Page 10 THE COMMUNITY CRIER: October 23,1996 Political newcomer Hoadley tries to unseat La w in 20th State House race to serve Plymouths, Northvilles BY JANET ARMSTRONG In the race for the 20th District State Representative seat, middle-of-the-road Democrat Deborah Hoadley is attempting to defeat Republican incumbent Gerald Law. government. Who’s trying to balance out their problems?” Law said he does not agree with a gas tax, saying the problem with the roads is not strictly a state problem. “It’s not just the state. I don’t think Wayne County has given us priority,” he said. The 20th District includes Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Northville, Northville Township and Livonia.
Hoadley said her biggest concern is the education the communities’ children are receiving. “Funding for education in this district is at risk,” she said. “This district doesn’t have an option to vote in a millage. A newcomer to politics, Hoadley, a resident of Plymouth Township, has mounted a campaign focused on education, crime and the roads. While Law, also from the Township, is running on his experience and accomplishments as the state representative from 1983-1991 and 1994- present. The two candidates talked about the issues facing The Plymouth-Canton Community.
“Education is such a priority to me.” Law agreed with the importance of education and said that educational funding will be tight in the future. “Proposal A didn’t leave any options for local schools,” said Law. “To extend the three mills (from Proposal A) locally you would need three quarters vote of the legislature, which is almost impossible. “I would like to sit on the transportation board,” said Hoadley. “Why are our roads not being repaired? “Education is going to change because of a lack of funding,” Law added. “We really lost a lot when we lost the three mills.” Democrat Deborah Hoadley hopes to unseat State Rep. Gerry Law for the 20th Michigan House seat on Nov. 5.
(Crier photo by R. Alwood Jr.) “I see trucks with payloads of 165,000 pounds on the road. Our roads can’t handle that.” business to work with prisoners. They need to have jobs after they get out. It’s a two-fold thing.” Hoadley added that part of the problem is that we need tougher laws guiding the out-of-state leasing agencies. In her campaign literature, Hoadley lists crime prevention as something that will be a priority. Law said that it has been a priority for him already. require the DNA testing of individuals who are convicted of sexually motivated crimes.” Hoadley said that sentences should be carried out fully.
“They (persons convicted of crimes) know they’re not going to serve their whole sentence,” said Hoadley. “Prisoners need to know that if they do the crime, they’re going to do the time. We need to cage criminals in.” Law cited his experience as the reason he deserves the vote. “My experience in having served in local as well as state government makes me the right candidate,” said Law. “We should be addressing that, making sure that they’re paying Michigan taxes,” she said. “I’ve supported state funding for the building of new prisons,” said Law. Hoadley said that she would be in favor of a gas tax. Hoadley said it is her community involvement that makes her the right candidate.
“My involvement with the schools, involvement with the sheriff’s department and my compassion for small business,” she said. “I just feel I would be a better candidate. I feel I would best represent this community.” Search bottom of ballot for City street improvement issue He said he was also a supporter of the first new juvenile prison in the state. Law is the cosponsor of House Bill 4723, which establishes juvenile boot camps. Law said he has also sponsored and co-sponsored bills that would “tag” sex offenders. “The problem of road funding is one that has been debated for years,” said Law. “There are a lot of things to do before you think about raising taxes.
That’s not to say that Hoadley doesn’t believe in rehabilitation. She said that in order for it to happen, though, the business community needs to become involved. “The big thing on gas taxes are why are we sending so much to the federal “I sponsored the bill for tagging of violent criminals,” he said. “It would “They must have opportunities for rehabilitation,” she said. “We need BY JANET ARMSTRONG City of Plymouth residents will find one thing added to their ballots Nov. 5 — the Street Improvement Bonding Proposition. Walters,.
“We’re going to send out another flier.” If the bond proposal is passed by the voters, it would replace the special assessment districts that the City has used in the past to improve the roads. “Two property owners didn’t even know about it and it’s going to cost one of them about $8,000 a year.” Not everyone wants the millage to pass. “Living on Mill Street (which is a Wayne County road) I guess it would just be a little frustrating paying the same as everyone else,” said City Commissioner Doug Miller.
“All we can tell these people is, ‘Yeah, maybe we can get something done’.” If the proposition is approved, it would give the City the ability to borrow up to $12 million and issue one or more series of its unlimited tax bonds to pay for the cost of improving, repairing, constructing and paving public streets. Under the special assessments, when a street was paved, the homeowners living on that street were assessed 75 percent of street frontage cost and 37.5 percent of side street frontage costs. According to The Plymouth Courier, the City’s newsletter, no more than two mills would be levied in additional taxes for this program.
According to Del Templeton, a City resident, the bond proposalis the best way for the City to go. Because the passage of the millage would mean that all City homeowners would pay, those individuals that live on County roads may wonder how they would benefit. “The people that would favor staying with special assessment districts are the ones that wouldn’t pay anyway,” said Walters. “When the County makes improvements the City pays a local share. Ironically the people on County roads will be paid for by millage.” “I’m pro passage of the millage,” said Templeton. “The reason I feel it should pass is it is fair and equitable to everyone.
“We’re stopping to let voters have the choice (of how to improve the streets),” said Steve Walters, City manager. “If the bond passes and you have a SEV (state equalized value) of $75,000 to $100,000, it’s going to cost you about $150-$200 a year.” If you’re not familiar with this proposal don’t feel bad. According to property owner Jim McKeon, there are a lot of people with very little information. Templeton added that the money is also tax deductible with the bond proposal, whereas it is not with special assessments. If the millage doesn’t pass, and according to Walters that is a real possibility, then the City will continue with the special assessments.
“The ballot itself is a disadvantage,” said Walters. “People have to go out of their way to vote on it (it’s the last proposal on the ballot). “The City Commission doesn’t want to talk about it,” said McKeon. “I feel that if they (homeowners) don’t have all the information they can’t make a good decision.” McKeon said that although he supports the proposal for homeowners, he worries about the commercial and industrial owners in the City. Walters agreed that there hasn’t been enough information on the proposal. “Overall I do think it’s a good idea,” he said. “But I think it puts an undo burden on the commercial and industrial taxpayer without them knowing it.
“The commission indicated (if the proposal doesn’t pass) that they would continue with the special assessment program.” “No (there hasn’t been enough information),” said