Unmasking the Shelby Township Recall Evil-Doers; Just Who Is Responsible For This Mess?

“Actions have consequences, and stupid actions can have serious political consequences.”

That is what one Inside Out reader commented to us after seeing that the recall petitions against Supervisor Stathakis were filed by the Save Shelby collective.  When you look over these petitions you discover some VERY interesting information.

As readers of the Inside Out know, we have been saying that this recall is really about three factions of the township: upset members of the Nightingale towing family; angry members of the Shelby Township police union; and disgruntled followers of Skip Maccarone.

We also theorized that the Save Shelby group hired outsiders and paid them money to circulate petitions.  John Nightingale told his followers that he would do just that if the volunteer effort fell short.

BALDERDASH...the Save Shelby people cried (they actually used more colorful words than that).  “Your blog is so off it is ridiculous.  This is about Shelby residents coming together,  It is not about the police union or paid volunteers.  GEt a life!!!!”
Editor’s note:  For the record, there is no such thing as a “paid volunteer.”  People are either paid (and thus become an employee) or volunteer for free. 

Okay, so now that we have reviewed the recall petitions (our review is more analytic than scientific) exactly who is right?  The Inside Out or the Save Shelby goons?

Drum roll please...............................................
We hate to say it but ...WE TOLD YOU SO!!!!!

Upon checking the 747 petitions in eight electronic files from the Macomb County Clerk, we find that our predictions were in fact TRUE.  Check out the analysis above.  For a larger view click on the image.  

When you look at the names of the people who circulated petitions, you will find that the Shelby Township police union comes in first, hired outsiders who were paid to circulate petitions (and don’t live in Shelby) ranked second, the Nightingale family came in third and Shelby residents came last.  As to be expected, there is a group of Skip Maccarone supporters (Linda Maccarone, Nancy Bates, Linda Stout, Joseph Manzella and Clarence Cook) who also collected signatures.

Two other recall petition circulators are Jayson Bykowski and Misty Bykowski.  Even though you may not recognize these names, these two individuals are relatives of Clerk Terri (Bykowski) Kowal and on their petition (according to our search of township assessing records) Jayson and Misty list Terri and Paul Kowal’s home address as their address.  How much do you want to bet that even though this directly ties the Kowal family into this recall scheme, the Clerk will plead innocence!  “I honestly didn’t know. They are adults and can do whatever they want.”  Remember, Terri Kowal is a long-time ally of the Nightingale family and was listed an internet Facebook friend of the Save Shelby recall gang.

The collection of special interests and political operatives behind the recall comes as no surprise to those who understand and follow township politics.  Remember:
• The NIGHTINGALE FAMILY has an obvious feeling of entitlement for a towing contract.  They are apparently still upset that the Board voted to put towing out for competitive bids. 
• The POLICE UNION obviously feels entitled to higher pay and benefits, paid for by taxpayers.  Asking the police to make sacrifices during tough times, as law enforcement officers in other communities have done, is just not acceptable in Shelby Township.  The officers involved in the recall, who have been complaining for years about the need for a new police station, have even gone so far as to trash their own needs.  They want the $4 million that is being used to give them a safer and more modern police facility to be used to guarantee pensions.  What was their previous solution for a police building?  Raise taxes/millages on residents and let them pay for a multi-million dollar police palace.
• The MACCARONE ALLIES  feel entitled to return to power.  They believe they were betrayed by taxpayers and unfairly lost the 2008 election (even though Skip was beat by a 70% to 30% margin).  Is this their bid to return to power and a resurrect the Maccarone $50 million “campus”?

As readers of our blog also know, the Inside Out hypothesized that the Save Shelby gang hired people from outside the township to circulate petitions.  We publicly raised this possibility in a recent blog post where we discussed the newly-established police union PAC (founded by two Shelby police officers who don’t live in the township).

When we came up with this concept, we were initially rebuffed.  “You people are so stupid.  We used volunteers, not hired hands” one angry person e-mailed to us.

However, as the facts leaked out, even Trustee Lisa Manzella was forced to finally admit that the Save Shelby recall fanatics hired a company whose business is circulating recall petitions.  We will be poking around to see who paid the bill for these recall “employees” from other communities.  Stay tuned...

