Dan Shields - Campaign for Change

[Charlie Page]

Dan,
I appreciate your answers. However, I also asked...

What would you have done differently if you were on City Council the last couple years?

[Bill Call]

As for wage cuts, I believe that the cuts should also be made at the top. I think the mayor and members of his administration should accept cuts as well, before asking that other city employees are laid off or are asked to make wage concessions.

Thanks for the answers. My questions might seem harsh but I don't mean them to be. (at least not in this case).

The Mayor and council haven't had raises in 20 years. Most non union positions in the City have had various wage freeezes in affect over the years while union employees have seen an almost non-stop series of raises over the same period. Is it fair to ask for more concessions from those who have sacrificed a great deal just to get those who have sacrificed nothing to sacrifice almost nothing?

Do you think it would be fair simply to pay each City position the same salary that was paid three years ago? That way those who haven't had a raise won't be asked to sacrifice even more.

I guess I have to agree with you on the budget. The previous administration did nothing to control spending or seek better management. Since most current members of council were on council during that time they must shoulder some of the blame. However, it is the mayor and not the council that sets the agenda.

Do you support the changes made in the Fire Department operations? Those changes have saved $1 million per year.

What actions taken by the current administration do you agree with? Which do you disagree with?

[Gary Rice]

I've been watching this thread with great interest.

While, on the one hand, one can certainly appreciate citizens needing to know about a candidate's position regarding various issues, this particular interchange has got me scratching my head a bit.

You might think that Dan was being considered for....Supreme Court justice...

Dan, I'm GLAD you are running!

Just tell us how you'd fill up those new 96 gallon dumpsters of ours.

Back to the banjo...

[Bill Call]

While, on the one hand, one can certainly appreciate citizens needing to know about a candidate's position regarding various issues, this particular interchange has got me scratching my head a bit.

You might think that Dan was being considered for....Supreme Court justice...

Dan, I'm GLAD you are running!

I can't speak for the others but I don't know why he is running. Are there policies he doesn't agree with? Is one of the three sitting members of council ineffective? What policies of this administration does he agree with? Which does he disagree with? What policies would he implement that are not being considered?

On the other hand the fact that he is willing to open up this discussion and leave himself open to public scrutiny makes me more likely to vote for him in the event that one of the three current members choose not to run.

[Thealexa Becker]

I have to side with Mr. Call on this issue.

I agree that it is fantastic that a candidate is making themselves so available to the public. However, Mr. Call has posted an extensive and thorough list of reasonable questions as well as a general query as to what specifically made Mr. Shields wish to run. I have yet to see that whole list addressed.

And I am also confused as to why anyone is running for a seat if they feel there just needs to be general change.

Perhaps there needs to be some clarity from Mr.Shields as well as some specificity. But props to him for walking into the lions den. This thread was starting to get vicious.

[Charlie Page]

While, on the one hand, one can certainly appreciate citizens needing to know about a candidate's position regarding various issues, this particular interchange has got me scratching my head a bit.

You might think that Dan was being considered for....Supreme Court justice...

When someone campaigns on change, it’s a fair question to ask what they would have done differently. No?

Bill’s questions seem fair to me as well. I don’t personally know Dan or where he stands on certain issues.

I’m happy Dan has chosen the Deck to announce his candidacy and field some questions. On occasion, posts can seem somewhat vicious but its all in how you read the question. Maybe we should all put smiley faces at the end of each question to indicate we are not pouncing but merely asking a question?

[Christopher Bindel]

Charlie is right, that is one major problem with asking tough questions on here. You can come off mean and malicious when you are really just curious. I do indeed like the smiley idea, although just slightly impractical.

[Bill Call]

Perhaps there needs to be some clarity from Mr.Shields as well as some specificity. But props to him for walking into the lions den. This thread was starting to get vicious.

I was at the Taste of Lakewood on Sunday. I talked to Nickie Antonio for a couple of minutes just to thank her for making the tough decisions. She indicated that the current members of council gets along quite well.

Now, just as a wild guess I'd say Ms. Antonio and I don't agree on one single issue outside of her actions on council. However, since I think she and Dever and Powers are doing a good job I don't see any reason to oppose her just because. I might even give her a campaign contribution at her upcoming 31st birthday celebration

I appreciate Mr. Shields willingness to openly discuss his campaign. However, he is running against three incumbants. If he thinks they have made the wrong decisions or that some are running for reelection only to abandon the office next year to run for something else he should come out and say so. Then I can see a plausible reason for his candidacy. Of course he might only be running against two incumbants. In that case I might consider voting for him. Especially since he HAS started this discussion.

Until then I intend to dance with them that brung me and not change horses in the middle of the stream.

[sharon kinsella]

Because of Mike Dever stepping down, I now support Dan Shields campaign in addition to Nickie Antonio's.

Last night's Dem's meeting was interesting, to say the least.

[dl meckes]

I'm glad Dan is running. I became a fan of his during the race for Ward 2 council.

(That's just my opinion and it has nothing to do with any association I may or may not have with the Lakewood Observer, the Observation Deck, or any Observer project past, present and future.)

[Bill Call]

Because of Mike Dever stepping down, I now support Dan Shields campaign in addition to Nickie Antonio's.

Will they pledge to complete the entire four year term or are they keeping the seat warm for a secret someone?

[sharon kinsella]

Don't know about that Bill.

Will you pledge to not take a promotion or pay raise for the next four years?

[Charlie Page]

Because of Mike Dever stepping down, I now support Dan Shields campaign in addition to Nickie Antonio's.

Will they pledge to complete the entire four year term or are they keeping the seat warm for a secret someone?

As for a council term...I'm willing to state that if elected I would serve out the entire four year term.