Introduction
In a previous blog post, I offered Troy City Council candidates the opportunity for free campaign space by responding to survey questions. This 2014 election, I’ll offer the same to all political candidates, posting their replies on the Patch and on the USA Melting Pot website.
Some of the club principles can be found in the description of our logo. Recent activities of this club, founded in 2011, are detailed in our update to the Troy City Council:
Find out what's happening in Troywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Troywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Survey Response from Maureen McGinnis, Candidate for District Judge
Questions in italics, answers from candidate in bold:
1. The Troy Transit Center is a government project with federal funds allocated by the state, approved by a 4-3 majority on the Troy Council. All three levels of government were involved: federal state and local. It has not yet opened because of an ownership dispute over the land. What lessons can be learned from this? (See more background in this article.)
As it relates to the Transit Center, I would most likely refrain from commenting on pending litigation. Although this project has been in the works for over a decade, I was obviously involved in the project as it evolved over my time on the city council and I would not want to prejudice the outcome of any current or future proceedings with my commentary.
2. Have you read The Liberty Amendments: Restoring the American Republic, by former Reagan Justice Department attorney and conservative talk show host Mark Levin?
As it relates to the book “The Liberty Amendments”, I have not had an opportunity to read it and would not feel comfortable commenting on something that I have not read in its entirety. I do appreciate the reading suggestion and hope to have an opportunity to read the book in the future.
3. What do you think of the eleven specific amendments? You can read a summary of them in this National Review article. Should each of them be adopted, modified or discarded? Please explain.
4. What other statements would you like to make on behalf of your campaign?
In response to question number four, all three candidates were asked to submit a fairly in-depth questionnaire to the Oakland County Bar Association and Detroit Free Press, the answers of which are made available to the public so that they can learn more about the candidates. The link to these questionnaires is available below if you or anyone else are looking for more information about the three of us and our campaigns:
http://bit.ly/2014JudicialForums
District Judge Race
In the August 5 primary, there is a three-way race for an open district judge seat (six year term). Since incumbent judges are rarely challenged and all three well-qualified candidates are young, Troy voters may be choosing their district judge for the next thirty years.
So I have added a fifth question to the survey (see blog article for more) and hope each candidate chooses to respond.
Here are the additional questions:
5. For Mike Bosnic: You have previously served as a Republican County Commissioner. The judge seat is non-partisan. Can you be objective in hearing cases?
5. For AnnMarie Devito: You are the least-known of the candidates, not having held public office before. How will the lack of a voting record affect your chances for being elected?
5. For Maureen McGinnis: You served on the Troy City Council and often voted with the liberal bloc. Can you be objective in hearing cases?
As for the questions posed to individual candidates, I served in a nonpartisan capacity on the city council, just as I hope to as a district court judge. During my time on city council, I worked very hard to prepare for and engage in research and discussion on all of the issues that came before us, always doing so with an open mind. As I know you recall, there were many issues that came before us during the four years I sat on the council. I approached each issue the same way: educating myself on all sides of the argument, independently researching any other pertinent and related issues, listening to all of the parties that were involved and then coming to a decision. This skill set has proven successful in my legal practice as well and I believe that it would be a valuable approach to handling the duties of a district court judge, if elected.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions. My website is in progress and I hope to have it operational within the next week or so. More info will be available there as well (www.mcginnis4judge.com)
Liberty Amendments Summary
I've read Levin's book and am interested to know what candidates for public office think of it. More description is in a previous blog post, including links to a National Review article summarizing the book. Below is a brief summary:
Term Limits for Congress, Supreme Court and More Control for State Governments
The first amendment limits members to a total of 12 years in Congress! Supreme Court justices would also be limited to 12 year terms. Other provisions would return more decisions to the states and promote economic growth through the "laboratories of democracy." (the states)
The closer government is to the people it represents, the more responsive and less wasteful it will be.
Fiscal Tipping Point
President Franklin Roosevelt said, "Any Government, like any family, can for a year spend a little more than it earns. But you and I know that a continuation of that habit means the poorhouse."
America has reached the tipping point, where its debts will soon be unmanageable if it doesn't act soon. The growth of the Federal Government must be restrained. Levin's Liberty Amendments may need some modification. But they are a good start, in my opinion.
Offer to All Political Candidates
I hope candidates choose to read this important book. Since my blog is the most widely read on the Troy Patch, I'll offer all candidates the exposure to answer the above four questions and give them free publicity for their campaigns.
As with the Troy Council election, I'll print their responses in the order received.
Easy way to help a great club
If you wish to support the USA Melting Pot club, a Michigan non-profit corporation, you can make your Amazon purchases through the link on our website. The club will get a percentage of the purchase to fund community service activities and our scholarship fund. Thanks for your support.
Conservative columnist Dale Murrish writes on history, travel, technology, religion and politics for the Troy Patch. You can read his articles on other topics by clicking on the links.