The bottom line here is that the Nightingales have been exposed as liars.  After initially denying involvement, the family had to come clean.  Considering the huge number of petitions signed by some Nightingale family member, employee or close friend, they knew the truth would come out sooner or later.   So now that it is out John, Marsha and Nick (along with their close associate Tom Delise) were videotaped watching as the petitions were turned in.  Check out the Shelby-Utica Patch website if you doubt what we say.  Click on the “video” link below the photos.

And the Nightingales claim this is not about towing?  Who do they think they are fooling?

Now, the Nightingale family is trying to play the role of victim in this recall drama.  You heard correctly.  John Nightingale told the Shelby-Utica Patch that he doesn’t feel like celebrating after turning in the petitions.  “I am not happy that I had to do this to anyone,” he said. “My intention was never to hurt anyone but I feel they didn’t give us a choice, but I feel it was my moral obligation to do this.”

So what is Mr. Nightingale really saying? Hey everyone (especially our customers who we are afraid of losing) I didn’t want to go around telling lies about Supervisor Rick Stathakis.  Really I didn’t.  I didn’t want to try and smear his reputation.  Trust me.  I HAD to do it.  A higher power intervened and told me that I had a moral obligation to launch this fight.

OKAY JOHN ... WHATEVER TAKES THE TEARS AWAY!!!!!

Then, there is Nick Nightingale.  Little Nick is on record as demanding that Supervisor Stathakis resign.  “If Supervisor Stathakis wants to do the right thing by the citizens of Shelby Township he will resign,” he said.

Really???  The Nightingales are suddenly worried about our tax money?  Who do they think they are fooling?

If Supervisor Stathakis wants to do the right thing (and we believe that he does) then he needs to stand up to these bullies, stand his ground, fight back and let Shelby Township voters decide which direction we want our township to go.  Do we want independent, duly-elected township officials making decisions, or do we want the Nightingale towing family and the police union calling the shots?  This recall is about more than just one individual, it is about whether we create a township where one family gets to decide, or where the police union rules.

Taking this further, isn’t the concept of one family ruling a government, backed by the army (or in this case the police union), exactly what people around the world are rallying against?  Isn’t this what they are calling the Arab spring movement in the Middle East, where people are dumping long-time family dictators and demanding freedom?

The truth is that the Nightingale family is likely worried about having to explain to Shelby taxpayers why they are going to force a recall election that will cost $30,000 plus this November (if the signatures are certified).  How will residents who are feeling pinched by the economy and struggling to pay the bills feel about this unnecessary expenditure of money?  Maybe the family can’t afford the bad press?

So what they are trying to do is blame someone else.  Instead of taking responsibility for the costs their political attack will place on taxpayers — remember these are the people who pushed the recall knowing that there were costs involved — they want to play victim and demand a resignation.  We wonder how this message will go over with taxpayers once word gets out about what the Nightingale family and the police union are really trying to do.  Rest assured, we will do our part to fan the flames of discontent over the Nightingale recall.

Not to be outdone, Save Shelby fanatic Tom Delise, the alleged face of the recall, is demanding his share of publicity.  Remember, he is the guy who filed the language, right?  So he deserves all the credit.

Here is what Delise posted on Facebook when he complained about not getting enough publicity for himself (please forgive the typos, that is how it was written):
__________

Thomas Delise How is it that I filed the petitions,but never see my name mentioned in the paper ad or the mass mailing ? :P
March 16 at 10:42pm
     Marsha Nightingale likes this.
• Thomas Delise   If he runs another ad hope he does'nt leave me out. ( I am just a concerned shelby resident.I wonder if Mr. Turner could mentiom me at the next meeting.  March 16 at 10:47pm
__________

This has been his issue all along.  Mr. Delise has been angry that the Nightingales and the police union are getting all the credit.  He has scrambled to have his voice heard.  A new article from the Shelby-Utica News about the recall once again puts Delise front and center.  We can almost see the enormous grin on his face now that Tom is back in the public limelight.

