Up North Progressive
Politics and commentary for Northern MichiganMeet The Candidates: State Senate District #36 Joe Lukasiewicz
Sunday , 29, June 2014 Candidates 2 Comments
Joe Lukasiewicz is running for Michigan State Senate in the 36th district. This district includes the counties of Presque Isle, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda, Alcona, Iosco, Arenac, Gladwin, and Midland. He lives n Greenbush in Alcona County. He is a lifelong resident of Northern Michigan, where he lives with is wife. He has four children and three grandchildren. Lukasievicz has worked factory jobs, held management positions, and worked in both the private and public sector. Joe Lukasievicz has been a small business owner and worked for the federal government. For three years his work for the US Department of Defense required him to work in Germany. When he retired from his job in the federal government, he was a team leader and instructor of logistic systems.
Lukasievicz also has extensive political experience. He was the Executive Director of Reform Michigan Government Now, a nonpartisan ballot initiative organization to reduce inefficiency and requiring more transparency and accountability in Michigan government. He also served as the Executive Director of Unicameral Michigan, which was a ballot initiative on reducing redundancy and the size of Michigan’s legislature by creating a single house, like what exists in Nebraska.
Joe Lukasievicz believes that Michigan’s employment problems have not been remedied by the current government in Lansing. In the 36th district, many counties still suffer with double digit unemployment. Lukasievicz believes it will take the efforts of public and private sectors including tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and retail business to address the problem. Education of course is the key to boosting employment. Joe Lukasievicz knows efforts to defund and eliminate public school through charter schools and online school options are meant to cripple education in Michigan, not improve it. Education that focuses on children rather than profits is crucial to rebuilding the state’s economic recovery.
Lukasievicz also believes Michigan must do more to protect our natural resources. The 36th district has many state and county parks, forests, shoreline along Lake Huron, and inland rivers and lakes that need to be protected. Dealing with invasive species such as Asian carp threaten indigenous species and will cost the state billions to sport and commercial fishing industries. Lukasievicz also believes that hydraulic fracturing should only be allowed in Michigan if the energy companies fully disclose all of the chemicals used in the fracking fluid. Joe Lukasievicz will fight in Lansing for the 36th district to make sure management of natural resources remains above partisan politics and exploitation for profit.
If you want to learn more about Joe Lukasievicz or volunteer to help his campaign, you can visit his website and follow his campaign on Facebook. On November 4, vote for Joe Lukasievicz for the 36th district.
Republican Standards: Felon On Parole Running For Michigan State Legislature
Saturday , 28, June 2014 Candidates Leave a comment
Republican Jordan D. Haskins is running for Michigan’s 95th state house district which includes the city of Saginaw. Jordan Haskins is also a convicted felon in two states and has a rap sheet that goes back to when he was 15 years old. The Michigan Republican Party says the parolee can run for public office as a member of the GOP if he wants to and represent the people of the state’s 95th legislative district. There are no rules in the state barring people with criminal records from running for office.
Haskins’ rap sheet includes breaking and entering and larceny, but it’s possible his recent convictions are the most bizarre. The Republican candidate liked to break into cars, disconnect the ignition wires, then engage in a sexual fetish called cranking. Cranking is where someone breaks into a car, then masturbates while watching the car owner try to start the car with disconnected wires. Haskins preferred trying to start the car himself.
Once his criminal record became known the endorsements he counted on for his campaign dried up unfortunately. He says nothing will stop him from running however. He knows a lot about the criminal justice system and prison and he believes those experiences will make him an excellent state representative for the Republican Party.
The convicted felon believes he has much to offer the people of the 95th district of the Michigan State Legislature from the experience of his past mistakes and regular parole officer visits that will be finished a few weeks before the November election. He won’t let any of that stop him from fulfilling his promise of running for office as a proud member of the GOP.
Grand Traverse Academy’s Cleaning Up Their Act: The Continuing Story of Dr. Steve Ingersoll
Friday , 27, June 2014 Dr. Ingersoll, Section 16 Leave a comment
In a closed session on Friday the board for Grand Traverse Academy informed their new management company, Full Spectrum Management LLC, to make sure that none of the employees hired by the new company were “too closely tied” to former manager Dr. Steve Ingersoll. Ingersoll was indicted in April on felony fraud charges and still owes Grand Traverse Academy over two million dollars in prepaid fees.
