The Observation Deck

Tom Bullock has chosen to throw his hat in the ring for State Senate.

I'm finding it disappointing that the people who ran so hard to represent the citizens of this city are, in reality, using their new position as a stepping stone to bigger things.

So much for commitment to the citizens of Lakewood.

Diane Helbig wrote:Tom Bullock has chosen to throw his hat in the ring for State Senate.

I'm finding it disappointing that the people who ran so hard to represent the citizens of this city are, in reality, using their new position as a stepping stone to bigger things.

So much for commitment to the citizens of Lakewood.

Well I guess he is just finished with everything he promised.
• Crime gone (except for the graffiti collection on his facebook page)
• Streets Clean
• Streets Safe
• Cut senior services
• Made dogs illegal
• Made sure chickens would never be legal

Of course, it is probably for the best. If they are just moving through then move on through.

Please do not leave a twenty on the dresser,
it will just make me feel more used than I do now.


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Mayor Mike White of Cleveland fame was a former state senator. and he turned out fine

Hey good luck Tom. I know you are partial to cities like ours. Hopefully you will be elected. Lakewood will be better off it you are....

Oh and from what I can tell, Tom has decided to run in the House, not the Senate, Diane. Which puts him into a seat left open by Mike Skindell, who is term limited out. Not against Dale Miller.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

And I wish Mike good luck to in whatever is his next endeavor. Mike was a supporter for my neighborhood when he was a Lakewood councilperson. Just like Tom is now.

Tim Liston wrote:Which puts him into a seat left open by Mike Skindell, who is term limited out. Not against Dale Miller.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

And I wish Mike good luck to in whatever is his next endeavor.

you got this right.

peace

I'm always amazed at how negative people are towards those who choose to try and move up the career ladder.

I'm betting almost everyone does the same thing in their job.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:I'm always amazed at how negative people are towards those who choose to try and move up the career ladder.

I'm betting almost everyone does the same thing in their job.

Bryan

Maybe some of us expected others to keep their word, when it was told to us.

Did many of us expect Tom to move on, sure, young aggressive, and obviously looking towards HIS future. But maybe, just maybe some of us believe what he told us over beer, and or coffee.

Maybe just maybe some of us asked him how long he was sticking around.

Then maybe, just maybe he could actually build some credentials.

Maybe my problem is I really like Tom Bullock the man, and am starting to really dislike Tom Bullock the politician.

I know of at least two people running for this seat from Lakewood. Maybe 3 or more. I would think two of them have much deeper roots and love for the city than the other. Which would negate Tim's comment.

Today someone said to me, "Well he is a politician, do you really expect politicians to keep their word?" My answer was "Yes."

I also know of two Lakewood politicians, that have not taken the route up but have chosen to stay in Lakewood, and not take county or higher office when they could because of their dedication to Lakewood and the immediate issues. One even went so far as to say, "it would be unfair to the city and the schools to take the job I was offered."

So Bryan, please do not judge, and throw the negative blanket on everything, or jump on me so quickly. Tom had all but assured me that announcement would not come as fast as it did. For that I am once again sorely disappointed with someone in politics.

FWIW

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I’m not really amazed. There are a lot of people out there who are selfish. They support what the person can do for them rather than support the person. Sometimes the timing doesn’t work out well for the residents and that’s ok with me. Good luck Tom!

There are also many good quality people who would be willing to run for Tom’s seat if it weren’t for the cost involved. As a person with much wisdom said to me last week, it’s always easier for the incumbent to win re-election than a challenger to win. So if he leaves in mid-term, the appointee to replace him will have a leg up when his term expires.

Bryan,

I agree with you. Voters often complain because a politician doesn't have experience. Well how does one get it unless they spend some time in government in differing roles? How is a person ever prepared to get to the farthest stone if they don't step on some along the way? I think the key is to leave the stone in a better condition then which you received it.

Yet I think there are some key differences with Bullock. The guy has been in Lakewood for about five minutes (yes, I am exagerrating slightly). I think there is something about that that makes Lakewoodites like myself and Diane a bit queasy. This was the same sentiment felt by many when Fitz talked of jumping ship. NEWSFLASH GUYS, the job is not done here. In addition, Bullock really has no substantive record to speak of. So he will have to find a way to make a compelling case that he is more qualified then people like Councilpersons Antonio, Dever, or Summers, Madigan, or Butler.