“I’m very pleased,” Delise said. “There’s a lot of people who help; there’s some people who really put in a lot of time.”

Mr. Delise is correct in making that statement.  There were a lot of people who helped and put in a lot of time.  Those people were primarily Nightingale family members, several members of the township police union (most of whom do not live in Shelby Township) and people hired from Detroit, Troy, Warren and Sterling Heights to circulate petitions.

Delise, himself, did very little work.  Oh sure, he was out standing on street corners taking pictures of himself all smiling by his recall signs, but the actual credit (or blame) for circulating petitions goes to special interests mentioned above.  Tom Delise may think he is “the man”, but given what we see on the actual petitions, he most certainly didn’t do the heavy lifting.

Until next time...

Shelby Township Clerk Terri Kowal Assists Recall Group In Their Self-Serving Political Assault

Much of the focus surrounding the current Shelby Township recall has been about Trustee Lisa Manzella.  For good reason. Mrs. Manzella has been openly encouraging the recall against Supervisor Rick Stathakis and Treasurer Paul Viar.  Manzella’s participation is not about what is good for Shelby Township taxpayers, is about what is good for the warped personal agenda of Trustee Manzella.  Let’s also not forget, Manzella was a hand-picked choice for Trustee by former Supervisor Skip Maccarone.  Skippy and his wife Linda have also been helping with this recall.  Is this Skip’s way of saying “I’ll be back” as he seeks to terminate all opposition?  Does Skip have another scheme up his sleeve?  Is Maccarone eyeballing the township attorney’s job if he can only get his people elected?

While we have been talking a great deal about Lisa Manzella’s involvement in the recall movement, we must never forget the other one of Shelby Township’s Trouble Twins:  Clerk Terri Kowal.

Kowal and Manzella have been tag-teaming this recall.  While playing innocent (she loves doing that) Clerk Kowal has been a behind-the-scenes operative for the Nightingale recall bunch.  Has she been helping them verify signatures?  What role has she played in assisting the door-to-door effort?  Stay tuned...the answers may surprise you.

Terri Kowal has been a consistent supporter of the recall.  Although she has tried to hide her complicity with these political attackers, as Ronald Reagan once said of terrorists: “You can run but you can’t hide.”

Obviously feeling the sting of the Inside Out’s exposé of her becoming a Save Shelby Facebook “friend”, Kowal has tried to do damage control.  Her initial arrogance which prompted her to join the recall bandwagon has given way to concern for her own political future.  Soon after the Inside Out exposed Kowal’s “friendship” for the radical Save Shelby group, Kowal’s name mysteriously disappeared from the Save Shelby Facebook page.  Why?  Did Kowal suddenly decide these are “friends” that she would rather not be associated with?  Or, did she act out of necessity for her own political survival?

People who lie all the time (commonly called pathological liars) tend to lose all sense of fact as they mold reality to fit their personal view of life.  These people often make their lies the truth, and wonder why other people can’t see or understand the “truth.”  The big problem that these liars always face is one lie leads to another and another and another…and very soon even the liar herself forgets what she is talking about.

As part of her denial about ever becoming a Save Shelby Facebook “friend”, Kowal has gone so far as even trying to trash the credibility of those who caught her with her hand in the cookie jar.  She later came up with another story to try and explain the Save Shelby “friend” issue.  Here is what Terri Kowal posted on the Shelby-Utica Patch, an internet newsletter which covers Shelby Township, to try and explain this away:

Terri Kowal
4:24pm on Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Posted on the Shelby-Utica Patch

Interesting - my son logged onto Save Shelby one day (he uses my FB since his pc was hacked) and didn't realize he was friending it. Mr. Viar (and then Mr. Stathakis) accused me of being behind the recall since I was a friend of the FB page. I explained I hadn't signed up, Mr. Viar of course knows better…. Mr. Viar just walked into my office, tossed a page on my desk of the Save Shelby page with 44 friends on a list, and my name was on it. He wrote "you should see who stole your identity" and of course wouldn't stay to hear the story of my son using my FB. I checked the Save Shelby site, there are about 140 friends, not 44, and my name isn't on the list.  And what would it mean if I HAD logged onto the site?

