Will Republicans or Democrats ever 'reform and
limit' Rocky
River city government for residents?
Is there
a third party competitor that threatens their rule?
THE COMPETITOR: IS ME.
MY MESSAGE: 'REFORM & LIMIT' ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT!
That's why, I declare I am seeking the office of Mayor of Rocky River for 2007
I will seek to reform (1)
a system that runs all the way to the top.
(2.) That limits Rocky River city
government. (3.) That will benefit
residents. (4.) That moves
Rocky River
forward! How? By 'abandoning' what holds Rocky River
back.
DURING MY CAMPAIGN I WILL SHARE MY VISION
FOR REFORM - AND WHAT I WILL ABANDON. A new start, new
opportunities and new possibilities are waiting for us. We can
be brave enough to embrace them and
abandon the
old! Please consider the following.
1. EMBRACE:
‘TAKING BACK’ THE POLITICAL PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS. I will ask Rocky River residents to approve at the ballot
box. To reform Rocky River
election campaigns and ethics practices to make our elected Rocky River officials more accountable toward
residents.
ABANDON:
DUMP ‘THE GOOD OLD BOYS’ AND ‘REPUBLICRATS’ that continue to
dominate the political process in
Rocky River.
Where were the Good Old Boys and Republicrats?
(1.)
In 1993 when
Rocky River city government wanted to build ‘a
jail’ in a residential/business area of Rocky River and citizens stopped it?
(2.)
In 1995 when
Rocky River city government attempted to privatize
Rocky River’s city
service department which included garbage pickup and street
plowing etc. and citizens stopped it?
(3.)
In 1998 when
Rocky River city
government attempted to pass a ‘criminal trespass law’ for
almost anyone walking on a Rocky River Private or Public Lawn’
(like a city park) without permission and citizens stopped it?
(4.)
In 2002 when
Rocky River city government considered restricting
Rocky River
citizens from speaking at city council meetings and citizens
stopped it?
(5.)
In 2004 when
Rocky River city government considered giving the
Mayor the power to ‘hire and fire’ the Rocky River Police and Fire Chief and citizens
stopped it?
2. EMBRACE:
MAKING ROCKY RIVER ‘NUMBER ONE’ AGAIN. As Mayor I will bring
residents together to work as a community for this most
important goal.
ABANDON: Those
that think, Rocky River
will never again be number one (1) in Cleveland Magazine! Rocky River needs leadership
and maturity in its elected officials
to
make this happen. The current Rocky River city government is
too busy playing games against a certain Rocky River resident
and too busy running a ‘dog and pony show’ at council meetings.
‘Keeping the Tradition’ these ‘leaderless officials’ espouse -
is not something that gets residents worked up. How about the
idea of ‘Taking Back River’?
3. EMBRACE:
A
PROGRESSIVE
CITY THAT INSPIRES ADULTS AND
YOUNG PEOPLE. Rocky
River’s future is us. Without inspired and
motivated residents,
Rocky River has no future.
ABANDON:
Your current elected
Rocky River officials that only inspire
boredom. Residents don’t even know who they are. What have
elected Rocky River officials done lately? Generate
negative publicity? It appears to me that they are not an
inspiring group of elected officials. Yet I will ask you the
reader this question? “Do you see your current elected
Rocky River officials speaking up for you -
in a way that would inspire residents both young and old?” If
so, you can keep them. If they don’t inspire you – dump em!
4. EMBRACE:
ROCKY RIVER RESIDENTS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THEIR CITY
GOVERNMENT’S ‘CONTRACT WITH RESIDENTS’. As mayor of
Rocky River I will follow through with my
‘contract with residents’. I will make sure “the spoils” go to
the residents.
ABANDON:
the notion that “Jacksonian Democracy” (to the victor go the
spoils) and ‘special interests’ should continue to reign in Rocky River.
5. EMBRACE:
YES TO LIMITING CITY GOVERNMENT: Fellow residents – you deserve
a Mayor who is concerned and responsible about limiting
government spending, limiting taxes and limit city government
surplus.
ABANDON:
Elected
Rocky River
Officials that support MORE TAXES, MORE SPENDING AND MORE
SURPLUS. Not on my dime!
6. EMBRACE:
A
NO! TO EMINENT DOMAIN: You also deserve a Mayor that respects a
resident’s private property. As Mayor, there will be no
‘eminent domain’ pursued in Rocky River.
ABANDON:
Elected
Rocky River
Officials that support seizing ‘private property’ to then sell
it to a ‘special interest’ to make more money for the city
treasury.
7. EMBRACE:
A
NO! TO PRIVATIZATION OF CITY SERVICES: I will make sure the
present city services stay under the control and oversight of
the people of Rocky River. There will also be no further
privatization of city services.
ABANDON:
Elected
Rocky River
Officials who do not care for city workers earning a living so
they can feed their families – but rather hand those same jobs
to a ‘special interest’ contractor. If the city wants to save
money – start cutting back on Rocky River’s Recreation
Department.
8. EMBRACE:
A
YES, TO CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTION FOR ALL CITY WORKERS: I will
put all city employees under protection of civil service. So no
‘political hack’ will threaten any city worker’s job again –
without just cause and a fair hearing.
ABANDON:
Elected
Rocky River
Officials who would rather be vindictive and play politics with
‘city workers’ who are hard working, willing to serve the public
and support their families.
9. EMBRACE:
A
YES TO CITY GOVERNMENT – THAT WILL BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR: I will
support good government, equal opportunity, human rights, high
ethical standards and campaign finance reform. I also firmly
believe in democracy.
ABANDON:
Elected
Rocky River Officials who feel that when a
Rocky River
resident that contradicts their views. Or
a resident disagrees with the elected Rocky River official’s views. That resident is
then considered and treated as a ‘trouble maker’, perhaps spread
it around to other residents – that the resident always shoots
his mouth off and he would even run into a burning house and
yell fire as well. In my view that Rocky River resident just
cares about his fellow residents and his community!
10.
EMBRACE:
FRED SOKOL – A WATCHDOG AND CITIZEN LEADER: Finally, I have
participated in the political process and encouraged others to
do the same – since 1984. I even recently had a newspaper
reporter define me as a ‘self appointed watchdog’. Once I am
elected as your Mayor. I’ll be an ‘elected watchdog’ – and
citizen leader.
ABANDON:
Elected
Rocky River
Officials that are empty suits. Who never come up with new
ideas to make
Rocky River
better. Who never write letters to the editor to at least make
a public stand and public expression of their ideas – to the
very people they are supposed to serve.
I walked your streets, down your driveways, up to your door
and knocked. I visited you in your home. I listened to your
concerns. I even helped you settle city problems that you
had.
I also helped you understand
Rocky River’s political process. When
others would only give you a wink and a nod – and tell you. You
are like us - so think like us. I helped you think for
yourself!
Now, I ask
your help. I ask you to join my committee so we can continue to
work together. As I seek to be Mayor of
Rocky River in 2007. Thank You.
Contact me by my e-mail:
scrdhrt2@cox.net
or call me: 440-521-5452
or visit my website:
www.rockyriverfred.com
and contact me.
‘Reform Rocky River’ and ‘Embrace
the new and Abandon the old.’ You decide.
