| Author | Message | ||
     Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1665 Registered: 9-2001  |
With Labor Day upon us, the election less than ten weeks away, no official Maplewood Online thread yet established, and the debates (not to mention other candidate forums) just beginning to be scheduled, Joel and I invite the voters of Maplewood to ask the candidates questions on this thread, starting here, starting now. Kathy and Ken are welcome to also answer the questions asked on this thread, or ask their own questions still on this same thread. Joel and I will get the ball rolling shortly. Ed May | ||
| Joel S. Ziegler Citizen Username: Joelziegler Post Number: 23 Registered: 4-2003  |
Good Evening Citizens: Question #1: What do we mean when we say "Balanced Government, Focus On Maplewood, Lower Taxes, Better Services, and Total Quality Management"? Answer: Balanced Government means having both Democrats and Republicans on the Maplewood Township Committee just like in the Congress of the United States. Focus on Maplewood means spending the TC's time and effort on issues within its jurisdiction and purpose as opposed to things like foreign policy and litigating against local businesses. Lower taxes means .... lower taxes - not just 'controlling' the rate of tax increases. Better Services means more desired outputs for more citizens more quickly more efficiently, and requires addressing issues like Police and Teacher moral. Total Quality Management is not as easily summarized, and even though I ran on a TQM platform a few years ago, I will let Ed explain TQM to you, in detail, later. Essentially it refers to process improvement through teamwork and TQM tools. | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1666 Registered: 9-2001 |
Before I get into TQM, per se, lets pause to see if any Maplewood voters (preferably using real names) have questions or if Kathy and Ken care to respond. Ed May | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1833 Registered: 9-2001 |
Ed, “With the election less than ten weeks away…” I hope this year will be different. It’s such a waste of valuable time when the candidates don’t get it on until the last couple of weeks before the election….. Each year it becomes harder to understand the political mindset of the Maplewood voters and the Democratic candidates, especially here on MOL. For what it’s worth, I don’t believe the election process is meant to be a few week, seasonal popularity contest. I know registered Republican’s are out numbered four to one, but that’s still no reason to stonewall opportunities to debate local issues. It’s sad, but in the long run, residents get what they deserve. When November rolls around, and they vote for candidates who where unwilling to straightforwardly and openly discuss the issues except on their own terms, they can basically expect the same lack of respect to those issues after the election is over… ___________________________________________________________________ Waiting for an all-day Jitney, or some better way we can debate the issues... | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1902 Registered: 5-2001 |
Ed and Joel: What do you see as the key problems facing the Maplewood Police Department at this time and what would you do to improve the situation? | ||
| jab Citizen Username: Jab Post Number: 123 Registered: 3-2003 |
Thank you for offering to answer questions. First, what are the primary issues on which the Republicans and Democrats disagree? Please explain why I should vote for one set of candidates over the other set. Second, what are some specific ways in which taxes can be lowered? Have any debates been scheduled yet? | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2003 |
Dave, I thought the "Official Maplewood" topic was for officials to respond to questions from citizens, not for political posturing or debate. Shouldn’t this thread be moved to Soapbox? | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1844 Registered: 9-2001 |
What could be more “Official Maplewood” than a political discussion about our town? In case you missed it, two of these candidates will be serving officially on the township committee in just a few months. So the real Bottomline is, why don’t “YOU” move to the Soapbox where complaints belong, and leave the Official Maplewood for the candidates to get down to some much needed serious discussions about the future of our town... | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 1400 Registered: 5-2001  |
I can understand bottomline's confusion since this thread seems to have been started up by Ed May, instead of an "official" candidates only forum that Dave has set up in the past. | ||
| OK, it's Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 447 Registered: 1-2003  |
Ed, you promise to bring total quality management (TQM) to the township if elected. If the others in the TC don't buy into TQM's premises, what would you do? Tom Reingold | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1846 Registered: 9-2001 |