Okay, so let’s dissect Kowal’s rambling response.

First, Kowal absolutely WAS a “friend” of the Save Shelby Facebook recall page.  A January INSIDE OUT post clearly demonstrated her friendship.  This was her way of sending a message to everyone about what side of this war she is on.  Given her enthusiastic support for the recall, why is she afraid to fess up? Mrs. Kowal may try to deny the truth, but she is lying.

Second, Kowal blames this whole “misunderstanding” on her son.  Really?  Is she trying to make people believe that her son so dumb that he doesn’t understand how Facebook actually works?  Anyone with basic knowledge of Facebook realizes that in order to become a friend:
(1) You have to send a friend request to someone and have that person accept you as a friend; or
(2) You have to request that someone add you as a friend, and that person must agree to the mutual “friendship.”

There are no immaculate Facebook “friends.”  These cyberspace connections don’t just occur by the will of a higher power.  Every “friendship” is a physical act of clicking the mouse over the proper button on Facebook.  If, as Mrs. Kowal wants us to believe, her son does NOT understand this premise, he must be in the VERY a slim minority of people his age who are considered Facebook illiterate.

Third, after denying that she was ever linked as a “friend” Mrs. Kowal’s story then changes.  Now, she says her son logged onto the site and suddenly was a friend.  Sorry, as we have already explained, that is not how a Facebook friendship happens.  By the way, doesn’t he have his own Facebook account, or does he have to use mommy’s?

Fourth, Mrs. Kowal is hanging her hat on the fact that her name does not currently appear on the Save Shelby friend list.  Okay, so what?  She removed her name from the list after getting caught and being called out for it.  We have the proof.  More than that, when the Inside Out reported about this back in January and listed the Save Shelby “friends”, we made a point of stating that at that time there were 44 friends.  Obviously, there have been changes to this list — some names have been added and others (including Terri Kowal, Laura Porter and Chris Troszak) have been deleted.  That is Kowal’s big explanation?  “My name is not on Save Shelby now so I was never a friend?”  Who the heck gave Kowal that wonderful legal advice?  Her hubby?  Come on now, really?

Finally, to answer Mrs. Kowal’s snide comment, “And what would it mean if I HAD logged onto the site?” the Inside Out offers this simple and direct response:
It means that you back the recall 100 percent and support efforts by the Nightingale Towing family and the police union to kick out Supervisor Rick Stathakis and Treasurer Paul Viar.  Period!

Terri Kowal has served on the Shelby Township Board of Trustees for more than two decades - 21 years to be exact.  She was first elected a Trustee back in 1990.  That was a LONG time ago.  To give you an idea, when Terri Kowal was first elected to the Board of Trustees 21 years ago:
• George Herbert Walker Bush was President of the United States.
• A gallon of regular gasoline cost $1.16.
• The price of a first class stamp was 25¢.
• The Dow Jones Industrials closed the year with an average 2,633.
• Iraqi troops invade Kuwait, launching the Persian Gulf War.
• The average cost of a new house was $123,000.
• The Saturn car division was launched by General Motors.
• Seinfeld debuted on NBC and the Simpsons debuted on Fox.
• The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into space.
• Microsoft released Windows 3.0.
• The first in-car satellite navigation system was sold.
• Tim Berners-Lee published a more formal proposal for the World Wide Web and the very first internet web page was written.

As you can see, MUCH has changed in our lives since 1990.  However, here in Shelby Township, Terri Kowal’s work as an elected official has NOT.  Like the career politician she is, Terri Kowal just keeps hanging on to her taxpayer-funded job.  She absolutely loves feasting at the public trough.  Clerk Terri Kowal is definitely one of a kind ... and that is good news because Shelby taxpayers definitely could NOT afford to have two of her running around trying to spend our money.

When it comes to recall campaigns, Terri Kowal clearly wants it both ways.  In fact, the March 1, 2011 story on the Shelby-Utica Patch, Effort To Recall Shelby Clerk Dies (written by Marina Cracchiolo), said the following:
 “I feel really saddened by the recall,” Kowal told Patch previously. “Obviously, sometimes people disagree with the way board members vote and they see a recall as an automatic course of action.”

