The Observation Deck

I just happened to come across an interesting bit of information today....that is public record at the County Board of Elections I might add.
There is only four people as of today, that have pulled petitions to run for mayor.

Thomas J. George
Edward FitzGerald
Jeffrey Baka
James O'Bryan

It's to my understanding that there seems to be a name or two missing from this list....All though the dead line is July 19th, that is fast approaching.

Any thoughts????[/b]

Question:

I registered to vote and can even find my information on the board of elections website. But I never received a voter card or anything confirming my registration went through.

Do I need that card to vote or can I vote without it and have my ID serve as the card?

I look forward to participating in the next election

Suzie Dean wrote: Thomas J. George
Edward FitzGerald
Jeffrey Baka
James O'Bryan

You can probably take off Baka and O'Bryan as not viable choices.

Am I to understand Ryan Patrick Demro is not on the list?

This is not a comment on the three real candidates, but Jeff and myself.

One problem I have noticed with the electioral system, the bar is set two low. It is easier to get on the ballot for mayor than it is to get a tattoo!

It was pretty surreal, you get your paperwork, you get all the signatures in an afternoon, along with endorsements, and people wanting to write you checks!

I was afraid I would wake up mayor, and, have it all on my shoulders!

Craziest four hours of my life.


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Ivor Karabatkovic wrote:Question:

I registered to vote and can even find my information on the board of elections website. But I never received a voter card or anything confirming my registration went through.

Do I need that card to vote or can I vote without it and have my ID serve as the card?

I look forward to participating in the next election

Nope, you don't need the card. Just your ID is fine.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Am I to understand Ryan Patrick Demro is not on the list?


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Well Jim, you saw the list. Four names on it, and his isn't one of them. As you said yourself it isn't that hard to do....easier then getting a tattoo I think your wording was....

I was just curious as to why the delay?

Let me put this to rest. Ryan Patrick Demro is running for Mayor.

The petitions are an administrative task of the campaign and I have them. I am proud to say that I am working actively with this campaign. In the 30+ years of working on campaigns in this town, I can tell you that I haven't been involved with a group that is so active, so energetic, and so positive about the possibilities and opportunities in Lakewood for a very long time. These young leaders are tired of the status quo, tired of managing decline, they want to embrace growth and lead. Young leaders are can do people. They have energy, and in this young leader's case, he has the intelligence to develop better strategies for management. Young leaders are team players and problem solvers. But most of all, they love this town and aren't ready to abandon it to tired ideas and business as usual.

In the meantime, you can find Ryan doing what he does best, listening and acting on behalf of the residents of Lakewood. Even as he runs for office, he continues to work to move Lakewood forward.

Thanks for asking and if you'd care to know more about our campaign:
ryandemro.com

or you can email or call me.

Suzanne Metelko

Ryan Demro - REAL Vision. REAL Leadership. REAL Results

Suzanne Metelko wrote:Let me put this to rest. Ryan Patrick Demro is running for Mayor.

Suzanne Metelko

Ryan Demro - REAL Vision. REAL Leadership. REAL Results

Suzanne


I was hoping this was your announcement to run for council!


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I think Ryan Patrick Demro is trying to keep his options open.

Once he files as a candidate for mayor he removes himself for running for re-election to council.

Hedging his bets?

FYI- You don't have to pull petitions for yourself, they can be annonymous, for other people, etc.

The number required is different depending on office running for and voter turnout. Since our last city election was around 24% the number is low. Most of the time gathering signatures is time consuming because you have to explain to people what it is.

It's not as easy as it sounds for some to get signatures. It would be easy for JO'B to get the 150 signatures because you actually know 150 people in Lakewood. Not everyone can say that.

PS- It is typical for experienced people to not officially file until the deadline. I have done it myself...it's makes it more fun somehow.

Colleen Wing wrote:It's not as easy as it sounds for some to get signatures. It would be easy for JO'B to get the 150 signatures because you actually know 150 people in Lakewood. Not everyone can say that.

Colleen

It takes on 50 signatures to run for mayor and only 25 for council. Now a person is encouraged to go over 50 to make sure he has 50 legal signatures but even 100 or 150 for a politician with a name such as Ryan Patrick Demro should be easy.

There had to be 100 at his announcement.

As Ryan is always speaking of how serious this is, and how the city needs better planning it just seems odd, the RPD would do it for fun or for lack of signatures or just let this fall through the cracks.

It will be interesting to look at the petition to see the dates of the last signatures. I would had thought Ryan had the support of more than 50, 100, and even 150 voters easily.

Lakewood needs openness in our serious look at our future and who will lead us.



FWIW


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Jim,

Are you joking? I wasn't talking about Ryan having trouble getting signatures. I was talking about circulated petitions in general.

I have always been taught to turn in petitions at the last possible second. That is how I have always seen it done, no matter what the office. There are a lot of different reasons for this.

In politico terms, to turn in petitions early says the exact opposite than being serious. A lot can happen in the world before a filing deadline.

Colleen Wing wrote:In politico terms, to turn in petitions early says the exact opposite than being serious. A lot can happen in the world before a filing deadline.

Colleen

I understand perfectly. I can see if you were unsure such as myself, who ended up at the Board of Elections desk, when there was some extra time after lunch. It was at best a bad joke, compared to the very serious discussion the city is looking for. I had thought when Ryan declared, he would have at least filed his petitions? This was one reason why I made it clear that I am probably not running.

It seems slightly disengeniosh, for a candidate to speak like a real candidate for mayor, and not have his signatures approved. Don't get me wrong, Ryan adds to the discussion. But "I think I will run for mayor" seems more in order. Again, this is a small thing.


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I still say he's hedging his bets.

But, we'll know for sure by Thursday what he's going to file for.

The discussion began with "pulled petitions" not "filed petitions".

How many have candidates have officially filed petitions?