Community connection shows Mark Ouimet's value as elected official
I am writing to express my support for State Representative Mark Ouimet. He is up for re-election and I’d like to explain why he will have my vote in November.
It is clear to me that Rep. Ouimet has made an effort to get to know the residents in his district. Just this summer, I have seen him at the Saline Celtic Festival, the Manchester Chicken Broil, and just about every event I have been to here in Chelsea. It is important for elected officials to have a strong connection to the communities they serve. That’s why it is so encouraging that Mark makes such an effort to be visible and accessible, from simply being present at events to holding meet and greets and town halls. This allows the people he serves to be able to voice their concerns and he is always sincere and attentive.
Mark Ouimet is a representative who works with his constituents first in mind.
Cindy Mark
Chelsea
Comments
Meral
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 9:40 p.m.
I always believe we need diversity it Lansing. Fresh voice and ideas are better then stale ones.
BettyS
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 8:36 p.m.
Mark Ouimet has been a great representative for our district and he has my support on November 6th! He is approachable and is concerned about the people who live here.
ScioIndy
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 8:26 p.m.
I, too , have seen Ouimet at multiple events in the 52nd District. He is interested in his community and the people who live here. He has my vote this Novemeber.
52ndGirl
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 8:15 p.m.
Mark works tirelessly and with great conviction for this district. He cares about the people who live here and about a prosperous Michigan. I am sorry that the Democrats and those that support Driskell need to sink to such low levels of criticism - Mark is a class act - he is the best person for the job.
Robert Gordon
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 5:12 p.m.
Yes, Mark is a fine guy. But Seasons is entirely correct. He is a right wing ideologue, never once breaking from the party on any vote of consequence. He has voted against kids, seniors, the poor, women, college students and the environment. He loves banks and insurance companies. Do not be fooled because he shows up at parades.
Peter Eckstein
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 3:43 p.m.
Mark is a nice person--fine--but Gretchen is also a nice person, too. So let's call that even. But even as Mark has shaken countless hands, he has voted to raise taxes on seniors and to cut K-12 and higher education in order to provide untargetted tax breaks for business. He has also gone along with his party to pass voter suppression measures that even Governor Snyder felt compelled to veto. Gretchen is an intelligent, accomplished and experienced person who would add a lot to the Lansing scene.
dextermom
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
I agree with "seasons". I have voted for Mark in the past as a county official and had so much higher hopes for him in Lansing. But he has not even been open to the Governor's attempts to bring people together. Not only has he voted almost a straight Republican line, he has voted a straight Republican legislature line.
seasons
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 11:51 a.m.
So far, the letters supporting Mark have focused on his being nice, being accessible, being visible and have not mentioned at all his voting record! Mark has rubber stamped the Republican ideology, doing little to really represent his district's needs. He has supported denying women basic health services, he gave tacit approval to the effort to pass a law making contraception illegal, and he voted to shift billions of dollars from the poor, the middle class, seniors and students to corporate special interests and the wealthiest. His claim to have helped Michigan's economy is based on his votes to shift monies. The auto bail out, thanks to President Obama, has done more to help Michigan's (and Ohio's) economy than anything Mark has done. Because of the shifting of billions of dollars away from education, seniors, middle class residents and the poor, costs for every segment have gone up. He has raised taxes on the poor, middle class and seniors, he has raised tuition costs at the U of M, EMU and MSU causing students much greater expense, he has sent tax dollars out of the state by his vote in hire out of state for profit educational corporations whose records of excellence are below a passing grade He has also voted to put seniors at risk by voting to eliminate background checks for home care workers, allowing abuse and neglect to be much more possible and he voted to cut off home care for seniors, forcing them out of their homes and into expensive nursing homes. Michigan does not need a representative who rubber stamps extreme political ideology and refuses to stand up and speak out for his district.
a2gretta
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 4:02 p.m.
It would be great if you were to put this in a Letter to the Editor! I read my news from an AnnArbor.com email each morning, and there have been a number of highlighted opinion pieces on Mark Ouimet which are clearly positive.
Paul Fisher
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
When I talk to people about this race, 9 times out of 10 they have never even heard of Gretchen Driskell. She barely has support in her own city of Saline let alone the rest of the district. Mark knows the people he represents on a personal level and that is why he is best suited to represent us.
baitm
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 10:36 p.m.
i am so glad i didn't elect that dirtbag. he is a republican first, american second politician. be warned this state will be like a southern state if republicans keep gutting our state. they made everyone bleed. but the plan is to kill the whole state. vote them all out! mark should be unemployed very soon.
Paul Fisher
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 10:40 p.m.
This is one of the more appalling statements I have heard... Do you think it is 1860? The Civil War is over baitm and there are plenty of Democrats in the south. Ever heard of Jimmy Carter? How about Bill Clinton.
A2democrat
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 9:34 p.m.
It is rare that we have a Rep. like Mark. Mark has the ability to focus on the task at hand and not get bogged down in partisan politics. He proved this when he was on the county board and has continued this in Lansing. More progress has been made in Lansing over the past two years then in the previous ten and Mark is a huge reason for this.
Robert Gordon
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
Focus on the task at hand? Has he sponsored anything? When I met with him, I found his understanding of the issues shallow to non existent.
samseaborn
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 9:27 p.m.
Mark himself has knocked on my door personally several times which is rare these days. So glad to have him in Lansing
Mavrick08
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 8:21 p.m.
I agree Mark is at every event in town and I know he cares. Also, whenever I contact him office i get a prompt responce
A2sparty
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
I could not agree more I lived in the 52nd my entire voting life, and Mark is the best Rep we have ever had
Ghost of Tom Joad
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.
Also, essentially your argument is that you saw him campaigning so you're going to vote for him. This is why I have no faith in the undecided voter.
Ghost of Tom Joad
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 8:06 p.m.
He sure had a great connection with our tax dollars while working for the county. I don't trust this man with public funds one bit with his history.