Saddened?  When it comes to a campaign to have her recalled from office for actively engaging in nepotism, Kowal feigns sadness.  But when it comes to attacking her elected colleagues and trying to get them kicked out of office on a campaign of lies, deception and misinformation, Terri Kowal is one of the first people in line to join the crusade.  This double standard is a Kowal trademark:  play the victim one day and victimize other people the next.

What Kowal claims makes her so sad is what is happening with the recall attempt against Supervisor Rick Stathakis.  A towing company upset about the way board members vote and see a recall as an automatic course of action.  What happened to all of the sadness?

When it comes time to vote in 2012 we should all remember that by that time Terri Kowal will have been living off our tax dollars for 22 years.  Time for a change?  Let’s make it a priority to move Shelby Township forward by moving Terri Kowal back to the private sector.

Who knows, maybe Kowal could get a job at Nightingale Towing?  What better way for the “family” to pay Kowal back for all of her assistance in their recall.

Until next time…

An “I Have A Dream” Moment for the Nightingale Recall Bunch?

When the Board of Trustees first debated putting towing services out for bid, nobody expected that towing competition would be the spark that would ignite a township firestorm.  What is wrong with good old-fashioned, free market competition?  Yet, when the Board voted unanimously (7-to-0) to seek bids, the poop hit the fan.

The current recall plaguing our community has its roots in the dispute over towing.  That is the real foundation for this fight, and is what the whole recall madness has actually been about from day one.  Oh sure, those pushing the recall claim towing is not the issue — but it sure seems that way. 

Although the approved recall petition discusses a zoning issue, you rarely (if ever) hear this subject mentioned in their recall diatribe.  Why?  Because the “volunteers” circulating petitions are spending time talking people’s ears off about all sorts of unrelated, and irrelevant, issues in an attempt to try and make their recall stick.  You know the old saying: throw enough mud and some of it will, eventually, stick!

The recall radicals, mad about the towing vote, get some help from the police union, mad about contract concessions, hoping this will give their initiative credibility.  The Police Chief’s wife is seen circulating petitions and passing out literature condemning the Supervisor as “Deceitful” and “Corrupt.”  Two defeated former Supervisors (Skip Maccarone and Rick Bottcher) who hate each other join the“Love Train” in support of the recall. Trustee Lisa Manzella and her cronies fan the flames of discontent.  A few other friends and Nightingale family members jump on as well.  What do all these elements have in common?  Spending? Family connections? Political retaliation? Entitlements?

We all remember how the recall fanatics filed petition after petition after petition to try and get something approved.  They care less about what was actually accepted as a reason for recall than they did at just getting something, anything approved for their petitions.  This way, they could then run to the newspapers (these people crave attention) bragging how power and important they all are.  “We got a petition approved, now we’re coming after you…nah, nah, nah – boo, boo!” 

Actually, what these people have done is show everyone just how ridiculous they are.  In the process, they have embarrassed our township with their recall obsession.  As one reader wrote: “The people pushing recall have turned Macomb County’s diamond community (Shelby) into a cubic zirconia.  They should all be ashamed of themselves.”

Yes they should.   But they are not!  In fact, they feel pretty good about what they have done to Shelby Township’s image and reputation.  For all their talk about not getting in the mud of politics, they have certainly wallowed in it plenty.

The Save Shelby recall gang may be a new phenomena to Shelby Township, but groups like this are not new to the general political landscape.  History is full of examples of malcontents trying to seize power for their own selfish gains.  People like this claim to be standing up for others, but they are really only standing up and fighting for themselves.  Whether it be a towing family trying to protect their coveted contract, a union trying to increase wages and pensions, or defeated politicians trying to redeem themselves, revenge comes before reality.

Disgruntled people with an axe to grind will stop at nothing to further THEIR cause.  They will say anything, smear anyone, and try and silence everyone who disagrees with their message.  Save Shelby is no different than any other group out for blood.

Sometimes, in the passion of their obsession, people say things that “jump the shark” of reality.  Once again, the recall situation is no different. 