The only issue with this request to the new management company is it’s owned by Mark Noss, who is also an optometrist in Traverse City and Steve Ingersoll’s partner. Noss is another promoter of IVL and his name is all over the center that teaches it downstate. There is also the issue of some of Noss’s family serving on the school board. Will these people resign to also comply with the board’s request?
This is an odd request to make, unless there is concern with the GTA board that some of the felony charges against Ingersoll could put their charter school under more scrutiny. Bay City Academy is also more than likely being looked at closely, especially with the sudden departure of Superintendent Schrock in January. Because Ingersoll and Noss are the creators of IVL and Icon Curriculum Mapping, will they stop using these things as well?
Considering some of the family and business connections between the board, the school, the management company and the optometry practice Ingersoll’s schools all use as part of the curriculum, removing all of the close ties will be a very big hassle for Grand Traverse Academy. It seems that this latest in a long line of closed door board meetings have more than just running a school to worry about.
Up North Democratic Candidate Events Today and This Weekend
Thursday , 26, June 2014 Candidates, Community Leave a commentDean Vanderstelt will be at White Lake Municipal Marina in Whitehall, Michigan for a “Greet & Grill fund raiser” this afternoon, June 26, 2014, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Minimum donation of $25, and you can purchase a ticket at the location or online
Betsy Coffia is holding a volunteer orientation on Saturday, June 28, beginning at 10:30 am at the Democratic Party Headquarters, 3671 Market Place Circle in B-160. That’s the Old Horizon Outlet Mall on US 31 in Traverse City
On June 29, 2014 Jerry Cannon will be in Manistee, Michigan for their Lawn Party fund raiser and Historical Home Tour, starting at 5:00 and ending at 7:00 pm. The location is Dempsey Manor, 506 Maple Street, Manistee, MI 49660. You can RSVP with Eric Polyak by calling (231) 384-8185 or by emailing Eric
Next week is the week running up to 4th of July weekend. Many candidates will be out marching in Parades and participating in holiday events. Get out and support our candidates.
Eclectablog yesterday published a late afternoon exclusive about the Snyder Campaign going secret squirrel on the Democrats. Or at least they tried. An intern named Taylor Grenawalt contacted the Mark Schauer for Governor campaign asking about working for them. Taylor forgot this is the age of social media, not Woodward and Bernstein.
Mash the link and have a good laugh with your morning coffee.
Have you ever seen a happier group of people? They’re giving each other a big group hug and flashing their brightest smiles at the camera. Just by looking at it, this picture could be one of many possible events. It could be an office party, a wedding reception or even a convention meet and greet session. Perhaps it’s a high school reunion and these folks are catching up and remembering all the fun they had. That’s the best guess we can make about the people smiling in this picture.
But who are these people and what are they really celebrating? This is a picture of a group giddy with happiness because Governor Snyder signed SB 618, the law that lifted the cap on charter schools in the state of Michigan. From left to right we have Beth DeShone of the Great Lakes Education Project, Gary Naeyaert and Mary Kay Shields of the John Engler Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University, and Billie Wimmer from the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers.
More charter schools for Michigan and they couldn’t be happier. Now that we know charter schools in this state run by for-profit private companies cost Michigan taxpayers a billion dollars a year with no public oversight and very lax enforcement of regulations, are they still celebrating? The answer to that is likely ‘yes’.
Meet The Candidates: State Senate District #33 Fred Sprague
Tuesday , 24, June 2014 Candidates Leave a comment
In November the people of the 33rd State Senate District of Michigan, which includes Clare, Isabella, Gratiot, Mecosta and Montcalm Counties will have the opportunity to elect Fred Sprague to represent them in Lansing. Fred doesn’t let raindrops stop him from spending time out campaigning and meeting his constituents. It’s important to get the message out the people of the 33rd district have a better choice for state senator.
