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| Why do I want to be Shelby Treasurer? Um...can I think on it and call you back with an answer sometime tomorrow after I confer with my campaign manager, John Johnson, to find out what I am supposed to say? |
Yes...Shelby’s big-spending Trustee thinks she
has done such a fantastic job that she deserves a promotion and a pay raise. Manzella is so delusional that she actually thinks her past record, and her past words and disgraceful statements about residents and elected officials, somehow qualifies her to become Treasurer.
Treasurer of an alternate universe perhaps!
The Inside Out has documented Lisa Manzella’s track record for the last several years. Our blog is filled with stupid comments, nasty attacks and just plain dumb comments made by Manzella as Trustee. If she thinks these comments will just magically disappear, or not become relevant in her Treasurer’s race, then she doesn’t understand politics very well.
Why do you want to be Shelby Township Treasurer? That’s a pretty simple question, right? One which, you would think, any serious candidate would have a solid and relevant answer to before considering launching a campaign for this important township position. We stress...any SERIOUS candidate.
However, when asked this basic question by Shelby This Week host Phil Nye, Manzella seemed stumped. She then gave a rambling response and raised issues that are not priority items for a Township Treasurer.
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Manzella: Oh ... yes I am.
LONG AWKWARD PAUSE (deer in headlight look)..............
Nye: (Like pulling teeth) Spell that out for me.
Manzella: Oh ....... well ...... I’ve been in business for 30 years...um...the appraisal business. I’m also an assessor and also a citizen master planner. So those tools give me the...um...the...the...the...tools will help me in keeping our property values stable, keep them from further decline. And I have a...um...good vast basis and background in investing and investments.
I’d like to continue to work for the people of Shelby Township. This is my community, I don’t intend on leaving. I would rather be the sole vote — the lone vote — and I have been quite alone, rather than be in bad company. It’s a difficult position to be in. It’s not been easy on the Board the last few...years.
I’m dedicated to restoring trust, integrity and dignity back to the Board of Trustees. I think we’ve lost a lot of that. We need to get the people’s trust back in their local government. I really wanna... um... continue to try and do that. If this was my last term in Shelby I don’t want it to be my legacy of being part of this current Board. It’s not been something I’ve been proud to be....
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Here is a link to the Shelby This Week telecast. Watch it for yourself and you will see what we mean about Manzella’s lame rationale about why she is “qualified” to become our Treasurer.
Okay Lisa...we get it already...
• You don’t like serving as an elected Trustee. You have said, on Facebook, that you have more important things to do than try and work with the current Board.
• You have opposed the public priority meetings, and have refused to attend these meetings claiming (on Facebook) that you “have better things to do.”
• You don’t like Supervisor Rick Stathakis, you have made that crystal clear since your friend and advisor Skip Maccarone lost in 2008. You have aired your rants on Facebook, calling the Supervisor corrupt, a liar, and a host of other nasty names.
• You don’t like Treasurer Paul Viar, because he has opposed outrageous spending, like your multi-million dollar campus that was abandoned as “too expensive.” You further oppose how Treasurer Viar has brought public attention to budget-busting, jackpot union pensions. Even though she has said exposing such information is not a good idea, she has refused to come up with any ideas of her own for addressing this pension issue (except for higher taxes to boost the pension fund).
• You don’t like how the Board has worked tirelessly to save money, instead of spending every dime in the general fund budget.
• You don’t like how the Board has worked together (with you being, most often, the lone loony vote) to advance the best interests of taxpayers.
Manzella’s long and awkward pause, when asked by Phil Nye if she is qualified to be Treasurer, reminded us of another liberal who had the deer in the headlight look 33 years ago. We are talking about Edward Kennedy who didn’t really have an clue when he was asked, in 1979, why he wanted to be President.
Check out the video below...
So why is Lisa Manzella running for Shelby Township Treasurer? Is this an ego-driven campaign?
Furthermore, what makes Manzella think she is qualified to be Treasurer? Her job as an appraiser? What is the very first issue she raises about why she wants to become Treasurer? Keeping property values high? Really????? If Manzella gets elected, is she saying our residential and business property values will automatically go up?
While Manzella thinks the job of a Township Treasurer is to keep property values high, most taxpayers disagree. Sure, rising property values are important, but the Treasurer’s job is more relevant to spending and saving money.
What about government spending? As Trustee, Manzella has always been for higher spending.
What about township taxes? As Trustee, Manzella has not been overly concerned about taxes since, in her view, they can always be increased as needed to meet the needs of the politicians.
What about fees paid by Shelby residents? Manzella is not too worried about that because fees can always be raised and more tickets written to raise revenue. She wanted to burden residents with a fee increase of 100 percent above what the 41A District Court judges wanted to raise money for her justice center idea.
What about the expensive $50 million campus? Even though the campus has been discredited as unnecessary and expensive, Manzella still thinks spending this amount of money is a great idea. As Trustee, Manzella supported millions in new bonds to build this multi-million dollar governmental complex without a vote of the people.