The Sunday, September 20, 2009 issue of the Source newspaper contained a story, written by Deanna Rose, about the towing issue.  The headline “New towing contract causes upset” said it all.  Shortly afterwards, the first set of recall petitions against Supervisor Stathakis were filed by Bradley Alspaugh (husband of Save Shelby fanatic Val Alspaugh).  Coincidence?  Doubtful. 

For weeks afterwards, we heard repeatedly (from Nightingale supporters) that the Nightingles should have been given special consideration on towing bids because they are a township business.  Special consideration????? 

Township residents who read the Source newspaper online know that after the article there is a section where people can leave comments about the article.  Some of these are good, some lame, some stupid, while others irrelevant.  However, now and then someone posts a comment that takes a discussion (whatever it is) to a whole new level. Such was the case with this comment from reader who uses the name MommaVee:

MommaVee wrote on Sep 23, 2009 12:35 AM
To Mr. Nightingale, his wife, children, family members, friends, neighbors and other supportive citizens; hold your heads high and keep up the fight!! After all, just look at the civil rights movement, it would have never gotten the attention it deserved if Dr. Martin Luther King had stopped "whining"!"

When you read this comment from an obvious Save Shelby fan, you will probably react as we did...

“WTF?????  Do these people really see the battle over a towing contract as an equivalent to the national campaign for Civil Rights?  Are they trying to draw some kind of comparison between a national historical leader like Dr. Martin Luther King and a rude, township brat like Nick Nightingale?”

Since the recall fanatics view township towing as another civil rights battle, what’s next?  Rioting in the streets???

In light of this ridiculous comment, we decided to have a little fun (aren’t we stinkers).  Since Nick Nightingale is somehow seen as 21st Century Dr. King, we put together a tongue-in-cheek look at what Nick Nightingale’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech to Shelby Township residents might sound like if delivered from the floor during a Board of Trustees meeting (click on image above for a larger view).  As you can plainly see by the very large contingent of people sitting directly behind him, Nick Nightingale and his recall cadre have LOTS of supporters!

We have long believed that the people driving this recall bandwagon are delusional.  Given the definition of this word, it seems to fit them perfectly:
DELUSIONAL: A false belief strongly held in spite of invalidating evidence, especially as a symptom of mental illness.  Delusion of grandeur.

The best way to stop this power grab of our township is to DECLINE TO SIGN a recall petition.  Let’s unite to let the recall revolutionaries know that we don’t like what they are doing, we don’t approve of their actions, and we won’t sign a petition.

If this recall fails, you can almost bet that the same group will be back the following week with still more recall petitions against Supervisor Stathakis.  Given their actions to date, anything less would be a real disappointment.

Until next time...

Taxpayers Use Pocketbook Power to Save Shelby From the Nightingale Recall Attack

THAT SIGN SAYS IT ALL!  

This image was sent to us and it appears as though something big is in the works.  People have been clamoring for a boycott for some time.  Given what we see above, is one about to be launched?  If so, count us in!!!

It has been well documented how this recall is about the attempt of one towing family to stifle debate and strong-arm township officials into doing things their way... OR ELSE.  The Nightingales are quick to proclaim that their recall is “not about towing.”  However, given how defensive they all get whenever towing comes up, their actions and words lead us to believe that the only issue really pushing the Nightingale recall is towing.

Remember, this recall rage first began when the Board of Trustees voted to put towing services out to competitive bid.  This action riled the feathers of the Nightingales and from that day on the family has pledged a revolution in Shelby Township.  How will they accomplish this revolution?  Through a recall scheme.

Eager to try and stop the anti-recall campaign, the Nightingales and their Save Shelby gang have lashed out, against everyone else who doesn’t buy into their initiative.  We have exposed who is behind the recall, including how Trustee Lisa Manzella and Clerk Terri Kowal and aiding and abetting this gang.  The political motivations of those involved outweighs any arguments about a zoning issue.   This is dirty politics, plain and simple, by people who are putting their interests before those of township residents.

