My Response to Questions from the local Press

1. Efforts to expand downtown parking have been frequently been discussed by council in the past year.  What it the best, most cost-efficient way to do this? 

Extra parking has been discussed to support the WALLY train proposal, a Disneyland type project that I oppose and the other candidates support. WALLY is a complete waste of money, requires tax increases and is unaffordable.  Remove WALLY from the discussion and we can talk sensibly how much extra parking is really need for the future. Right now the other candidates support spending a half a million dollars, yes that right $500K of YOUR tax dollars to bury underground utilities in a very small private back alley for a powerful developer. They are spending all this money for looks alone.  It is the biggest waste of our tax dollars I have ever seen serving on Council

I strongly oppose this misuse of our tax money. This project should be a funded through the DDA like every other parking lot project.  That is why a DDA exists, to fix downtown infrastructure. Several years ago, Council raised property taxes to fund the road program. Now, instead of giving us our money back, they are taking it to make a little alley look pretty for a few businesses.  Since the city has to borrow money for this project, I proposed putting this bond, (just like schools) to public vote, but Manor and Proctor are in bed with a developer who already got a tax break. So next time Council says the budget is tight; it’s because someone lobbied hard to take your money to improve their property value, not the public at large..

2 .  Recreation is also a key issue with the potential disbanding of the neighboring SELCRA Authority. What must the Howell Recreation Authority do to assure its own future?

The Recreation Authority is seriously in need of new leadership. The current Director is a political patronage appointee with no recreation management experience, has been publicly rebuked by the Board for violations of policy and cited by the State for a budget deficit. The Rec Authority reputation has been damaged and the public lacks trust in its ability to function well. We need professional leadership with recreational experience to restore trust. The Rec Board is now waiting to see if I get reelected before they propose a tax increase.  They may need a tax increase or more money from the member governments, to remain solvent, but for gosh sakes; they need to get their house in order first to plan for a better future.

 3. What other issue(s) are most important to you.
Mini-circles. The public hates them and want them gone. We are a national joke with trees growing in the middle of the street over a sewer system. The only reason they remain is Steve Manor loves them; in fact he has three of them on his street, more than any other area of town. Gee how did that happen? I have fought for years to get them removed; we had the votes, but when the Mayor Campbell and Councilman Schlittler left council this year, the last supporting vote from Mayor Proctor, switched to support Manor’s mini-circles. As long as Manor is on Council mini-circles will remain in Howell. I even sponsored a resolution to put their removal to a public vote, but that too was blocked by Manor. Mini-circles can be removed for very little money, but remember, our tax money has now been budgeted to bury utilities for a developer.

My Campaign Flyer that is hitting the mark!

Dear voter,

I am writing you this letter, because for this election I am not able knock on doors and get your thoughts on how City Council should spend your tax dollars. I am temporarily working on a construction project at a nuclear plant that has me working 12 hours a day 6 days a week until the end of October.

About Doug:

I, my wife Ann and son Ryan have lived in Howell for over 35 years.  Howell has always been my home and we all know it’s the best place to live in Michigan. As a council person I have always taken the position I am just a city resident running for Council to assure your tax dollars are spent wisely and with common sense.

I served on Council from 1987 to 1999 and as Mayor-pro tem. After some time way, four years ago I figured it was time in bring some common sense back to Council. So I ran on a platform of reforming our government after watching the city become involved in lawsuits, plant trees in the middle of the street, and become a national joke with the car damaging mini-circles. The citizens of Howell agreed change was needed and over whelming voted yours truly and others in as new leadership. The old Council people that put in the mini-circles, lost 3 major lawsuits costing us millions of dollars, and approved a city manager employment contract with a huge poison pill provision were either voted out or came in last place.

The work is not done so I am running again for reelection. Serving the public is a privilege as a Councilmember who must always remember they are elected to serve the public, and never take citizens for granted or abuse their responsibility.

While on Council over the last four years I have sponsored many council resolutions to fix our streets, improve parking off street parking and remove the mini-circles. I even proposed a public referendum on removal of mini-circles. Unfortunately, some on Council are more interested in amassing power than representing the people. This election now we are witnessing those running for Council more interested in defending City Hall that us, the people.

Manors Mini-circles:

All my proposals to fix the city have been blocked by Steven Manor. It’s a known fact that Mr. Manor has more mini-circles on his street than any other in town (how did that happened?) and the only person to get a free concrete driveway approach during the street program.  That is not mistake but an abuse of power. Mr. Manor is the former president of the Howell Teachers Union, a fact he would like to hide, and believes your tax money is his to spend. In fact 2 years ago when Council found thousands in extra money to remove the mini-circles it was Manor that proposed giving this extra money to city employees to supplement their existing labor contract. This year the city budget ended with thousands of surplus dollars, but none of it will be returned to you. Mr. Manor, not one to refuse a perk of the office accepted a trip to Asia compliments of a local business. He is now supports the spending half a million dollars of your taxes (and water/sewer) money to bury utilities in a small alley for a local developer.  This is the biggest waste of our tax dollars I have ever seen while serving on Council. So who does is he really represent?

Candidates for this election are now more concerned with  businesses rather than representing you  Their statements the in newspaper this week support this as they say nothing about improving your streets, removing mini-circles  or returning the extra taxes they raised on you several years ago. Your tax money is their play money.

Make your vote count:

You may have noticed the other candidates now are running as a slate. Three against one.  Why? Manor wants 100% of control of City Council. Get rid of independent thinking. Get rid of the one person that questions how wisely our tax dollars are spent.

I proposed an advisory referendum on phasing out the mini-circles. Engineer estimates say it can be done for very little money. Since the Mayor and Manor have chosen to block an advisory vote, the only way you can tell Council to remove the mini-circles is to undervote in this election. This means vote for only one candidate. You do not have to vote for three, you can only vote for one if you wish.   By voting for the one candidate that as voted against tax increases and has fought hard to remove the min-circles; you can actually multiply your vote.        A single vote for Doug Heins will supercharge your vote!

Transparency:

I have pushed to make the city safe and transparent. For example last year I asked the city for information about a downtown development. Not getting all the facts, I filed a Freedom of Information Request. I was then charged the most money in the history of Howell by the City Manager. What is wrong with a city government that hides information from a Councilperson and then illegally charges me hundreds of dollars? If this is how you wish your city to run vote for the other candidates.

 

If you wish to continue me to continue fighting for common sense and transparency please support me with your vote.      Thanks, Doug

Because so much is at stake I am asking for your VOTE on NOVEMBER 2nd