Comments for Maplewood citizens blog http://votesmart09.com/blog Open and anonymous discussion forum for Maplewood residents Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:38:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by DelRay Rokke http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-133 DelRay Rokke Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:38:31 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-133 Dave, There are so many people to thank that I do not really even want to get into the list of names. We had many more than those you mention who helped multiple times with lit drops and sign postings, etc. All of the help we got from residents was greatly appreciated. I'm not so sure Maplewood is really deserving of so many great residents, but I am glad we are not alone here too. Someone mentioned a jocular reference to the Three Musketeers above. In many ways our attitude was an all for one and one for all message, because we firmly believed that an entire new majority was needed on the council and none of us wanted to waste our time without the majority needed to be effective. A lone eagle amongst a flock of loons would still be a bird out of water when it comes to making policy changes. Not enough residents are ready to soar and the next chance for a mojority is at least four years away. Perhaps there will be some eagles willing to take-up the cause in 2012, and if the winter solstist that year is not the end of time for all, they will possibly make a real difference. Until then, we will just have more of the same--higher taxes and debt with less personal fredoms each year. Good luck with that. Dave, There are so many people to thank that I do not really even want to get into the list of names. We had many more than those you mention who helped multiple times with lit drops and sign postings, etc. All of the help we got from residents was greatly appreciated. I’m not so sure Maplewood is really deserving of so many great residents, but I am glad we are not alone here too.

Someone mentioned a jocular reference to the Three Musketeers above. In many ways our attitude was an all for one and one for all message, because we firmly believed that an entire new majority was needed on the council and none of us wanted to waste our time without the majority needed to be effective. A lone eagle amongst a flock of loons would still be a bird out of water when it comes to making policy changes. Not enough residents are ready to soar and the next chance for a mojority is at least four years away. Perhaps there will be some eagles willing to take-up the cause in 2012, and if the winter solstist that year is not the end of time for all, they will possibly make a real difference. Until then, we will just have more of the same–higher taxes and debt with less personal fredoms each year. Good luck with that.