The Save Shelby gang has stopped at nothing to try and smear the character, integrity and reputation of Supervisor Stathakis.  These people are passing out misleading flyers, spreading lies via website, and, in a desperate act of clear stupidity, took their complaints to Craig’s List.  That‘s right!  These poor, misguided souls have engaged in obvious character assassination anywhere that they believe they can get away with it.

Here is what the Save Shelby goons posted on Craig’s List recently.  These are two separate posts: 

RECALL STATHAKIS (MAKE A DIFFERENCE)
Date: 2011-04-16, 11:49AM EDT
Reply to: comm-xjr3n-2328686040@craigslist.org

STOP THE MONEY FLOW INTO SHELBY TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES POCKETS AND RECALL THE MAN WHO ACCEPTS ALL THIS BAD MONEY. 
SAVE OUR TOWNSHIP!  PostingID: 2328686040

++
SIGN THE RECALL OF STATHAKIS (Richard Stathakis needs to go!) 

Date: 2011-04-19, 12:00PM EDT
Reply to: comm-4ubyx-2334430871@craigslist.org 

Don't let this bribe taking, PAC loving, baffoon of a Supervisor run our community into the ground. Stop him before it's too late! PostingID: 2334430871  

_____

You know what?  These people really ARE crackpots!

Craig’s List is typically where people go to buy and sell things, not try and promote a campaign of personal destruction.  These people hate our township so much that they will do anything, or say anything, to accomplish their selfish goals.

We understand that the Save Shelby gang didn’t like that the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to put towing work out for competitive bid.  However, their words and deeds since that vote shows how low in the mud these fanatics will sink.

Supervisor Stathakis and the Board of Trustees have not run Shelby into the ground.  On the contrary.  Most of them (exception being Trustee Lisa Manzella and Clerk Terri Kowal) are using proven and effective conservative values to protect township taxpayers.  They deserve our thanks for their hard work and determination to protect our pocketbooks from higher taxes.

Actually, it was the last Supervisor, Save Shelby’s hero Skip Maccarone, who wanted to drive Shelby into bankruptcy and higher taxes with his big-spending “campus” plan.  Let’s not forget, or attempt to rewrite, history to try and validate an invalid recall.

Interestingly, whenever we post information which exposes the recall campaign’s dirty little secret, we receive e-mails (which are being archived) demanding that we stop.  The spirit of the First Amendment drives our work, and we will continue documenting the words and action of the so-called Save Shelby gang!

As we were thinking of a way to summarize this entire recall farce, someone replied “the recall bunch is really getting ridiculous.”

Wait a minute!  RECALL BUNCH?  The light went on and a song came to mind.

So in the spirit of those recall gang members who want to go back to what they consider Shelby’s “good old days” we offer the following.

Come on and sing along with us...

THE RECALL BUNCH
(sung to the Brady Bunch)

Here’s the story, of a towing family,
Who just wanted all the business, it would seem.
Each of them had spoons of gold, a sweetheart deal,
“Don’t touch our contract,” was their theme.

Here’s the story, of Shelby’s Trustees,
Who were dealing with some tough financial ills.
They are seven Board members, working together,
Trying to pay the bills.

Till the one day when it all became so clear,
That bids for towing could help with this crunch.
Then the Nightingale family started griping,
And that’s the day that they became the Recall Bunch.

The Recall Bunch…
The Recall Bunch...
That’s the day they became the Recall Bunch. 

This so appropriate to what is driving this politically-motivated recall.  The Nightingales have cried foul and pleaded with everyone that this has nothing to do with towing.  As resident Ed Young recently wrote, if towing is not the issue then why even bring it up?  The Nightingale gang may think people are stupid, but the truth is Shelby residents can see what is really going.

Remember, if you are approached by someone asking you to sign a recall petition, do the right thing and DECLINE TO SIGN.  Tell the recall fanatics to go away and leave you alone.  Don’t be afraid to tell these people NO - it is your democratic right!

Finally, Jeff Wattrick of MLive.com wrote a very interesting article about the current and never-ending recall threats in Shelby Township.  His RECALL article can be viewed here.  When you read it you will see that we are not the only people who view this recall as an attempted power grab by a group of “malcontents.”

Until next time....