Fred is a husband, father, and grandfather. He works in the education field as a licensed professional counselor. Fred Sprague’s background in education gives him the expertise to know that our current government in Lansing consistently makes the wrong choices for Northern Michigan’s schools, and that means fewer opportunities for our children to develop into successful adults. He understands that our economy will improve only when everyone has the opportunity to be successful.
On the issues Fred Sprague places a priority on education. He has a plan to improve education for Michigan that includes every classroom has access to up to date technology, effective professional development for teachers, make early childhood education more accessible for pre-schoolers, and ensure more high school graduates can afford to go to college. Having an educated workforce is part of another issue Sprague wants to work on when he’s elected to the Michigan State Senate. Economic development is crucial for more people to get back to work. Fred Sprague supports raising the minimum wage and helping small business. Finally, Sprague feels strongly that we must protect the water of the Great Lakes and our environment from industry that would damage it for profit.
To learn more about Fred Sprague and volunteer to help, you can visit his website for more information. Fred Sprague is the Senator the 33rd District needs in Lansing. Vote for Fred Sprague on November 4.
You Really Need To Read Freep’s Series On Charter Schools This Week
Monday , 23, June 2014 Section 16 Leave a comment
The Detroit Free Press will publish an exposé on Michigan charter schools in a series of stories that began on Sunday and runs through this week.
Charter schools are pushed into communities by politicians backed with big money. In Michigan, Betsy DeVos uses her vast wealth and influence to eliminate public education from the state and nation. She has plenty of help with the Mackinac Center who also push to dismantle public education by attacking the teachers unions.
The Detroit Free Press series needs to spark a national dialogue about education in this country. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has his fingers deep in the charter school pie thanks to his corporate backers. This week of articles about Michigan’s corrupt charter school for-profit industry is an important first step to that dialogue.
Meet The Candidates: State Senate District #34 Cathy Forbes
Sunday , 22, June 2014 Candidates Leave a comment
The 34th State Senate District in Michigan covers the counties of Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana. The next state senator representing the people of this district is Democratic Party candidate Cathy Forbes. Cathy is ready to go to Lansing and make the changes the people living in the 34th district want. The issues she’s focusing on in her campaign are education and job growth.
Cathy Forbes understands first hand that when confronted with a tough job you have to meet it head on. She is the mother of two children and owns her own business. She served on the road commission in Oceana County and was re-elected to that position. Already she’s working hard on the campaign trail with volunteers to inform the people of the 34th district she is ready to go to work for them.
On the issues Cathy Forbes considers education to be her top priority. She’s concerned like many parents in Michigan about the deep cuts to our public education which has caused schools to make cuts to staff and services children need to be successful learners. She will work to make sure schools are funded and teachers have the support they need from their state government, making sure they are treated like professionals.
Another important priority for the 34th district is jobs. Forbes wants to stop the flow of our tax dollars going to large corporations with no guarantee they will use that money to hire more people. She supports the Michigan 2020 plan to provide a way for high school graduates to receive the education or training they need to be competitive in the job market.
To get involved with her campaign and learn more, you can visit her website. Once you do, it will be obvious who our next state senator from the 34th district needs to be. Vote for Cathy Forbes on November 4.
PTSD Seminar Offered At AMOH Town Hall Meeting In Traverse City
Saturday , 21, June 2014 Community Leave a commentOn Monday, June 23, 2014, A Matter of Honor will hold their quarterly town hall meeting at the State Theater in Traverse City, Michigan. Featured at this meeting will be a seminar on “Post Traumatic Stress: Managing an Epidemic”
Special guests at the meeting will include Amelia Hasenohrl , MA, LPC, Cht. She will be offering “Hypnosis and PTSD Management.” Also at the meeting on Monday will be Linda Fletcher, LTC/ANC (ret). She is currently the director of AMOH. Her discussion will be about “Moral Injury and PTSD – New Thoughts and How Traverse City Can Help.”
The Theater will open at 5:45 PM on Monday and the meeting will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The seminar is free. Donations of $5.00 will be appreciated.
A Matter of Honor is the only organization in the United States dedicated to service and education about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. “A Matter Of Honor (AMOH) is an organization formed for the purpose of educating the American public about PTSD as it relates to military service.”