Ffof, I'm sorry, but I just don't get it? Ed is an "Official Candidate for the Township Committee" who was elected by Maplewood residents last June. How much more official does someone need to be to debate the issues in the Official Maplewood section and still make you guys happy? This conversation started off about the Official Maplewood section vs. the Soapbox section. Now you enter into yet a third area called the Candidates Debate section that Dave opens each year. What in the world is the matter with the two of you? What do you guys care where the candidates debate the issues? Personally, I think you’re both all wet! Therefore, I am herewith going to give the two of you my rare, and not often presented, “Political Potato Head Awards”. These awards are to be placed on your heads, whereas, I suggest you both hold hands and walk into the Atlantic Ocean until they float... If and when you both dry off, then maybe you'll be interested in the candidates debate rather then where, why or how they have it!  | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 1403 Registered: 5-2001 |
art- first, Ed and Joel get an "official" discussion going, but you butt in and change the subject to wah wah wah the voters wah wah wah. Second, you yourself say above "leave the Official Maplewood for the candidates" blah blah blah. Once again turning a thread into a love-art-or-leave-it fest. And I prefer my potatoes mashed, tyvm. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1848 Registered: 9-2001 |
First, how is it you can understand bottomline's confusion, and not my wah wah wah, or my blah blah blah? Second, OK, so you’re mashed potatoes, and I’m a love fest junkie! Ed, Joel... come on, there's questions to answer, where the hell are you guys? | ||
| luv2cruise Citizen Username: Luv2cruise Post Number: 94 Registered: 12-2002 |
ajc, is there ever a post where you don't cause controversy???????  There's nothing like being on the ocean! | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1849 Registered: 9-2001 |
A rt's J ust C ontroversial !!!!! Hey, ya wana make something else out of it pal? | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 1405 Registered: 5-2001 |
ever hear of C hinese water torture? | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1669 Registered: 9-2001 |
Good Morning Maplewood: Thank you Joan, jab, and Tom for asking questions. Thanks bottomline and ffof for your comments. Thanks ajc for your initial post on this thread. Sorry for any confusion about setting up this discussion thread myself. If Dave wants to move this thread to elsewhere on MOL, fine with me. The sooner Dave sets up the "official thread" the better. Meantime we have this forum for Q and A about the November 4th election. A few words about this thread. Joel and I will answer all legitimate questions. We prefer questions from known citizens of Maplewood. Shouting and other belligerant behavior such as exhibited during ajc's last four posts is discouraged. Let's focus on the issues before the voters. Ed May | ||
| Joel S. Ziegler Citizen Username: Joelziegler Post Number: 24 Registered: 4-2003 |
Ed, I agree, and even though I am not as familiar with the computer or Maplewood Online, I will do my best to answer questions online also. And for people who are not so comfortable conducting political discourse by typing into a machine, they can also ask me questions live and in person all around town up until the election. | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1670 Registered: 9-2001 |
Jab's first question was "What are the primary issues on which the Republicans and Democrats disagree". Let me start by saying that the local Democratic and Republican parties have both put forth good candidates who are truly interested in the betterment of Maplewood. Kathy and Ken have both won the Mapleleaf Award; Joel and I have each earned similar accolades. There are many things that Kathy and Ken and Joel and Ed agree upon. For example, I would like to think that all four of us are "pro business". Where we disagree, we do so amicably and in a professional manner. Here are five areas in which we disagree; #1 Balanced Government: Joel and I believe that adding a Republican or two to the Township Committee will create some balance of thought. We are fiscal conservatives, and categorize Kathy and Ken as anything but. (If Kathy and Ken disagree with this statement, we invite their rebuttal) #2 Focus on Maplewood: Joel and I will not waste the TC's time on issues of "foreign policy", "political correctness", and "matters beyond our control". #3 Lower Taxes: Joel and I want to lower your taxes; we believe that your taxes can be lowered; we believe that your taxes must be lowered; we will attack the tax issue head on. Based on their primary campaign literature, it appears that Kathy and Ken merely propose to "hold down" your never-ending tax increases. #4 Better Services: Kathy and Ken buy into the myth that lower taxes means lower services (and that better services require higher taxes). Joel and I respectfully disagree. #5 Total Quality Management: Joel and I offer an approach to running local government that is unique but proven successful elsewhere. Ed May | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1918 Registered: 5-2001 |
Ed: You're welcome for my asking a question on September 3, 2003. I am looking forward to your and Joel's response. Thank you in advance, Joan |