]]> Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by Dave Hafner http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-132 Dave Hafner Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:14:23 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-132 I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the support that so many people gave in my (and the Smart team's) run for the Maplewood city council. It truly was amazing. I didn't really believe that the citizens of Maplewood were ready for constructive and positive change. A real change. I thought they were still a year or two (or possibly 52 years) away. But I pushed the issue to find out, and to give the citizens an answer to the political situation that exists in our city. This election had it all-deception, desertion, propoganda, censorship, conspiracy, inuendo, character assassination, false accusations, betrayal, and of course, flat out lies. Unfortunately, I was targeted as one of the biggest challengers in this election and as such was on the receiving end of most of it. Many have asked me what I learned in the process of running for office. It is not really so much a matter of what I learned as reinforcement of what I already knew. I knew that politics is a rotten, greasy, stinky, smelly, shady business. It was the biggest reason that I ran-to put a stop to it (not that I could have done this alone. That would have required a collective effort). But I never realized just how rotten, greasy, stinky, smelly, and shady. And yes, I knew that people could be naive and ignorant. But I never realized the depth of this malady. To be falsely accused of putting campaign signs in someone's yard (a neighbor's no less) is no big deal. That happens every election. But these complaints come from the same political camp, year after year, election after election. The failure of the voters to recognize this pattern is alarming. However, to be falsely accused of arguing with and attacking a neighbor, and being on the receiving end of a false 911 call was as low as it gets. Even Will Rossbach was given the benefit of the doubt when one person suggested that he may have murdered a citizen in southern Maplewood. How many people fell for that one? Not many. How many fell for the 911 conspiracy? From the looks of the many web sites, blog comments, and editorials the answer is...many. Even "Ken" fell for it. He submitted an anonymous comment on this blog site (on Nov. 4th, 2009 at 1:45pm). Scroll back and see for yourself. The fact that no one cared or went out of their way to determine whether these events were true is appalling, and explains why few are held accountable for their actions nowadays. Once again, the people got conned. No, it's not pretty. There just is not alot that's positive about Maplewood politics and it's ensuing power struggle. Still, there are many good people in our city. I am convinced that they represent the majority, even though they may not necessarily vote when the opportunity arises. I would especially like to thank DelRay Rokke (Rocky) and Ken Smart for accepting my offer to run for office. It takes an incredible amount of time, money, and sacrifice. And it takes a bold, strong individual to accept such a proposition. I made some faithful friends in the process. I would also like to thank John Wykoff and Dave Schelling for their unwavering support and for all of their hard work. They demonstrated the wisdom to recognize our vision and the faith, tenacity, and perseverance to pursue it without reservation. Lastly, I would like to thank our wives Shannon, Barb, and Kathy, and our children for their support and the many sacrifices that they made over the years in our quest to help Maplewood. It is time for me to become a husband to my wife, a father to my children, to re-establish old friendships, and to join the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. May you and your families have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Sincerely, Dave Hafner I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the support that so many people gave in my (and the Smart team’s) run for the Maplewood city council. It truly was amazing.
I didn’t really believe that the citizens of Maplewood were ready for constructive and positive change. A real change. I thought they were still a year or two (or possibly 52 years) away. But I pushed the issue to find out, and to give the citizens an answer to the political situation that exists in our city.
This election had it all-deception, desertion, propoganda, censorship, conspiracy, inuendo, character assassination, false accusations, betrayal, and of course, flat out lies. Unfortunately, I was targeted as one of the biggest challengers in this election and as such was on the receiving end of most of it.
Many have asked me what I learned in the process of running for office. It is not really so much a matter of what I learned as reinforcement of what I already knew. I knew that politics is a rotten, greasy, stinky, smelly, shady business. It was the biggest reason that I ran-to put a stop to it (not that I could have done this alone. That would have required a collective effort). But I never realized just how rotten, greasy, stinky, smelly, and shady. And yes, I knew that people could be naive and ignorant. But I never realized the depth of this malady. To be falsely accused of putting campaign signs in someone’s yard (a neighbor’s no less) is no big deal. That happens every election. But these complaints come from the same political camp, year after year, election after election. The failure of the voters to recognize this pattern is alarming. However, to be falsely accused of arguing with and attacking a neighbor, and being on the receiving end of a false 911 call was as low as it gets. Even Will Rossbach was given the benefit of the doubt when one person suggested that he may have murdered a citizen in southern Maplewood. How many people fell for that one? Not many. How many fell for the 911 conspiracy? From the looks of the many web sites, blog comments, and editorials the answer is…many. Even “Ken” fell for it. He submitted an anonymous comment on this blog site (on Nov. 4th, 2009 at 1:45pm). Scroll back and see for yourself.
The fact that no one cared or went out of their way to determine whether these events were true is appalling, and explains why few are held accountable for their actions nowadays. Once again, the people got conned. No, it’s not pretty. There just is not alot that’s positive about Maplewood politics and it’s ensuing power struggle.
Still, there are many good people in our city. I am convinced that they represent the majority, even though they may not necessarily vote when the opportunity arises.
I would especially like to thank DelRay Rokke (Rocky) and Ken Smart for accepting my offer to run for office. It takes an incredible amount of time, money, and sacrifice. And it takes a bold, strong individual to accept such a proposition. I made some faithful friends in the process. I would also like to thank John Wykoff and Dave Schelling for their unwavering support and for all of their hard work. They demonstrated the wisdom to recognize our vision and the faith, tenacity, and perseverance to pursue it without reservation.
Lastly, I would like to thank our wives Shannon, Barb, and Kathy, and our children for their support and the many sacrifices that they made over the years in our quest to help Maplewood. It is time for me to become a husband to my wife, a father to my children, to re-establish old friendships, and to join the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.
May you and your families have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,
Dave Hafner

]]> Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by Steedsrepekex http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-131 Steedsrepekex Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:57:41 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-131 OMG enjoyed reading this article. I added your feed to my reader!! OMG enjoyed reading this article. I added your feed to my reader!!

]]> Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by DelRay http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-87 DelRay Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:50:40 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-87 Maplewood is essentially a bedroom community for State, County and Municipal Employees who work in St. Paul and the surrounding area. The unions representing the government employees typically spend more than all of the candidates combined to make sure they get what they want from the city in terms of jobs, raises, benefits and security. Maplewood taxpayers who want conservative government need to put their feet money and mouths to work to get more conservative or libertarian style candedates elected. Only 27% of registered voters bothered to go vote, so that means that just a turn-out of 30% could have given us a different outcome. All our signs and literature had addresses and phone numbers, so anybody who had the slightest amount of self-motivation could call or write for more detailed information (only a few did) or to volunteer to help. Those who did not vote and did not help others defeat the extremely liberal chosen candidates of the unions are the ones who can take credit for the large tax increases and the huge loss of property rights coming in the very near future. Maplewood is essentially a bedroom community for State, County and Municipal Employees who work in St. Paul and the surrounding area. The unions representing the government employees typically spend more than all of the candidates combined to make sure they get what they want from the city in terms of jobs, raises, benefits and security. Maplewood taxpayers who want conservative government need to put their feet money and mouths to work to get more conservative or libertarian style candedates elected. Only 27% of registered voters bothered to go vote, so that means that just a turn-out of 30% could have given us a different outcome.

