice. While I do not agree with vote Mark has taken I respect that for the first time in a decade something is getting done in Lansing. Mark has the background we need in order to turn Lansing around. Sorry Gretchen, I am voting for Mark and proud of it
Mavrick08
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
Yes Mark voted for a tax increase. However, he had to do this due to the inaction of the past eight years in Lansing. Mark has made many tough choice that past reps refused to make. Mark has earned my vote in the pas and will continue to have my vote until he no longers earns it