martini man

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 11:30 p.m.

Disappointing that the liberals do not like Ouimet ???? They are liberals ..what else do you expect?? While I agree that the liberals will attack anyone who isn't a liberal , I really don't know why anyone would be amazed that this has happened. Almost a moot subject for an article on Ann Arbor .com.

Angelika Lewis

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 9:39 p.m.

The so-called "negative portrayal" in the title of this article is due to Mr. Ouimet's voting record, which has been very harmful to the ordinary people of Michigan and therefore also to the long-term health of our business climate. The economy depends on demand, i.e. our ability to buy what we want and need. Anyone thinking of voting for Mr. Ouimet ought first to check his voting record at www.michiganvotes.org.

seasons

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.

Mark Ouiment has accomplished nothing more than rubber stamping the Lansing Republican Legislative agenda. He voted to cut a billion dollars from Michigan Schools, he voted to cut college funds, raising tuition costs at the U of M, MSU and EMU, he voted to impose enormous tax increases on seniors, the poor and middle class families, he voted to end in-home care for thousands of seniors leading to a significant increase in costs. All of these votes were to help "pay" for the billions of dollars of tax giveaways to the wealthiest and corporate special interests. I can find no data that shows what Mark has initiated that has helped to improve the economy of Michigan. The successful auto-bail out, thanks to President Obama, has done more to improve the economy of Michigan than anything that Mark has done. What Mark helped his colleagues accomplish was a giant shift of money from students, the poor, the middle class and seniors to corporate and special interests. He also voted to prevent women from obtaining basic health services and tacitly agreed with his colleagues when the effort was made to pass a law making the use of contraception illegal. I see no reason to vote for Mark Ouiment - we do not need four more years of passive compliance with political dogma.

A2sparty

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.

Keep up the good work Mark thank you for all you have done

DeeDee

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.

Even though Mark Ouimet was the biggest offender in the overcharging for personal expenses scandal as a Washtenaw County Commissioner, I supported him in the last election based on his statements that he was a moderate on social issues. But he has voted with the rest of the right wingers, and been a part of the war on women, education, labor, the environment and common sense that this administration has waged. Like Rick Snyder, he needs to stop treating womens lives like bargaining chips to extract governance concessions from the right wing. I will be voting for Gretchen Driskell who has done a fine job as Saline's mayor and is herself a small businesswoman who has a grip on the needs of all.

LarryJ

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.

I heard him give a talk recently and his theme was that he pro-education. Yet he voted to support the Snyder proposal to reduce funding of education, both K-12 and university-level. Which is more important, his hollow words or his voting record? Thumbs down !

Ghost of Tom Joad

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 1:13 p.m.

he tried to steal from washtenaw county. the man is a weasel.

Michisbest

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 12:48 p.m.

What do you expect Cathy can't even get Marks record right in her response and after all the Democrats of Micigan have all those fine examples to follow like Kwame, Monica and Ficanno. The latest Driskell add on the radio is a classic about her as mayor of Saline making the Saline High School so special the high school isn't even in the city of Saline it is in Pittsfield township beacuse the city didn't want it!

Alan Goldsmith

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 10:45 a.m.

Quimet campaigned as one type of candidate and governed as another. Hypocritical would be one term you could use for someone who pretended to be a 'moderate' and then, once in office, was a rubber stamp for every right wing initiative in Lansing. No thanks.

PineyWoodsGuy

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 4 a.m.

Mark would not be my "first choice," but I know him to be a very decent, caring human being. I hate it that politics in this county has degenerated to these sort of scurrilous, ignorant attacks on the character of a man courageous enough to stand for office!

antikvetch

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 2:46 a.m.

I personally have received far more "attacks" ads regarding Ms. Driskell than I have regarding Mr. Ouimet. The vast majority of THOSE have come from the Republican Party. If I were Mr. Ouimet, I'd be ticked...

samseaborn

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 2:41 a.m.

So very happy to have Mark as my Rep. He works hard, listens to what his constituents have to say and listens to all sides before he makes a vote. I will be voting for Mark and I encourage all to do the same. Don't buy into those who are trying to fool you; Mark is working around the clock to make Washtenaw its best and Michigan comeback

Jake Morano

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 2:37 a.m.

