Letter to the Editor: Send Gretchen Driskell to Lansing in November

Gretchen Driskell will help restore funding for education and keep our public schools working.

Dear Editor: Voters in the 52nd District have the rare opportunity to send to the state House of Representatives a candidate with superior qualifications. Gretchen Driskell has been mayor of Saline for 14 years, and re-elected seven times. My family and I have lived in the Saline School District all of that time. Our three girls went through the schools. At 70, I've seen many different systems. This one is outstanding. Saline property taxes have remained among the lowest of the county. We experienced Saline's civic pride (the parades, the recreation center, the Celtic Festival, the downtown decorations.)  There's no question why Saline was named one of the best small towns in America. It is not surprising to find out about the regularly …

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Letter to the Editor: Gretchen Driskell Will Fight for Education in Michigan

The Saline mayor cares about kids and understands the direct relationship between support for education and a local economy.

Dear Editor: I have had the honor of serving Saline both as its mayor and as a trustee of the Saline Area Schools. I have closely followed the career of Mayor Driskell as another public servant deeply concerned about quality public education. Gretchen has worked consistently and with purpose at enhancing the relationship between the community and its schools. She cares about kids and understands the direct relationship between support for education and a local economy. I was delighted to learn that Gretchen was willing to lend her talents and leadership as state representative. I hope that the electorate seizes the opportunity to bring her voice to Lansing for the benefit of our schools and students. The state will be as well served as the…

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AUDIO: On the Campaign Trail with Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell

The Democratic candidate for Michigan's 52nd House District shares her thoughts on issues facing Michigan ahead of the general election in November.

Dexter Patch is launching a new audio series profiling newsmakers in the community in order to connect our readers more intimately with local leaders. "In Their Words" will feature interviews with politicians, business owners, actors, entertainers, athletes, and ordinary citizens. The series continues this week with a conversation with Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell. Driskell has served as mayor of Saline since 1999 and is running against state Rep. Mark Ouimet of Scio Township for the 52nd House District in November. We caught up with Gretchen during Dexter Daze last week to discuss her views on education, gun control, and women's rights in Michigan. Driskell says she is running for the state seat because she feels Lansing is out of touch…

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AUDIO: On the Campaign Trail with State Rep. Mark Ouimet

The Scio Township resident shares his thoughts on issues facing Michigan ahead of the general election in November.

Dexter Patch is launching a new audio series profiling newsmakers in the community in order to connect our readers more intimately with local leaders. "In Their Words" will feature interviews with politicians, business owners, actors, entertainers, athletes, and ordinary citizens. The series kicks-off this week with a conversation with state Rep. Mark Ouimet. We caught up with Mark on the campaign trail following Tuesday's primary election in Michigan. Ouimet is the incumbent Republican representative serving the 52nd District, and will face Democrat Gretchen Driskell of Saline during the general election. Hear what the state representative has to say about the economy, jobs, and education before taking time to answer some of our readers' …

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Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell to Challenge Rep. Mark Ouimet for 52nd District Seat in November

Both candidates were unopposed in Tuesday's primary election according to unofficial election results from the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office.

Two candidates vying to represent the 52nd Michigan House District for the next two years were unopposed in their Aug. 7 primary races. State Rep. Mark Ouimet of Scio Township will face Democratic challenger Gretchen Driskell of Saline in November. "We've been working very hard doing a lot of door-to-door and direct campaigning in the district," Ouimet said Tuesday night. "A lot of constiuents are overwhelmingly pleased with the direction of leadership in Lansing. They see the turnaround from 14 percent unemployment two years ago to 8 1/2 percent, a better bond rating, and increased funding to pay down longterm debt. There's a lot of positive things happening for Michigan right now." With 116 of the 168 precincts reporting in at 11:30 p.m…

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Guest Column

Michigan House Ends Spring Session with Resounding Note

Lawmakers continue to work together to help make government more accountable to constituents.

The Michigan House ended its spring session last week on a resounding note by approving landmark legislation to help direct more funding into public school classrooms and give all Michigan taxpayers needed tax relief. The measure to put more money into our classrooms reforms the Michigan Public School Employees' Retirement System, which unfortunately has liabilities of more than $45 billion. Schools will ultimately have to pay for this enormous debt. Many people may not realize that our public schools currently pay 27 percent of their total payroll, on average, into the employee retirement system. These payments could increase as high as 35 percent if nothing is done to help schools.  Under the House-approved plan, public school employees …

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Ouimet, Driskell Differ on Abortion Legislation

Rep. Mark Ouimet said legislation passed Wednesday is designed to protect a woman's health, while Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell said the legislation takes health care decisions away from women and doctors.

The Michigan House, divided mostly along party lines, passed new regulations for abortion providers June 13. The legislation requires more malpractice insurance for any providers who've lost two lawsuits, regulates the disposal of fetal remains, requires that abortion clinics be licensed as surgical centers and prohibits doctors from prescribing the RU-486 abortion pill over the Internet. Rep. Mark Ouimet, R-Scio Township, voted for the legislation, saying it was a vote for women's health. "Far from being 'right-wing,' this legislation was approved by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including six Democrats. No matter where you stand on the abortion issue, you'd hope everyone could agree that women who do decide to have an abortion should …

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BettyS

10:21 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012

Is this the same D. Friese who finished last when running for Saline school board and was solely a voice for the MEA and not the students? I am then not surprised that he would support Driskell who will attempt to make this election based only on social issues where it is only the economy and jobs that are the concern. It is unfortunate that those that who support Driskell long for the failed …   more ›

Guest Column

Our Priorities are Students and Parents, Above All

Cyberschools give options to Michigan students and parents who don't enjoy the kind of schools we have in Washtenaw County.

Last May, Michigan's economy was in dire straits and the state's revenue picture was bleak. We faced an estimated $1.4 billion state budget shortfall and an unemployment rate of more than 10 percent. The Legislature knew it had to make some tough but necessary decisions to help strengthen our economy, improve our budget picture and get the state out of its recession.  The simple truth was that we had to act. Continued delays could have put our children and grandchildren on the hook for immense debt, jeopardizing their future and forcing them to leave our state in greater numbers.  Now, 12 months later, jobs are being created by the thousands, our unemployment rate has fallen to a level not seen in almost four years, and we find ourselves …

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Good Morning Saline, From Gretchen Driskell

Today's greeting is from Mayor Driskell, who kicked off her campaign for the state house Tuesday night with more than 70 supporters at Mangiamo's.

Today's Good Morning Saline is from Gretchen Driskell. Saline's longest-serving mayor kicked off her campaign for the state house with a party at Mangiamo's Tuesday night. Driskell, running as a member of the Democratic Party, hopes to unseat incumbent Mark Ouimet, a Republican Party candidate who resides in Scio Township.

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Driskell Running For State Representative

Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell will kick off her campaign for state representative with a party at Mangiamo's Tuesday.

Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell is running to represent the 52nd District in the Michigan House of Representatives. Driskell, who has been mayor of Saline since 1999, will run as a Democratic Party candidate against incumbent Mark Ouimet, the Republican from Scio Township. She will kick off her campaign with a party at Mangiamo's Italian Grill at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 27 in downtown Saline. "As a community volunteer and the Mayor of Saline since 1999, it has been my honor to help create a place we are proud to call home. As a realtor and mom, I know from personal experience the hard times many Michiganders are facing and I want to help turn this state around," wrote Driskell in an announcement posted on Facebook. "That is why I am running …

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