| An "informed" electorate requires information on how the candidates would approach issues facing the city. We invite the candidates to submit a "platform", that will be presented without editing. Please submit a photo. We also invite you to submit questions that you feel warrant responses from the other candidates as well as yourself. | |||||||||||||||
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| David Ball | Mark Byrne | Alan Cutcher | Sally Jacobs | Alan Lewandowski | Tim McCulloch | Brian Moeller | Mark Neal | Jim Relken | Laurie Sample-Winn | Al Wright | |||||
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1. The City Manager has proposed water rate increases in each of the next five years, Brian Moeller has stated that he would not support additional water rate increases, what is your position? |
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| See below... |
I do not support the recent water rate increases and.... more |
Supports City Manager's Rate Increases.
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Voted Against City Manager's Recommendation | Supports City Manager's Rate Increases.
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I do not support the large water rate increases...more |
Voted Yes. "The budget amendment approved in September was a starting point...more |
As to my statement, what I said is that I would not vote to raise water rates at least for the next two years..more | Supports City Manager's Rate Increases.
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I support both the water & Sewer rate increase at this time. ..more | Supports City Manager's Rate Increases.
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I oppose the current water rate increases. | ||||
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2. If you are opposed to the City Manager's Budget, how would you balance the budget? |
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| Thanks very much for posting my ....more |
I'm opposed to the City Manager's Budget...more |
Supports City Manager's Budget Cuts.
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I
believe we could have made more cuts in our operating budget. ...more
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Supports City Manager's Budget Cuts.
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I would have voted no on the 2007/2008 budget. I believe...more |
Voted Yes. "...The city needs to continue to review services that could be privatized...more |
As to balancing the budget, the next council must be able to make the appropriate cuts..more | Supports City Manager's Budget Cuts.
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I am not opposed to the city managers budget. I do not support any additional cuts..more | Supports City Manager's Budget Cuts.
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I would like to investigate the detailed budget for more possible alternatives to save money. | ||||
| 3. For many years the leaders of Port Huron have extolled the amenities of our city and it's great potential, in your opinion, why hasn't that potential been realized? | |||||||||||||||
| This issue is fully addressed in my... .more | I agree Port Huron and the Blue Water area has great potential...more | No Response
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Port Huron leadership often gives lip service ...more | No Response
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I do not think that you can point the blame on any one person. .more | Port Huron has been blessed with a number of great assets. The natural ..more | No Response | No Response
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We do not have a marketing theme that clearly describes our area. ..more | No Response
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When you say leaders, I believe these are the visual leaders...more | ||||
| David Ball | Mark Byrne | Alan Cutcher | Sally Jacobs | Alan Lewandowski | Tim McCulloch | Brian Moeller | Mark Neal | Jim Relken | Laurie Sample-Winn | Al Wright | |||||
| 4. Several of the challengers for council seats have expressed hesitation at being specific about budget issues, stating that the budget published on the city web page is not the real one, and that they are not "privy" to specific information that would shape their opinion. In the interest of having an open and transparent government, shouldn't the budget that is published be the real one? | |||||||||||||||
| The general outline is sufficient for making the decisions we have to make. | Absolutely. The boss meaning the taxpayers have the right to know every detail including all salaries. | No Response | I believe in an open and transparent government. The summary budget ....more | No Response | See Question 5. | Many people have the misconception that the city has two separate budgets. ...more | First let me say I was the one who brought this to the attention of Mr. Wright, ...more | No Response | The City budget is very transparent to anyone..more | No Response | I have investigated this issue and have found that...more | ||||
| 5. Candidate Al Wright found that the full detailed budget can be available to citizens if they pay approximately $200.00 plus time expenses for printing. Would you favor having the full budget available on the city's web page, or that the city would make it available on a CD disk for $1.00? | |||||||||||||||