I heard this morning that some Lakewood Democrats are talking of recall. See this section of the city charter ARTICLE XXII. RECALL

It basically requires:

1) Bullock serve at least one year in office (he has)
2) Petition signed by 25% of total valid votes cast in the last election for that office (709 valid signatures)
3) Signatures must be collected within 30 days of the issuance of the petition papers by the Clerk of Council.
4) The Clerk has 10 days to certify.
5) The Committee gets 20 more days if insufficient signatures are filed the first time.

Ryan Patrick Demro wrote:Bryan,

I agree with you. Voters often complain because a politician doesn't have experience. Well how does one get it unless they spend some time in government in differing roles? How is a person ever prepared to get to the farthest stone if they don't step on some along the way? I think the key is to leave the stone in a better condition then which you received it.

Yet I think there are some key differences with Bullock. The guy has been in Lakewood for about five minutes (yes, I am exagerrating slightly). I think there is something about that that makes Lakewoodites like myself and Diane a bit queasy. This was the same sentiment felt by many when Fitz talked of jumping ship. NEWSFLASH GUYS, the job is not done here. In addition, Bullock really has no substantive record to speak of. So he will have to find a way to make a compelling case that he is more qualified then people like Councilpersons Antonio, Dever, or Summers, Madigan, or Butler.

Ryan, I could not have said it better. My main problem is that he hasn't served in this current role long enough to
a. make a real difference in our community
b. have experience to talk about when campaigning.

i'm disappointed.

I've come to know Tom Bullock fairly well since he came on the stage here in Lakewood, and I think quite highly of him.

I did not agree with a number of his positions regarding local issues, (and still don't) but I personally like the man.

I would not presume to second guess Tom's motivation, if he is deciding to move on in his career, but I would like to offer a general observation.

It's been written on other threads about public employees, particularly in the field of education, that they perhaps could take less money. It has been my argument that this could well result in a talent flight out of our city, were it to happen.

Well, here in Lakewood, both Council and the Mayor take very little public money, relative to many surrounding communities. Granted that Council is considered a part-time job, but in my opinion, salaries received by Council or the Mayor for services received here are simply abysmal.

It is therefore no wonder to me that any Lakewood public official might look to move on, just as soon as they possibly could do so.

To me, it seems to be a simple economic reality.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:I'm always amazed at how negative people are towards those who choose to try and move up the career ladder.

I'm betting almost everyone does the same thing in their job.

I'm disappointed by Councilman Bullocks decision to seek higher office at this time.

I suspected that Tom had higher political goals than a seat on Lakewood City Council but I voted for him in the general election anyway. However, I had hoped that he would have run for higher office based on a foundaton of service to the community over a period of more than one term in council.

Perhaps the lesson here is that the candidate who deserves our support is the candidate who is committed to Lakewood over the long term and not the candidate who sees Lakewood as a stepping stone.

Its a strange and wonderful thing when Mr Call and I agree. Even stranger and more wondefuller when I agree with both him and Mr OBryan.
I do think it would be very inappropriate for Mr Bullock to seek higher office after fulfilling less than half his term on ciity council.

Dee Martinez wrote:Its a strange and wonderful thing when Mr Call and I agree. Even stranger and more wondefuller when I agree with both him and Mr OBryan.
I do think it would be very inappropriate for Mr Bullock to seek higher office after fulfilling less than half his term on city council.

Dee

It is rare when we all align, but I find those moments to be moments of clarity for this Deck and Lakewood.

What upsets me, and/or worries me is EVERYTHING done by Tom now has to be looked at much more closer. Did he do this for his briefly adopted city, or as I have often wondered aloud, and to him and other politicians, "Are you merely using the city I love to create bullet points in your next campaign literature?"

So in the very short amount of time that Tom has been on council, we have banned dogs, we have collected tagging, we have gotten rid of backyard trash pick-up, and cut senior and social services, made recycling mandatory for residents but not the city. A completely different Lakewood, than it was 3 years ago. For what end?

Or, what was the quote from your council campaign manager? Oh that is right, "... it is like a gift from God." Divine intervention?

Brian

I have thought about your statement a lot yesterday and today. I know many, many people that have chosen to do a job well and finish it, instead of going for the raise and the promotion.

The more I thought about it, the more and more I realized how many I know.

After the election, maybe I can publish a list of who is giving up what to
stay where they are or finish a job. I even know some people that are retiring or have retired early, to help this city finish a job. It is one of the things that I love about this city.

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