If Mark is smart and I know he is because he is the best Rep in the Michigan House, he will not even read these comments. But in any event GO MARK GO!!!!

A2sparty

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 2:34 a.m.

I may have to quit my job to clear all the crap that is on here. Cathy: Mark voted against the helmet law. Just to repeat he voted against the helmet law. But congrats on spreading lies the Dem party must pay well. NoSuvforMe- I am going to need facts for you to back that up other than that you know as much about politics as Rich Rod does about football

Robert Gordon

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 2:14 a.m.

I think that Mark is a nice guy. I do not like the fact that he tries to come off as a bipartisan politician when his record is anything but. He has a dismal environmental score, believes is "trickle down" theory, and voted to raise taxes to seniors and the working poor. He has never broken with the Republican leadership on any significant issue. He is a ideologue masquerading in bipartisan clothing. We do not need folks who worship big banks, insurance companies, and drug companies at the cost of the common people of Michigan.

mike gatti

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 2 a.m.

Sorry but Mr. Ouimet bought the ticket so he can take the ride.

Westfringe

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.

I stopped reading title of your piece. Politics in this country is nothing but mudslinging, from both sides. I personally found the attacks on Gretchen Driskell by the Republican party to be nastier.

ScioIndy

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 1:17 a.m.

NoSUVforMe explains exactly what Ms. Busch stated above - disappointing criticism and ridiculous attempts at character assasination by the extreme liberal left wing Democratic Party - of which Driskell is a member. Ouimet has cut taxes, reduced state debt and helped balance the budget which will end up in an increased funding for education. As I recall, Ouimet is the recipient of the Athena Award -this is given to those who support women in busisness (one of only 11 men who have received this award ). It takes courage to make tough decisions that Ouimet has had to do in Lansing; only a coward would make such trashy comments penned by NoSUVforMe.

orangeorange32

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 1:09 a.m.

I agree wholeheartedly! Whenever I have talked to Mr. Ouimet, he has been very knowledgeable about issues facing the 52nd district and he's been very open to discussion. He has experience, both as County Commissioner and as State Representative that shows he is capable and willing to fight for the things this district needs!

Michigan Man

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 12:51 a.m.

On election day Mark will destroy this Saline woman running against him. My condolences to her and her family for being duped by local democrats into running against Mark. In winning re-election Mark will remain classy, thoughtful, respectful of his opponent who he will have crushed and Mark will just quietly go to work for the fine citizens he serves. End of story.

John T

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 12:50 a.m.

Mark Ouimet was the chancellor at Northwood, a major university... Driskell has no education experience... Who would you rather have making decisions about education at the state level? My vote is for Mark!

Paul Fisher

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 12:44 a.m.

I couldn't agree more with this letter. How can Driskell really say Ouimet is anti-education? Nobody, especially Mark, would tell you education is not incredibly important. Mark has helped put money IN THE CLASSROOM. Driskell claims education is her top priority, but really it is making the MEA union happy for all the contributions they've given her.

Alex Kar

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 12:34 a.m.

Ouimet is the clear choice here. His opponent has nothing to criticize him about except for being a Republican. Really the most important thing about Mark has nothing to do with his party and you hear it again and again... he is accessible, works extremely hard, and listens to all sides of issues. That is representation we can all be happy with!

52ndGirl

Thu, Oct 25, 2012 : 12:16 a.m.

I agree with Elizabeth Busch in her elegantly worded support of Mark Ouimet. Ouimet is a class act - he is always available to listen to those he represents, even if they don't share the same views. His opponent and her Democratic party are far off-base in their criticism of him. Mark should be re-elected to the House. PS - Ouimet voted against the repeal of the helmet law.

Cathy

Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 11:54 p.m.

I have nothing personal against Ouimet, I just don't like his politics. His voting record shows an undue interest in making abortions and voting more difficult. He also voted for the repeal of the helmet law and the Pledge of Allegiance mandate. So much wrong in this state, and this guy is wasting time his time on a loyalty oath from the 1890s.