| Sure. I'm not sure how much demand there'll be. | Absolutely. The Boss has a right to see all the details. ...more | No Response | If a CD of the full budget could be provided, I'm all for it. | No Response | I see no reason not to publish the real budget on the city’s website..more | As I stated in my answer to question #4, I think that the detail budget should be made available to residents....more | I believe it should be available on line for review by anyone ...more | No Response | Any process that provides more information for the public is great...more | No Response | No Response | ||||
| Hypothetical: Pete and his new wife are relocating to the Blue Water Area. Pete will be a school teacher at Thomas Edison Elementary, in Fort Gratiot. His wife, Sue, will be working as a dental technician, in Port Huron Township. Their taxable household income will be about $80,000. They are shopping for homes in the $180,000 price range and will be putting 20% down and getting a 6%, 30 year fixed rate loan. Assuming their SEV on the home they purchase to be $90,000, they are comparing the costs of living in various Blue Water Area communities. They would like to stay in the Port Huron Area School District, but would consider living in Marysville. | |||||||||||||||
| Monthly Expense | City of Port Huron | Port Huron Twp | Fort Gratiot Twp | City of Marysville | Burtchville Twp | Clyde Twp | Kimball Twp | ||||||||
| Principal & Int. |
863.35 |
863.35 | 863.35 | 863.35 | 863.35 | 863.35 | 863.35 | ||||||||
| Property Tax | 290.35 | 209.34 | 193.46 | 324.56 | 176.27 | 167.80 | 166.32 | ||||||||
| Income Tax | 64.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||||
| Total | $1,218.37 | $1,072.69 | $1,056.81 | $1,187.91 | $1,039.62 | $1,031.15 | $1,029.67 | ||||||||
| Cost over Base/Yr | $2,264.40 | $516.24 | $325.68 | $1,898.88 | $119.40 | $17.76 | Base (lowest) | ||||||||
| 6. If Pete was your son, would you advise him to purchase in the city of Port Huron? If so, why? If not, what can be done to make Port Huron a more financially attractive place to live? | |||||||||||||||
| Under my model Port Huron, Fort Gratiot Township and ..more | The short answer is No I would not recommend Pete move to Port Huron unless..more | No Response | That's a fairly loaded question that does not take into account all variables. ...more | No Response | Yes, I would advise Pete to move to Port Huron,.more | When I made the choice to live in Port Huron, there were many factors besides taxes....more | No Response | No Response | I would tell anyone that you get what you pay for...more | No Response | No Response | ||||
| 7. The city has given tax incentives to encourage developers, manufacturers and businesses to locate in Port Huron, should they give tax relief to encourage common people to locate in Port Huron? | |||||||||||||||
| In my opinion and under my plan..more | I favor across the board tax reductions.. .more | No Response | I believe in total tax relief for the citizens of Port Huron. I voted against...more | No Response | The tax rates are not the major reason people are not moving.more | The city needs to continue to look at weighs to reduce the cost of government. ...more | No Response | No Response | Tax Relief in the City Of Port Huron for industry ..more | No Response | No Response | ||||
| David Ball | Mark Byrne | Alan Cutcher | Sally Jacobs | Alan Lewandowski | Tim McCulloch | Brian Moeller | Mark Neal | Jim Relken | Laurie Sample-Winn | Al Wright | |||||
| 8. If elected, and you had sufficient support on the council, what would be your first priority? | |||||||||||||||
| Legal action to halt the Bridge Plaza and Corridor project. Then amalgamation and charter revision. | I would make enough changes to Port Hurons cost structure..more | No Response | I would move forward with the proposal from Terra Land. We have a problem ...more | No Response | My first priority would be to get Terra Land back .more | No Response | There are actually two things I plan on doing right away ...more | No Response | Work to set specific goals, Place a time line ..more | No Response | No Response | ||||
| 9. Televised city council meetings are intended to inform the public in a transparent manner, in your opinion, when should the council go into "closed session"? | |||||||||||||||
| Personnel and legal strategy sessions should be closed..more | One of the few reasons for closed session I can think of is..more | No Response | Under Michigan law, we can only go into closed session to discuss pending litigation, land acquisition and certain personnel matters. | No Response | Only when allowed by the open meeting act..more | No Response | Only when mandated by state law. | No Response | The law defines the process here. Open Meeting act. | No Response | No Response | ||||
| 10. What changes in the city charter, if any, would you support? | |||||||||||||||
| Abolish at-large council election in favor of precinct-specific council members;.more | Adding a line stating that no city income tax is allowed ...more | No Response | I would like to see return to representation by districts or precincts ...more | No Response | After forty years, I see no reason why the charter should not be looked at .more | No Response | I am not sure what changes I would support at this time. However, ...more | No Response | A complete rewrite and review of the entire document. | No Response | No Response | ||||
