Campaign attacks on Gretchen Driskell going too far
While no neophyte to the dark underbelly of politics, I am profoundly disturbed by the tenor of the discourse from incumbent Mark Ouimet in the race for the 52nd district.
The literature mailed out by the Ouimet camp attacking his opponent, Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell, goes beyond the pale of negative campaign material. His spurious assertion that Mayor Driskell, in 14 years as Mayor, gave herself eight pay raises when in fact it was half that and they were recommended by a citizen advisory panel — not by the Mayor as is stated in his literature.
His claim of Mayor Driskell’s taking questionable votes relating to her employer were found to have “no basis in fact, law or logic” according to Saline’s city attorney. And it continues with his claim of being a moderate, yet voted 99 percent with republicans.
The truth is, Mayor Driskell has led Saline with fiscal integrity, created a business and people-friendly environment, received three national recognitions for top 100 smalls cities and did it all with honesty. Why is honesty so important? Because we face the most dire times in recent memory — if not in our entire lives. What we absolutely cannot afford is a representative of questionable veracity.
It is incumbent upon us to elect a strong, independent thinking representative who supports education, business and communities. Vote for honesty, vote for Gretchen Driskell.
Jonathan Dreyfuss
Lodi Township
Comments
snapshot
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 6:04 a.m.
Why should we believe this opinion writer, or the attorney he quotes? The lack of transparency, mis information, mis direction, and partial truths dominate on both sides of the fence. It's reached a point where the normal taxpaying voter is an "outsider" and these officials who should be looking out for the public good are scratching each other's back behind the scenes. Citizens don't know who to believe and just because this opinion writer knows somebody doesn't make it true. Trust no one.
seasons
Thu, Oct 18, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
Mark Ouimet has obediently followed the Republican party line on voting regardless of whether his votes truly represent the needs and interests of his district. Mark has refused to openly identify or discuss his votes on legislation even though they are a matter of public record, apparently hoping to keep voters in the dark. This explains his choices of campaign strategies - attack and smear the opponent because he has no record he wants to discuss. His district deserves a representative who will represent not just take up space while parroting party lines.
music to my ear
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.
people who live in saline knows all about Gretchen ,what she has, or has not, done people already know which way they are going to vote. I am really tired of all these politicians, including the ones for President being bad examples to our young people in America all this name calling , is just like the bullies we are trying to teach our kids not to be .grow up if you have to win at any cost you are a oh look at what I am calling them Losers.
Sparty
Thu, Oct 18, 2012 : 5:01 a.m.
Like Oblummer, Odummer, Oblamer, etc for the President of the USA?
Michisbest
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 4:34 p.m.
I always find it interesting that someone from Lodi township is an expert on how good the mayor of Saline is. What she did as part of the schoolboard was leave the district with a giant monument to archetecture full of wasted space that eats money to keep it going called a high school. Oh and the city attorney there is a credible source has anyone ever seen this person in action wonder why they are looking for a new one?
James Joseph
Tue, Oct 23, 2012 : 12:30 p.m.
Anyone familiar with Saline City government should know that the city counsel - mayor included - has absolutely nothing to do with the school board. The school board is a separate body that sets its own budget. Your comment demonstrates a fundamental knowledge about the mayor's role in Saline.
CherylJean
Thu, Oct 18, 2012 : 12:46 a.m.
Lodi township residents know a lot about what goes on the the City of Saline, we spend a lot of time there, and the schools are there.
Joey Lawrence
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
First of all, the mailer it question that this anonymous author attributes to "The Ouimet Camp" is actually coming from the Michigan Republican party. I know this because I've received it myself. Secondly, an eerily similar piece attacking Representative Ouimet full of information that is absolutely untrue went out on the exact same day, making this editorial incredibly hypocritical. Third, I notice the use of the word "literature" to describe the mailer, a term used almost exclusively by political insiders. This editorial was clearly written by someone within the Driskell campaign in order to confuse the public.
alarictoo
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
Whoooaaaa!! (Only people old enough to remember a TV show called 'Blossom' will get this, but I couldn't resist. No disrespect intended, Joey!)
John T
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
Fact: Gretchen Driskell's salary increased throughout her time as mayor. Fact: Mark Ouimet took a pay and benefits cut. Which seems more like a public servant?
Matt Tuck
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:58 p.m.
As a representative- you work for the people who you represent. We are the representatives bosses. They should answer to us. In my opinion Rep Ouiment does not answer to us. We are his subordinates.
