Postponing the Campaign

Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:05 am

Attention all:

I regret to inform you that due to some further charter changes (I had been reading about this, and I believe it was more changes) the next election will not be in 2012, but instead in 2015 like I had originally anticipated. I apologize if this dampers anyone’s spirits, but alas I have no choice but to wait four years.

Do not fret, in four years I’ll be back out, for real, running as an independent candidate for Mayor of Tallmadge. This time I’ll be a college graduate with a History major and an up and coming teacher. It’ll probably do better with the older crowd.

Thanks for all the support I’ve gotten so far, I hope everyone hasn’t forgotten about me in four years, but alas, I will see you then.

So here goes nothing.

Posted on July 18, 2011 at 2:04 am

First of all, thanks to the 48 (almost 50!) people who have liked my Facebook! I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, but in a small town like the one we live in, for only about 3 weeks of having the page and doing no campaigning other than having that page, that’s quite a bit.

Alright, so, business as usual.

Thanks to both James and Geoff who asked me quite a few very good questions about my stance. It allowed me to get about the points I felt needed to be got out, and made for an interesting evening of discussion. As Geoff has pointed out, it’d probably be best I posted them here as well, for it to be “official” word. So here they are:

http://swholli.tumblr.com/post/7752321639/can-you-list-off-some-of-the-things-you-wanna-change

Well first, I dunno if you saw this: http://hollingsworthformayor.tumblr.com/post/7270319301/my-current-stance-on-the-issues

But that’s an official, I dunno what else to call it but, manifesto of all the things I’d like to see get done in my term.

But, another thing I’d like to add to my education stance is, I am totally for education. As obviously being someone who just got out of it, I know exactly what certain problems in it can cause. I’d like to rectify any and all budget problems that may exist, so that both teachers and students alike can better use the facility they have so graciously been allowed to work and study in. However, for the older members of the community, I want them to know that I for one am totally understanding of what it’s like to not have anyone in the school system and to see the raise in taxes towards it as pointless on their part. So, if elected, I want to work with the state to fix our current funding situation, but keep the voted in mind. Higher taxes can hurt, especially in our time of economical crisis. I want to work out a system that keeps the taxes as low as possible without hurting the education at the same time, and then put in a practical solution with high protections in logic, so any attempts to dismantle the system (unless proven faulty) will be shot down by committees and voters alike. 

http://swholli.tumblr.com/post/7752586993/one-thing-i-cant-get-over-with-the-school-levies-is
 

Oh yeah, definitely.

We’re supporting our levies through what the state-supreme court ruled unconstitutional, and no one seems to have done anything about it, and it’s been 10 years.

Now, I dunno exactly who or what I have to go through to rectify this, but it’s been a pain in every homeowners ass now for years. I don’t care who I have to reach, but I’ll get them involved and I’ll fix this problem. It’s what I intend on making my biggest issue in my campaign. 

You can tell your dad that if he votes for me, I’ll do everything I can to fix that issue. 

http://swholli.tumblr.com/post/7752699674/what-a-wonderful-world-my-current-stance-on-the-issues

Yeah, the budget issue is going to be the biggest concern for accomplishing all I want to accomplish.

However, I really want to tackle that issue of school funding I just replied to. If I can truly go about cleaning all of that up, I think I should be able to drum up just enough extra revenue to go about doing everything else.

I can’t promise that taxes will go down after I’ve fixed it, but the thing is, instead of being wasted, they’ll go towards things people could really use.  

http://swholli.tumblr.com/post/7753115242/i-hate-to-say-it-bud-but-people-like-my-parents-will

Which is why I am actually against a tax hike. If I can have it my way, I might even be able to lower taxes. However, this is the honest thing about what I want to do. There are things in this town that could benefit a lot of people. But as an executive, I can’t do that unless I have the financial support of the people (obviously). So here’s my deal. I promise not to raise taxes (unless absolutly 100 percent needed, but I feel that won’t happen), but I can’t promise to lower them. If I fix the situtation on the school’s being funded through property, I should be able to A set out a system that would lower their property taxes for sure, but B depending on the needs of the school system, the new “school tax” might end up being the same amount totaled that it was before. However, that’s where balanced budgets can come in real handy. Depending on what things I may be able to cut (you can let them know, I’m a no-pork kind of guy) I may be able to severely lower that cost entirely. If that suceeds, I should be able to raise the taxes for a “sidewalk tax” or a “build that movie theater tax” that I wanted, but be manageable. Cut corners where corners can be cut so it’s not too painful on the tax-payer.

What I’m basically trying to say is, assuming I even everything out (which is what I want to try to do badly) your mom and dad’s taxes basically stay at the same rate they were before, however, now they’re paying for new sidewalks and new business that brings revenue to Tallmadge.

That’s my dream, and I want to do everything I can to make it a reality. 

An so that’s it. I think I’ve made myself pretty much clear. Any and all questions are wanted, as I’ll be happy to answer them. In the meantime, the hardest part now is getting my name out there and getting people to listen.

This should be an interesting campaign. 

As always tell people about me if you want me to win!

My current stance on the issues

Posted on July 5, 2011 at 2:24 pm

Well for starters, my biggest beef is with our school system being funded in an unconstitutional (state) manner. That really needs to be fixed, because we’re having constant problems when it comes to drumming up support for a school levies. If a means could be found that both funds the school with little hurt on the tax payers, then that’s what I’d seek. Then for the school itself, better management of the budget and less ludicrous spending. No more $20,000+ sheds. Sheds.