What about building a new District Court building? Manzella refuses to budge and thinks building a new court, even at the risk of higher taxes on residents to operate it, is a great idea. She has no firm concept of finances or the costs of governmental overreach. As Trustee, she chaired the committee that devised the plan to build a $20 million justice center, even though financial projections said the township could not afford such a building and doing so would throw the township into bankruptcy.
What surprises taxpayers most is that Lisa Manzella says she has not been happy working on the Board the last few years. She said took that one step further by adding that she is not proud of what the Board has done. Not proud? Really?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the current Board of Trustees is the most transparent Board in Shelby Township history by putting all township expenditures on the website for easy access to everyone?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the Board took a projected budget deficit (proposed by her friend Skip Maccarone) and turned that into four years of budget surpluses?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the Board reduced general fund expenses by over $1 million, without layoffs or service cuts.
- Lisa Manzella is not proud how the Board addressed the need for increased space and other issues in the police department by building a new police station with CASH instead of forcing higher taxes/bonds on taxpayers?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the Board balanced its budget every year (during very tough economic times) without being forced to raise taxes (as many other communities have done)?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the Board protected crucial fire, EMS and police services, without mandating layoffs or higher taxes (as many other communities have done) to support these services?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the Board reduced overall expenses in the Fire Department by $1 million with no layoffs or service cuts?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud of how the Board implemented public priority meetings to give residents direct input for helping create township priorities and programs?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the Board adopted (for the first time in history) an operating strategy which gives the Board a road map for conducting its important duties for taxpayers?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that Shelby Township signed a shared services agreement with Rochester Hills to provide quality services for residents at a lower cost?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the Board reduced the financial burden of health care costs by mandating that union employees pay a larger portion of their health care, as all workers in the private sector have done?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the Board reduced the township’s payroll by hundreds of thousands of dollars through attrition — and NOT layoffs.
- Lisa Manzella is not proud of how the Board upgraded township roads, including the much-needed Van Dyke widening from 23 Mile to 24 Mile road?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud of how the Board voted to expand bike paths and sidewalks in the township?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud of how the Board facilitated crucial storm sewer upgrades to Section 30 to address basement flooding issues?
- Lisa Manzella is not proud that the Board demanded, and voted to implement, competitive bidding for all township services, including towing and engineer work?
Given all these accomplishments (and much more) how could Manzella not be proud?
Ask yourself what would have made Manzella proud? Spending more? Taxing more? Doing less?
When you listen to Manzella you would think Shelby Township is worse off today than it was four years ago. However, as we all know, Shelby Township is better off today than it was when Supervisor Stathakis was first elected four years ago. In fact, we are MUCH BETTER OFF when you consider where we would all be today if Lisa Manzella got her way and forced $50 million in new taxes on township residents. Think about that and how it would impact you today.
Despite all these accomplishments, Manzella is running around the township like the village idiot claiming the Board of Trustees (which she has been part of) has done nothing to help taxpayers.
If, as Manzella has been complaining about, the Board of Trustees has done nothing to help taxpayers, why in the world should Shelby taxpayers elect Manzella as our Treasurer? Manzella’s message defies political logic.
The only thing which makes Manzella proud these days is the group of wannabes running as a “team” for the Board of Trustees with her blessing and support. This BOBLEMAN BUNCH will, without question, bring higher spending, higher taxes, higher pensions and even LOWER PROPERTY VALUES to every township taxpayer if they take power this year.
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| *BEWARE* Meet the BOBLEMAN BUNCH. Can we afford to have these people running the township? |
Who are the people running on the BOBLEMAN BUNCH slate?
• Supervisor wannabe - Bob “former police chief suing the township for $300,000” Leman;
• Clerk wannabe - Richard “mouthpiece of the fraudulent and failed Save Shelby recall” Batchelder;
• Treasurer wannabe - Lisa “the liar who loves spending money” Manzella;
• Trustee wannabe - Clarence “the chronic complainer” Kook ....oops, Cook;
• Trustee wannabe - David “the know-it-all” Curtis;
• Trustee wannabe- Gary “I love unions and want to give them more money” Kopp;
• Trustee wannabe - Brent “I got kicked out of the Treasurer’s spot by Manzella but still need a job” Freeman;
and finally..................... (as predicted by the Inside Out)
• Trustee wannabe - Nick “the loudmouth who wants to give his family a lifetime towing contract” Nightingale.
There you have it Shelby taxpayers ... the BOBLEMAN BUNCH in all their glory.
And some people said this election year was going to be boring?
Heck, as we see it, given the appearance of the BOBLEMAN BUNCH, this will be the most fun, and more important, election Shelby taxpayers have seen in 50 years.
Until next time...