All our signs and literature had addresses and phone numbers, so anybody who had the slightest amount of self-motivation could call or write for more detailed information (only a few did) or to volunteer to help. Those who did not vote and did not help others defeat the extremely liberal chosen candidates of the unions are the ones who can take credit for the large tax increases and the huge loss of property rights coming in the very near future.

]]> Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by Rick http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-84 Rick Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:18:31 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-84 But Ken..they are like the 3 musketeers! How could you not vote for them hahahaha. But Ken..they are like the 3 musketeers! How could you not vote for them hahahaha.

]]> Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by Ken http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-83 Ken Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:45:30 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-83 To whom it may concern: Maplewood needs more conservative government. It did not get it November 3, I believe. Once again, if you are going to run for office in Maplewood and going to try to downsize government, as we need to, don't just tell us how many years you've been a scout leader, how many kids you have and what church you go to. Tell us you're going to say "No" to the special interests who have been running Maplewood (into the ground) fiscally for years. Don't just tell us you're for "good" government and will "listen to the people." Everyone says that. Tell us what good government means to you; bigger, Bigger and BIGGER or lean and efficient. And then tell us how you propose to get there. Don't bother running if you're a hot head or like to show up at Council meetings and disrupt things or get in fights with your neighbors. That scares people. Sooner or later the people of Maplewood will get tired of paying higher and higher taxes. They'll be looking for someone who will bring those taxes down instead of spending in a manner that says "Everyone has to tighten their belt in these days...except the unions." Sooner or later, even labor says, "Enough spending is enough." To whom it may concern: Maplewood needs more conservative government. It did not get it November 3, I believe. Once again, if you are going to run for office in Maplewood and going to try to downsize government, as we need to, don’t just tell us how many years you’ve been a scout leader, how many kids you have and what church you go to. Tell us you’re going to say “No” to the special interests who have been running Maplewood (into the ground) fiscally for years. Don’t just tell us you’re for “good” government and will “listen to the people.” Everyone says that. Tell us what good government means to you; bigger, Bigger and BIGGER or lean and efficient. And then tell us how you propose to get there. Don’t bother running if you’re a hot head or like to show up at Council meetings and disrupt things or get in fights with your neighbors. That scares people. Sooner or later the people of Maplewood will get tired of paying higher and higher taxes. They’ll be looking for someone who will bring those taxes down instead of spending in a manner that says “Everyone has to tighten their belt in these days…except the unions.” Sooner or later, even labor says, “Enough spending is enough.”

]]> Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by going postal http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-80 going postal Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:59:37 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-80 It is amazing as one looks around other blogs that they often talk about how supporters putting political brochures in on or around a mailbox is illegal and they try to get others to do the complaining about their opponents use of newspaper recepticals, etc., as if a law was being broken. They aslo say that the person who delivered it was too lazy to walk to the door to further make them look bad. We've seen people write letters to the editor about these candidates and the newspapers which print these are eager to make anyone they oppose look bad by printing them. There are two different areas of postal law which are applicable to this issue: Postal Regulations which strictly prohibit placement of anything without postage inside a mailbox, and Postal Restrictions which prohibit placment of anything without postage in, on or around the mailbox that will impede the delivery of the mail by the mail carriers. When someone is trying to make a political candidate look bad they seem to forget the "impede" part of the "on" or "around" part of the restrictions. What they further overlook is the likelihood that the entrenched political candidates often are using the union dues or tax dollars (in the case of incumbents) of hard-working mailbox owners to deliver their political information inside the mailbox with little or no personal effort or financial hardship. The candidate who delivers his or her own fliers is usually the hardest working candidate and they are most likely spending their own personal money to help make their community a better place for all to live. It is amazing as one looks around other blogs that they often talk about how supporters putting political brochures in on or around a mailbox is illegal and they try to get others to do the complaining about their opponents use of newspaper recepticals, etc., as if a law was being broken. They aslo say that the person who delivered it was too lazy to walk to the door to further make them look bad. We’ve seen people write letters to the editor about these candidates and the newspapers which print these are eager to make anyone they oppose look bad by printing them.

There are two different areas of postal law which are applicable to this issue: Postal Regulations which strictly prohibit placement of anything without postage inside a mailbox, and Postal Restrictions which prohibit placment of anything without postage in, on or around the mailbox that will impede the delivery of the mail by the mail carriers. When someone is trying to make a political candidate look bad they seem to forget the “impede” part of the “on” or “around” part of the restrictions.

