|
Why
I’m for Tony
PAUL
PRATT |
Casual observers of Lansing politics might consider
Mayor Tony Benavides’ campaign slogan to be dorky at best.
Yet, as I begin to state why I’m supporting him for mayor,
“the leader you know...the leader you trust” sums
it up quite nicely. I’ve been involved in the Lansing community
for over 20 years, and I don’t remember when I haven’t
known and trusted Tony Benavides.
Benavides’ determined stewardship of the Cristo Rey Community
Center, his astute service on the City Council and his genuine
friendliness are strong qualifications for the job of mayor. On
Council, he has strongly supported Mayor Hollister’s initiatives.
He has the endorsement of Hollister to continue Hollister’s
policies, and he retains the services of many of Hollister’s
appointees. So why is there any doubt that Benavides should be
and will be elected to finish Hollister’s term?
First, it’s the language. Spanish is Benavides’ native
tongue, and his English shows it. His speeches can contain circumlocutions
that get the general point across with sincerity but that make
it clear he was no high school debater. For people who think leadership
starts with smooth delivery of sound bites, and crisp announcement
of five-point plans, Benavides is a problem. They seem to think
unpolished speech shows lack of sophistication or even stupidity.
For example, last spring I noticed a sharp drop-off in Benavides’
support in the business community after he delayed for several
weeks approval of public funding for a new downtown parking ramp.
I was surprised that Benavides’ insistence on negotiating
adequate safeguards for city interests in the ramp was met with
rolled eyeballs and denounced as showing indecisiveness and weakness.
Although I want to see cooperation with investors in the city,
I don’t wish the city to ask simply “How high?”
when told to “Jump!” by businesses. So it adds to
my comfort level that Benavides is NOT endorsed by the Chamber
of Commerce. I’m content to let people underestimate him,
because they’ll learn!
Next, it’s the social issues. Though both candidates for
mayor are longtime Democrats, Benavides is out of the party mainstream
on abortion rights and civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender people. I think he’s wrong on those issues.
If I thought his election would set back our city’s progress
on those issues, I would not be writing this opinion piece, and
I might well be voting differently. Why can I vote for him when
I disagree with him on these issues? First, I know of no policy
role for the city on choice issues. Second, while the city does
need an inclusive civil rights ordinance, and Benavides has voted
against one, the City Council has had a veto-proof six votes to
support a civil rights ordinance for months. The Council elections
will not change this because all seven Council candidates are
rated “positive” or better by LAHR-PAC, the gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender political advocacy group.
The
candidates for mayor of Lansing will appear at a free public
forum sponsored by the Lansing League of Women Voters at 7
p.m. today, Oct. 15, at Dart Auditorium, 505 N. Capitol Ave.
The forum will be broadcast on LCC’s cable station at
7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20. The station is channel 15 in Lansing,
DeWitt, Grand Ledge, Holt and Eaton Rapids and channel 31
in East Lansing and Meridian Township.
The candidates will debate each other at noon Monday, Oct.
20, on WKAR Radio 870-AM. The debate will be broadcast at
9 p.m. Oct. 21 on WKAR-TV. |
Ironically, Benavides’ opponent apparently
would enjoy swooping across the street from the Capitol to sign
a civil rights ordinance. Yet, he’d be abandoning the fights
in the state Senate to uphold the governor’s vetoes of anti-choice
laws and to oppose absurdities like the constitutional amendment
to ban “gay marriage.” These matters take a 2/3 majority
to pass, and in the state Senate that means the Democrats have
barely enough votes to block them. The two months it would take
to run a special Senate election (not to mention the possible
$250,000 cost) would provide an excellent window of opportunity
for passing bad legislation when the Democrats are short, and
the election could result in a Republican winning the seat.
All in all, I say let’s keep our current mayor AND our current
state senator!
Paul C. Pratt works for Ingham County and is
a former Ingham County commissioner representing parts of Lansing,
1994-2000. This commentary is solely his own, and in no way speaks
for any of the organizations with which he is affiliated.
|
MIKE
BRYANTON |
Lansing
needs a mayor with the vision, energy, and leadership to move
Lansing forward. Virg Bernero proved that is he uniquely qualified
to bring people together and he has a powerful vision for Lansing’s
future. That is why I am supporting him for Lansing mayor.
I have known Virg Bernero for over 15 years. When he represented
Lansing on the County Commission for eight years, Virg was a tireless
advocate for families and ensured that our tax dollars were spent
wisely. He helped establish the Ingham Health Plan and the CAPP
program to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. Virg
also founded the Youth Violence Prevention Coalition to help reduce
juvenile crime.
Lansing has 500 abandoned homes and, as Virg says, that is 500
too many. One of his first priorities as mayor is to make these
homes livable and tear down the homes that are not repairable.
As a legislator, he wrote a tough new law to help cities demolish
abandoned and dangerous houses that threaten our neighborhoods.
He successfully passed his bill out of the Republican-controlled
legislature and Gov. Granholm signed it. As mayor, he will work
with non-profit organizations and the state and federal government
to ensure that the financial resources are available to repair
or demolish structures that serve as a magnet for blight and crime.
That is the kind of mayor Lansing needs — one that recognizes
a problem and finds a solution.
Virg also has the gift of building consensus and bringing people
together. He successfully works with Democrats and Republicans
to get things done. He is the only candidate for mayor that has
the endorsement of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and
numerous labor unions, including the SEIU Michigan State Council,
Iron Workers Local 25, Laborer’s Local 998, Retiree Council
Laborers’ Local 998-R, UAW CAP Council, and Operating Engineers
Local 324.
Virg understands that cities that are safe have stronger neighborhoods
and are more attractive for economic development. At a time when
the current administration is eliminating 19 positions from the
police and fire departments, cutting funds to community policing
and eliminating the DARE program, Virg Bernero wants to ensure
that our streets are safe and that the police and fire departments
have the resources they need to protect Lansing residents. That
is why Virg is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Ingham
County Sheriff Wriggelsworth, and Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney
Dunnings.
Virg has always run an inclusive campaign and that is why I find
the whispers of racism against Virg Bernero to be so troubling.
It was reported that his opponent’s campaign is actively
spreading these rumors and the Bernero family is still waiting
for an apology. It is also disappointing that Benavides is opposed
to a Lansing human rights ordinance. How can a man who has run
a human services organization and has most likely faced discrimination
himself not be more inclusive?
Mayor David Hollister was a liberal legislator who was the right
man at the right time for Lansing. He came in with a scandal hovering
over City Hall and the city lacking direction. Hollister proved
to be an inclusive mayor who was able to work with unions and
management to ensure that the best interests of the city were
represented. I see many similarities between Hollister and Bernero.
Both have the legislative experience and Virg will use his connections
in state government to help Lansing. Also, both are Democrats
and Virg has proven time and again that he is able to work with
all groups to ensure that what needs to get done is accomplished.
Finally, both are consensus builders and both have a vision as
to where Lansing should be headed.
Virg Bernero will be a breath of fresh air for Lansing. Virg states
that he will take Lansing from good to great, and using his vision
for the city, his energy, and his knowledge of state and city
government, I know he is the right man for the job.
Mike
Bryanton is the Ingham County clerk |