Keep up the good work.... It's going to be an interesting and fun 5 months to the August primary. I wonder how many personal attacks the BOBLEMAN group will send out since, when you stand on records alone, they have nothing solid to stand on. All special interest looking out for themselves ahead of taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth would any intelligent person vote for Leman? A former disgruntled employee whose mad and embarrassed that he lost his job because of his own ineptitude and that the Township was being sued over Leman's poor conduct. Or the spend crazy Manzella for Treasurer!? Or the highly unprofessional bully kid Knightingale whom is A foul mouthed fist pounding baby,all because the board dared to the put towing contract up for bid! Then when they got the job back instead of being grateful,He brings every relative ,employee to scream obscenities at the board and residents watching at home..When I heard these three were running I thought "I couldn't imagine A MORE CORRUPT BUNCH" In my opinion...I don't want to live in there crazy chaos "
ReplyDeleteThis has to be the WORST group to ever try and take power from the people in our township. And we all though Maccarone was bad - holy cow!
ReplyDeleteLet's see....a failed police chief (Leman), a disgraced former fire department employee charged with sexual harassment (Batchelder), a big-spending, high-taxing candidate (Manzella), a person who complains about everything (Cook), a loudmouth special interest pawn (Nightingale), a pro-union advocate (Kopp), a guy who doesn't know what he wants (Freeman), and another guy who thinks he knows everything (Curtis).
These people really think they have what it takes to move our township FORWARD? ROFL over and over and over.
Never have seen ONE Retired Police Officer Thank this Board for keeping their pensions coming in. Getting such a firm grip on our finances. Thirty years ago Union Leaders and Township Officials gave the Legacy Costs of these Pensions, that both sides knew would not be Sustainable. Just for Political Reasons. This was a CONTRACT. No one can blame the people receiving these pensions. They were Contractual. Lisa Manzella MUST get in as Treasurer for the sole reason of Raising OUR taxes. I pay $2,800.00 a year on my home here. I promise you with my word. I will not pay another dime. If any increase is connected in any way to pensions. Whether it is disguised as being needed to continue services or whatever reason. I will move. These are facts...City's, Townships, and Villages are filing Bankruptcy. All due to one reason. Over 60% of the income or more from property taxes is now going to people who retired over 20 years ago. This is MORE than the costs of all their current employee on the payroll working today. You have UNIONS refusing to compromise. The alternative is what is really happening today. Closer of Fire Stations. Cutting Police and entire Departments. Putting Union Worker's out of Jobs. Bankruptcy VOIDS these CONTRACTS. Is this what the Union Wants? That Question already has been answered in many places. I understand the Union Leaders letting things as this happen, MONEY in their Pockets and loss of Control over Useful Idiots. But when our the retired and current workers finally going to give in to Save the Jobs of what they call Brothers when it fits their Agenda? This Board could have choose the route of doing everything Manzella Wanted. Bye Bye Contracts. So much easier this would have been. Within a year or two NO PENSIONS would be paid out. You need to look into what I say for yourself. It is all True. We need to work Together and look at the Truth of people have No Money. They will not pay higher TAXES. Not in Today's World. A VOTE for any of the Pictured Candidates will be a Vote to CHANGE SHELBY TWP. The Good Will Leave and the Bad will move in faster than you can think. Things I know and Things that are my Opinion. I will write write Next.....Continued....
ReplyDeleteClarence COOK wants a Check from Shelby Twp. Cook cares nothing about our Twp. Cook wants Power and he sees Benefits and Cash. Something his entire Life he could not work his way up to Achieving on his own. This is his chance. This is all he thinks about and all that is behind running for office. Believe me Fully on this one. People can look as they like. Come On. Look at how over weight Mr. Cook is. Whether that Fact is from his own hand shoving Food in his mouth or the Excuse most people use. It's Health Problem Related. Think for one minute how much Cook could cost Tax Payers in Possible Medical Costs. I predict any Health Issues Cook has if Elected, will be blamed on something he was doing while serving the Taxpayers. The costs will BE OURS. I can almost Guarantee THAT!
We have a Ex Police Chief running for Supervisor that has filed a LAWSUIT against the Twp... Higher Insurance and Taxes all on us.
This is FAIR Warning to Nick Nightengale. The Meetings are Televised. Your Behavior and Actions at Board Meetings are enough to Laugh that you would even Run.
This Board Minus Lisa Manzella has done a Job that is beyond expectations. We need to be United, Not Divided. Everyone in the Photo has been nothing except DIVIDERS. We need to do what is Right. Not what a few with Financial Personal Gain as their Sole AGENDA.
Lastly. Beware of people, watch them and see for yourself if what I say is true. As a example I use Mr. Holton. Beware of people that continuously claim their Free Speech is being Violated, while doing nothing except trying to Silence Others.
I Pray all the Time that the GOOD People see the TRUTH. Light wins over Darkness all the Time. If you can see the Darkness for what it is before it is to Late. God Bless Everyone.
I say to the people of Shelby Twp. Do not be Fooled by these people.