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
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