Call to Action

So, the door to door campaign finished with a run through Garden City.  It has been a great experience meeting the people of the MI House of Representatives district 26.  Pleasure meeting and talking with you over these past five months.  

Got to meet quite a few today for a very fallish day after we set the clocks back an hour.  More folks raking leaves and putting away Halloween decorations.  There was one particular noteworthy decoration.  

Guy had mounted a 4 to 6 ft skeleton to side of front porch railing.  Skeleton was attached on its back to a 2 ft wide disk powered with a ceiling fan motor.  When activated the skeleton spun around its navel area with the arms and legs flailing about.  That is American Exceptionalism right there.  Congrats to him for one of the most unique decorations out there.

Vote with the care and attention to detail that he took to perfect his creation.

Campaigned on last Saturday before election day on a very crisp fall day in Inkster.  Lots of Halloween decorations still up.  All were nice and some were very imaginative and clever.

Talked to a few folks as the headed out on errands or were raking leaves in their yards.  One guy was headed out in an hour to vote.  Another said that his household had already voted, for which I thanked him.  Yet another was very concerned about hoping that the election resulted in the best people put in to office for the sake of the citizens.

If you have voted, thanks to you as well.  If you haven't, finish up your due diligence and then get out and vote.  There is too much at stake for our future to sit this one out.  Please let your voice and your choices be heard and made.

Out on the south Westland border.  Quaint little area with duplexes, triplex, and quadruplex homes.  Plenty of houses in a small area.  

Got to speak with quite a few folks today.  They are all concerned about the future of our country as well as the state.  All were distressed with present leadership at all government levels and were interested in change.

Reminded them that early voting started today.

One Viet Nam draftee who flew with UH-1 Hueys was very pessimistic about out future if President Trump is not re-elected.  He said, considering what Trump's opponent stands for, he couldn't understand why the race is even close.  

Another fine fall day in Inkster.  Lot of folks at home watching the game.

Heard from a few people that they had voted already.  Please follow their lead and vote.  There is no excuse not to vote.

Absentee Voting has been available for nearly a month.  Early voting has started at select sites and of course you can vote at your regular polling station on 5 NOV.  

Whatever voting method you choose, just remember to vote for the best choice.  Due to the large number of positions and propositions, you must research your choices before making your selections. Due diligence prevents doing damage.

Less than 2.5 weeks until election day.  However, absentee voting and now early voting are well in progress.

Did meet with a couple of folks enjoying the weather on their porches and one gentleman who invited me in his house to meet his wife who was bedridden.  Times are tough and the government should be focused on those truly in need and well within the scope of government function.  Past time to stop where the government is over reaching to have the resources needed to redirect them where they should be applied.

Went into Romulus just west of the airport to finish up one of the subdivisions on this intermittently light rain afternoon.  

Lots of folks seemed to be out but did get to talk to a few.  One lady that I had come just in time.  Assumed that she was going to vote soon.  

It is time to vote after you have done all you due diligence.  Voted last week after doing a lot of due diligence including a youtube video on candidates and then a live Q&A hosted by a local PTA.    The ballots in some places is pretty extensive.  Make sure you're ready to make your best choices.

Visited Garden City today on a cooler day.  Lots of folks working on their lawns.  Some were in full prep for the end of the season.  Others were just giving their lawns one of the few cuttings of the year.

Talked to quite a few folks beyond the usual campaign pitch.  Had a long conversation with a man who was very concerned about the direction of government on all levels from local to federal.  Hopes that the right candidates are voted in to get us back to where we should be.  Is doing his part to let others know what needs to be done.

Please be like him.  Get the word out that we need voters to send the best public servants into public office.  We need to set voter turnout records to overcome any attempts to manipulate the system.  There is so much at stake and it has been made so easy to vote.  THERE IS  NO VALID EXCUSE NOT TO VOTE FOR ANY ONE!

So I had a conversation with a former high level Inkster official.  Seems like he met the incumbent during his first run.  The candidate went on a 15 minute, condescending, disparaging spiel about the city of Inkster and its citizens.  After that, the official identified himself as both a city official and as a long time Inkster resident.  He also told the candidate that if he felt that way, he should not be running to represent Inkster and the rest of the district.   At a recent candidate forum, he boasted about the incident.  

He also said that the arrogance and rudeness demonstrated by the candidate has continued through his first term.  The pinnacle was when the governor visited him to persuade him to vote in favor of the budget.  His lack of respect for the office and dedication to the communist fight against corporations did not endear him to the highest office in the state.  They only reason that he is being supported by his party can only be that the party does not want to risk losing their 2 vote majority in the State House.  They do no like or respect him.More on this to follow.

But to the residents of Inkster.  You have a person "representing" you who does not work for you nor really care about you.  You also have a dishonest person who has been known to lie right to your face. The city official said that he contacted the incumbent's office 10 times about legislation and none of his calls were ever returned.  So he just doesn't represent you, he does not work with your city officials. It happens when you arrogantly assume that you will vote for him because of his party affiliation.In contrast, I assume nothing.  I will work for you and only you. 

 I will return calls.  I will be a public servant and not a self server.

Returned to Inkster today.  There were more folks out and about this Sunday as the rains held off until early afternoon.  A lot more conversation today than yesterday.

Talked a while with some men who had done some long time in prison for some pretty bad things.  Listened to them talking about trying to get their lives back in order towards normalcy.  However, plenty of obstacles remain in their way including access to jobs, housing, and even transportation.  The stigma of ex-con is attached to everything.  One of the guys even said he held a job for 2.5 years with a rental equipment company until they found out he had done time.  Then they fired him.  Somehow, we must find a way for those that have paid back their debt to society and who truly want to live life as the rest of us do, to get a clean slate accompanied with opportunity.  They should be judged on their  merits, skill, and character after returning to society.  This should be a part of justice reform.

Hit the doors in Inkster today.  Not a lot of people home but did exchange a few greetings with some who headed out into the heavy drizzle.

Met a dog or two as well.

Sounds like the weather will be the same tomorrow.

On an important note.  Absentee ballots are available and out.  Do take the time you need to make sure that you conduct your due diligence before filling out the ballot.  We can't afford to make bad choices.  Our near and far time future are pivoting at a critical juncture.  Make the best decisions that you can.

If you can't find answers to things that you need to know, ask someone.  Think before you act (with that pen).

Last day of summer in Westland.  4 to 5 great conversations while campaigning door to door.  Had a father and son suggest that if I get elected to office, I will loose touch with the people in the district.  Assured them that this would not happen and that contrary to that, I expect those in the district to hold my feet to the fire and make sure that I remain a true public servant.

One man characterized these times as being black and white or good and evil.  Agreed that it was no longer a case of two sides differing on shades of gray.  It truly is a major split and a fight for our survival within all levels of government in this country.

Absentee ballots come out soon.  Fill out the contact page or send a message to jeffgroman4noregrets@gmail.com to get a lawn sign or other campaign materials.  There is also a limited supply of these items at the Victory Center in the Laurel Park Mall office.  

Let's move them out and get them up in your neighborhood to help everyone make the best choice in the general election.