(no subject)
Oct. 19th, 2005 10:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jennythereaderThe Lansing State Journal just endorsed Dad!
East Lansing council: Beard, Loomis are best of strong field for council
A Lansing State Journal editorial
One issue currently dominates East Lansing politics - the party atmosphere that has fueled tensions between year-round residents and students at Michigan State University.
It's an old issue, really, but as fresh as last weekend's police blotter. What East Lansing government does about it - and what it realistically can do about it - will be very much on the minds of voters Nov. 8.
Four people are running for two seats on the East Lansing City Council, and voters can be assured of one thing:
Whoever wins, East Lansing will have chosen two qualified, knowledgeable and dedicated council members. Seldom do we reach such a "win-win" conclusion, but these four candidates are strong enough to merit it.
Incumbents William Sharp and Vic Loomis bring a wealth of experience to the council. Challengers Kevin Beard and John Fournier bring fresh perspectives and creative energy to the scene.
In the final analysis, we believe East Lansing would be best served if Kevin Beard and Vic Loomis were elected.
Both Loomis and Beard are steeped in planning and development experience. Loomis once chaired East Lansing's Downtown Development Authority. Beard is a former city planning commissioner and currently serves on East Lansing's Comprehensive Plan Team.
Their backgrounds relate directly to ongoing town-gown tensions. How East Lansing redevelops neighborhoods and the downtown business district will have a great deal to say about the city's quality of life.
Beard wants to double the number of owner-occupied houses the city reclaims each year. For his part, Loomis was instrumental in creating a student housing project close to the MSU campus, which avoids mixing student and residential housing - the cause of a great deal of friction.
Both men recognize that the friction won't go away any time soon. But Beard is right that MSU must "step up" more fully than it has. And Loomis correctly points out that out-of-control partying can't be laid entirely on MSU students; police arrest sheets show many non-students and non-East Lansing residents are part of the trouble.
Beard hopes to help the city attract more housing projects for the downtown, reasoning that the more permanent residents living there, the more that retailers will choose to open businesses.
Loomis proudly, and correctly, says he's been part of a city organization that runs efficiently and creatively. He's helped approve several tight city budgets that didn't cut services or dip into the city's rainy day fund.
Councilman Sharp is a long-time East Lansing resident, a former school board member and has served on the City Council for 12 years. He's a popular guy, one who proudly represents what he calls East Lansing's fastest-growing segment - senior citizens.
Fournier is an MSU student, who, unlike some past student candidates, has done his homework and is involved in city issues. He sits on the city's commission on the environment. Fournier has creative ideas about expanding the city's free wireless Internet service, and launching a small business incubator in collaboration with MSU. Regardless of the election results, we expect to see Fournier remain involved in a public capacity.
The edge goes to Beard and Loomis for a winning combination of energy, experience and a practical vision for making East Lansing a more livable community.
My fiance has been working on the website, this is the latest version: http://www.kevinbeard.org/
East Lansing council: Beard, Loomis are best of strong field for council
A Lansing State Journal editorial
One issue currently dominates East Lansing politics - the party atmosphere that has fueled tensions between year-round residents and students at Michigan State University.
It's an old issue, really, but as fresh as last weekend's police blotter. What East Lansing government does about it - and what it realistically can do about it - will be very much on the minds of voters Nov. 8.
Four people are running for two seats on the East Lansing City Council, and voters can be assured of one thing:
Whoever wins, East Lansing will have chosen two qualified, knowledgeable and dedicated council members. Seldom do we reach such a "win-win" conclusion, but these four candidates are strong enough to merit it.
Incumbents William Sharp and Vic Loomis bring a wealth of experience to the council. Challengers Kevin Beard and John Fournier bring fresh perspectives and creative energy to the scene.
In the final analysis, we believe East Lansing would be best served if Kevin Beard and Vic Loomis were elected.
Both Loomis and Beard are steeped in planning and development experience. Loomis once chaired East Lansing's Downtown Development Authority. Beard is a former city planning commissioner and currently serves on East Lansing's Comprehensive Plan Team.
Their backgrounds relate directly to ongoing town-gown tensions. How East Lansing redevelops neighborhoods and the downtown business district will have a great deal to say about the city's quality of life.
Beard wants to double the number of owner-occupied houses the city reclaims each year. For his part, Loomis was instrumental in creating a student housing project close to the MSU campus, which avoids mixing student and residential housing - the cause of a great deal of friction.
Both men recognize that the friction won't go away any time soon. But Beard is right that MSU must "step up" more fully than it has. And Loomis correctly points out that out-of-control partying can't be laid entirely on MSU students; police arrest sheets show many non-students and non-East Lansing residents are part of the trouble.
Beard hopes to help the city attract more housing projects for the downtown, reasoning that the more permanent residents living there, the more that retailers will choose to open businesses.
Loomis proudly, and correctly, says he's been part of a city organization that runs efficiently and creatively. He's helped approve several tight city budgets that didn't cut services or dip into the city's rainy day fund.
Councilman Sharp is a long-time East Lansing resident, a former school board member and has served on the City Council for 12 years. He's a popular guy, one who proudly represents what he calls East Lansing's fastest-growing segment - senior citizens.
Fournier is an MSU student, who, unlike some past student candidates, has done his homework and is involved in city issues. He sits on the city's commission on the environment. Fournier has creative ideas about expanding the city's free wireless Internet service, and launching a small business incubator in collaboration with MSU. Regardless of the election results, we expect to see Fournier remain involved in a public capacity.
The edge goes to Beard and Loomis for a winning combination of energy, experience and a practical vision for making East Lansing a more livable community.
My fiance has been working on the website, this is the latest version: http://www.kevinbeard.org/