Matt Tuck
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
He has done nothing to help the people of district 52. I can't think of anything. Does anybody know if he has accomplished something positive while in office?
John T
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:50 p.m.
This is what Driskell's campaign has resorted to - distractions. She is trying to distract everyone from all the positives Mark has brought to Lansing by bringing up irrelevant issues from the past that have been long since resolved. As for the negative advertising, orangeorange is right, the candidates have very little, if anything at all, to do with it. These letters, on the other hand, are straight from the local campaign! I just read one that didn't even bother changing the perspective of the letter, so it read as if Driskell had written it herself... because she did! Multiple others have been literally copied and pasted from her own campaign newsletters. Is that grassroots campaigning, or manipulation and deception?
CherylJean
Thu, Oct 18, 2012 : 1 a.m.
What issues are you talking about from the past that have been resolved? Do they pertain to why Mr. Ouimet resigned from his administrative position at Northwood University for "undisclosed reasons" or the allegation that his MBA came from a diploma mill? Both of those were issues in 2008.
MichiDave
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.
I am so sick of reading these letters, they are clearly written by people on her staff. And starting it with "While no neophyte..."?? Man that sounds pretentious. Whoever wrote this is not doing Gretchen a favor.
Slim Jim
Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
I don't work for her and I would be happy to have written this same letter!
alarictoo
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
"Neophyte" sounds pretentious? Seriously? What about having a high school level vocabulary is pretentious? If we're going to go that route, the word "pretentious" sounds pretentious.
rushvillerocket
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
For the record...I am not a member of her staff...just a resident of the city she served honorably for many years. Ouimet is a liar, nuff said.
rushvillerocket
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:39 p.m.
Again, this guy got caught with his hand in the cookie jar - probably cookies made by a female - lol Gretchen has a clean, honest, thorough record, and is EXACTLY what we need in office to transition ourselves from the scum of political leaders. Easy choice here...
Basic Bob
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.
Kristin Judge's lies certainly have legs. At least someone paid back the money they fairly received. What did we get for Ms. Judge's taxpayer paid out of state junkets? Nothing. What did she get? A position well suited to her predatory attitude toward local government. I hope she isn't thinking about coming back to politics.
MichiDave
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:53 p.m.
Based on some of these other comments, her record of being "clean, honest and thorough" has definitely changed these past few months. She came to my door recently and was completely uninterested in what I had to say about turning Michigan around socially and economically. I've had the opportunity to speak to Mark Ouimet on countless occasions, and he was both engaged and receptive to my ideas. Mark's got my vote this time around.
David Cahill
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
Ouimet is in deep trouble. Both President Obama and Senator Stabenow are way ahead in the Michigan polls. With a Democratic landslide building, Ouimet will say anything about Driskell to keep from being caught in it.
Lodi Lady
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:16 p.m.
I have to agree with orangeorange. I did get one giant ad mailed to my house that attacked Mark on one side and advertised for her on the back. Criticizing a candidate is one thing, but doing it to make yourself look better is another entirely. That's just dirty. Shame on you and your campaign, Ms. Driskel.
Ron Granger
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.
I'll bet they wish they could just give her a "timeout"!
orangeorange32
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3 p.m.
As much as I hate negative political advertising, it's important to remember that these negative ads (by both parties-- there is plenty of negativity coming from Democrats, too) come from the PARTY. Not the candidate. And often the candidate doesn't have control over the advertising the party puts out. The separation is really important.
Slim Jim
Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 1:38 a.m.
Not true, didn't your hear about L. Brooks Patterson calling the "party" from his rehab bed about the negative Detroit ad they were running? He told them to pull it and it was never run again. Maybe Mark doesn't have the clout to call off the dogs?
tom swift jr.
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 10:07 p.m.
could you give us an example of a negative, inaccurate ad being run by Driskell? Or are you speaking in vague generalities that aren't relevant to this article?
Top Cat
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.
Politics ain't beanbag! If Ms. Driskell can't take the heat, she should get out of the kitchen.
music to my ear
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 7:52 p.m.
or get back in the kitchen.
sigdiamond
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
Beanbag?
harry
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
What are talking about Ouimet is a liar and he was called out on it. He is a discrace. Who would vote for this guy?
dotdash
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.
Ah yes, how easily kitchen metaphors rise to the lips of old guys when talking about women seeking power.
kmgeb2000
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.
Too bad lies are not "heat" - just lies. How about running on your record and position on issues.
dotdash
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
I totally agree. When even local politics is so ugly, where have we sunk to?