What they further overlook is the likelihood that the entrenched political candidates often are using the union dues or tax dollars (in the case of incumbents) of hard-working mailbox owners to deliver their political information inside the mailbox with little or no personal effort or financial hardship. The candidate who delivers his or her own fliers is usually the hardest working candidate and they are most likely spending their own personal money to help make their community a better place for all to live.

]]> Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by DelRay Rokke http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-79 DelRay Rokke Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:07:03 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-79 An interesting story appeared in an online newspaper this week. It claims that someone delivered our write-in Smart and Rocky brochures with another flier touting racism and homophobia. This website provided a link to the flier which talked about one of the city council candidate's associations with groups promoting the advancement of politicians who support the LGBT causes. Those groups have a right to promote candidates and causes the same as the individual(s) who put out this flier have right to tell people about it. If this was done by supporters, would prefer that this not be distributed with, or added to, our brochures as they just create fodder for those who would use it as a reason to hurt the SMART Team. There are some serious gameplayers in this city who would put these out just to create controversy and media attention. John Nephew points-out correctly that none of the SMART Team members were native to Maplewood as well as Mr Llanas, so I wonder why he seems to be making a point of advertising this flier as something which may have come from us. An interesting story appeared in an online newspaper this week. It claims that someone delivered our write-in Smart and Rocky brochures with another flier touting racism and homophobia. This website provided a link to the flier which talked about one of the city council candidate’s associations with groups promoting the advancement of politicians who support the LGBT causes. Those groups have a right to promote candidates and causes the same as the individual(s) who put out this flier have right to tell people about it. If this was done by supporters, would prefer that this not be distributed with, or added to, our brochures as they just create fodder for those who would use it as a reason to hurt the SMART Team.

There are some serious gameplayers in this city who would put these out just to create controversy and media attention. John Nephew points-out correctly that none of the SMART Team members were native to Maplewood as well as Mr Llanas, so I wonder why he seems to be making a point of advertising this flier as something which may have come from us.

]]> Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by Patty http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-78 Patty Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:08:37 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-78 Peter is concerned about negative campaigns. Has anyone seen anything positive about Maplewood politics? And the only campaign that I have seen attacking people has consistently come from the Rossbach camp over a period of oh- as long as Rossbach has been around. If you really want to see character assassination in action look up Rossbach protege John Nephew's web site. Now there's some positive stuff. When you sign off as Peter do you mean as in Peter Fisher? Peter is concerned about negative campaigns. Has anyone seen anything positive about Maplewood politics? And the only campaign that I have seen attacking people has consistently come from the Rossbach camp over a period of oh- as long as Rossbach has been around. If you really want to see character assassination in action look up Rossbach protege John Nephew’s web site. Now there’s some positive stuff.

When you sign off as Peter do you mean as in Peter Fisher?

]]> Comment on Welcome to VoteSmart09 by Ken Smart http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/comment-page-2/#comment-77 Ken Smart Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:20:23 +0000 http://votesmart09.com/blog/2009/07/26/welcome-to-votesmart09/#comment-77 Everyone - thank you for your support and encouragement!! With Dave's encouragement, DelRay and I have decided to officially mount a write-in campaign. We need not only your support, but we need you to email, text, talk to all of your friends, neighbors and get them to talk to their friends and neighbors and get them to write in Ken Smart for mayor, DelRay Rokke for council and fill in the oval for Dave for city council. It will be tough, but then if either of the other candidates get re-elected, we will just have more of the same for another four years - which will also be tough. Peter - I have not seen any hate piece attacking candidate Llanas so I cannot say whether it is a hate piece or if I condone it. I strongely endorse everyone's First Ammendment right to free speech. If it has untruths in it, then I do not condone it. Everyone – thank you for your support and encouragement!! With Dave’s encouragement, DelRay and I have decided to officially mount a write-in campaign. We need not only your support, but we need you to email, text, talk to all of your friends, neighbors and get them to talk to their friends and neighbors and get them to write in Ken Smart for mayor, DelRay Rokke for council and fill in the oval for Dave for city council. It will be tough, but then if either of the other candidates get re-elected, we will just have more of the same for another four years – which will also be tough.

Peter – I have not seen any hate piece attacking candidate Llanas so I cannot say whether it is a hate piece or if I condone it. I strongely endorse everyone’s First Ammendment right to free speech. If it has untruths in it, then I do not condone it.

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