Welcome to my web site. Here, I can introduce myself and tell you why I am running for Berrien County Commissioner 9th
District.
I have lived in New Buffalo since 1999, but have regularly visited southwest Berrien county since the
early 1960's.
Since moving here in 1999, I have witnessed and have myself been a subject of numerous
government abuses in this area by government bureaucrats. In many instances the municipal enforcement officers don't use the
appropriate ordinances to harsass individuals. All of these persecutions have cost both the victims and the taxpayers. It
is my firm belief that the methods and processes used by local code enforcement officials are contrary to government's main
purpose in protecting property and one's individual rights secured by both federal and our state constitutions.
Who am I?
In
the past I was a carpenter, remodeler, contractor, mechanic.. I've pretty much done it all in the blue collar sector. I've
worked union gigs and freelanced as well. I have some college but have mainly been self taught and a graduate of the school
of hard knocks. I've seen many injustices and in the past , have placed myself in harm's way to help the downtrodden. Although
I respect and support civil disobedience in order to get an abusive government's attention, I no longer practice it. I believe
in the view of the founders and support the declaration of rights in the original Michigan constitution which alignes
with its federal conterpart.. In essence, I believe in small government, expect few non-essencial services, especailly
social ones from the governent and an abundance of individual liberties. I understand the federal governmnet is broke
and believe the county should rely little if any on federal grants and subsidies. My intention is not to legislate, but delegislate
and return to the people what the county deprives them of not bin entitlements but in individual liberties.
Victims of governental
abuse
Without significant financial resources most people don't stand a chance once government
involves itself in their lives. Whether it's code enforcement, traffic stop harassment, children/ family services or any other
issues, walking into any hearing or court without hiring an attorney is a losing battle. Submission is the only option.
Appearing in court should not have to be a terrifying experience for the defendant, but by design, it is. This is one
of the reasons I am running for this office .Commissioners can have significant input in policy.
Although
many people do not realize this, the county commissioners control the purse strings for funding all the countywide agencies.
So the commissioners control the policy for these agencies as well. This is where serious change can occur. As they say, "money
talks"
.
Fully
informed Juries and self representation
Jurors, although most don't know it, are the most
powerful people in a court room. A single juror can control a defendant's destiny, but are they aware of their power to not
only rule on the guilt or innocence of a defendant, but also to rule on the constitutionality and morality of the law itself,
known as nullification?
Jurors can vote their conscience and judge both the fact and the law and contrary to most
jury instructions isseud by the judge. In some states bills are pending to compel judges to notify juries of this as it is
the standing law of the land. In other states laws have been passed allowing attorneys to inform jurors of their power.I
believ jurors whoa re asked to serve in Berrien county should be fully aware of all their rights.
In addition,
many precedents have been established for pro-se amd pro-per litigants, where the courts have an obligation to not only assist
individual non attorney litigants, but to lower the bar in procedural standards when they plead their cases.
Policies
such as these would further level the playing field for victims of governmental abuse. I propose more accountability
from judges and a non-judicial, non-attorney citizen review board concerning their actions.
All in all, changes
such as these partnered with treatment programs for substance abuse, staffed with recovering addicts, rather than jailtime
could drastically reduce the jail population as the United States has the highest per capita incarceration rate in the world.
The
truly most important issue, " Our individual rights"
Since 9-11, most members of congress have been voting in ways that
are determental to the rights secured to us by both the Federal constitution and its Michigan counterpart. Beginning with
the Patriot Act, which was written many years before 9-11, and subseqeuntly ending with the most recent National Defense Authorization
Act in which some provisions allow for the indefinate detainment of United States citizens. On the heels of this atrocious
piece of legislation is the introduction of the Enemy Expatriation Act designed to strip US citizens of citizenship
and do so without any due process. It seems that these erosions of our civil liberties are accelerating while the press
barely mentions it. Although at the federal level, our so-called representatives are stripping us of our rights, we have little
recourse but to turn to our local officials who have taken oaths of office to support and defend the constitutions; both Federal
and State. The Declaration of Rights in the Michigan constitution is harmonious with the Federal version and it is, in my
opinion, the duty of all elected officials within the state to honor, support and defend the provisions set forth in that
document. Under the 9th and 10th Amendments, the federal government can not exceed the autority defined in Article I sec 8
and has no right whatsoever to deny any American citizen any rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights. To deny any one
of them simply negated the rest. I would hold any county official, elected or appointed , responible for crimes against the
people if they were to allow federal government agents to come in to Berrien County and deprive any Berrien County citizen
due process under law. If our Federal repsesentaives can't follow the golden rule, the basis and foundation of this nation,
then our local officials must and I promise that I will fight for these rights over any other issue that may arise.
I don't have a lot of the answers , but am willing to work diligenty in finding constitutional solutions for issues concerning
the people of Berrien county. This is who I am and I would be honored in accepting your support and helping to save this great
nation.