Another issue is job creation. First, we have sidewalks that end in nowhere and lead to dangerous roads that are in no way fit to be walked on (I mean you can, but if you consider the safety of it, on paper it seems absurd; not to mention little kids). So, why not simply pave the whole town? Connect all of the businesses with walk ways, making Tallmadge more convenient for those who can’t drive and more cost effective for those who chose not to drive in order to save gas, and all in all more safer for everyone.

Tallmadge gets certain amounts of money from the Walmart plaza built in Brimfield because it’s so close to us. So, why not negotiate to actually build a movie theater there? Imagine being able to drive (or even walk, with my new sidewalks) to a theater that’s that close to town? No more leaving Tallmadge to go to Chapel Hill to see movies, now the money goes to us. The whole goal really is to add more businesses like this so that you never have to leave Tallmadge and so that Tallmadge has everything you need. This makes everything more localized and community friendly, and at the same time all of the potential revenue goes to our town rather than someone elses. Basically, create as many businesses as we need and don’t have here already (for instance, a Wendy’s to be built on that vacant lot next to the circle. It’s been cleaned up and is for sale, why not finally build the thing they’ve been saying they’d build for decades?).

Lastly, job creation. Everything I listed, from the paving of the city, to the construction of a movie theater and restaurant, all would require staff to run and all would create new jobs needed to get those things built. But, why not make a more lasting position? Being a North Eastern Ohio town, the winters can be bad to brutal, sometimes leaving inches upon inches of snow. And while the guys who plow our roads do excellent work as it is, what about people who can’t plow their driveways? I know that my grandma and grandpa living alone would have been helpless if not for the good nature of their neighbor willing to plow it with his snow blower. But not everyone can be in that situation, and having a peace of mind that your driveway will be plowed could really make things a lot better. Basically, add a secondary plow team (a government job) that’s big enough to get the whole town before you even wake up. Obviously if a big snow fall hits the night before you have to go to work, you’re not going to be able to pull out the snow blower and clear the driveway in the morning, you’d be late for work. So why not let the city do it? Plus, this would be a great job for high schoolers who like driving trucks more than they like flipping burgers.

All of that on top of whatever may come up as time goes on, but this is a starting point. I promise to continue the efforts of keeping our town safe and secure (we have a fantastic police force and fire department) and I’d like it to be known that I’m against a lot of our governors budget cuts to education; I’ll do what I can to make it have less of an effect here in Tallmadge.

Wanted: Campaign Manager

Posted on June 19, 2011 at 7:30 pm

Well, sadly my previous choice has decided it was in his best interest to leave the campaign due to personal issues. While this is a setback to my original plans, this isn’t an entirely treacherous lose as there is still plenty of time to continue forward.

As an addition to my previous post, the position of campaign manager is now open. If you think you’re qualified (I’d really like someone with political science experience, but if you’ve ever worked on a campaign before, that’d be good enough as this is obviously just a local election) then feel free to contact me.

Thanks for the support I have already, and I hope you haven’t forgotten about me just yet. Remember to tell others to follow, I need to build up a base of like-minded people who want to see a change in their local politics.

As time moves on, and I’ve written a manifesto of changes I’d like to see come to Tallmadge, I’ll post it here so it can be told to older folks who don’t use the internet. 

Wanted: Campaign Work

Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:20 pm

• Official Agent: In Canada and the US you are required by law to have an “agent” or “treasurer” or “financial director.” You must trust this person with your life. Well, okay, at least your money. Anyone who has worked on more than one campaign or has political savvy can tell you countless horror stories about an agent. They are responsible for collecting donations, asking for donations, paying all bills, keeping track of the campaign account, authorizing monetary movement and most importantly, at the end of the campaign, filing all the financial records with the elections agency. This person must have superb mathematical skills. It is highly advised that you hire a professional, if you can afford it.
• Election/poll coordinator: This is the person who will hire the scrutineers, checkers, drivers, etc. Also, they should ensure that people are registered to vote, to avoid long waits on the writ day. This person should be patient and be willing to drive around the riding a lot, especially on election day.
• Personal Assistant and Scheduler: The ideal person for this position will have known the candidate and worked with him for along time, as they will be together for the duration of the campaign. It is up to this person to make the candidates agenda, ensure that it is followed, carry his briefcase and cell phone, have food on hand for him and just ensure the over all well being of the candidate.
• Media relations: This person will have the campaign ads produced, write the campaign literature, schedule interviews with reporters, write the press releases and handle any other topics that may come up with the media. This person should be charismatic and be able to think on their feet. Being witty doesn’t hurt either.
• Legal Advisor: Another position that you are legally required to fill, but not often used, is the legal advisor. Typically this person is a lawyer who also supports your party. They will advise you about the elections agencies laws and regulations.
•  Sign Coordinator: A daunting task, especially in a huge riding, signs need to  be made, placed, fixed and taken down. Someone with a lot of time and  patience should fill this vital roll.

I can’t guarantee that all of these positions will have a usual “salary” as this is a very local campaign and thus most of the money if not all will go towards making up signs and what have you.

However, I am intending on running a legit campaign and so if we are ever in the black when it comes to finance and the campaign’s over, then I will split up what’s left to pay those of you who end up filling these positions.

Also, remember to tell as many Tallmadge dwellers you can about this Tumblr, we’re gonna have to gain a lot of support if we have any intentions of even running.