The Observation Deck

There is now serious doubt that John Morrison is a real person.

I had given John as we have done with others time to prove he is a real person
and as of now the deadline has passed, but he has found time to post again.

This website is run by citizens and volunteers that believe one real name, one real voice.

I would hope that well all take this very seriously,and also really weigh out what would
a low blow it is to transparency and honesty that has become the standards here.

So while we are finding it hard for some real politicians to find their voice on this new
internet thing. Let's also think of who and why some would lie and cheat all of us of
the transparency and honesty we all signed up for.

Observers deserve better, Lakewood deserves much better.

It is pitiful.

Vote for honesty, transparency, and council members that can actually converse
with others and use that new internet thingy.

.
Sometimes when you smell a rat, Google can confirm it.

From an Independent voter, with references…

* MISLEADING: Hiding his party affiliation is part of his game; see comments [1]
* DECEPTIVE: Strongly for nonpartisan elections (now considered racist by the U.S. Department of Justice) [2]
* PERSONALLY IRRESPONSIBLE – sued for causing motor vehicle injury by being reckless [3]
* FALSELY CLAIMS “LIFELONG” RESIDENCY – see the lawsuit above for his NORTH RIDGEVILLE address and then see his own website for the claim [4]
* NOT COMMITTED TO COUNCIL – ran for mayor (lost in primary), ran for state rep (lost in landslide) [5, 6]
* UNLAWFUL: illegal campaign signs were on I-90 exit; removed only after complaints, without apology [7]
* ANTI-GAY: Wanted to dissociate his church from the Episcopal Church over its election of one openly gay bishop [8]
* ANTI-GAY: Trashed gay rights, quite literally, wanting rainbow flag moved to city’s refuse dump. Wow… [9, 10]
* ANTI-GAY (See a trend?): Told Plain Dealer council should not honor people for "something they do in the bedroom." [11]
* ANTI-HUMAN RIGHTS: Voted against “Dignity of Human Rights Pride Week” resolution [11]
* UNSUPPORTIVE OF SENIOR CITIZEN RIGHTS: Only one on council voting NO on a resolution encouraging Congress to protect our Social Security system [12]
* “WORST SUBSTITUTE TEACHER EVER”: TEACHER RATING = 1.7 out of 10 [13]
* “reminds me of a creepy, young richard Nixon” – ouch… but, sums it up [1]



1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uyk-5e4yI4

2: http://www.kinston.com/news/department- ... iting.html

3: http://cpdocket.cp.cuyahogacounty.us/TOS.aspx - search docket for Ryan Demro

4: http://ryandemro.com/record/

5: http://carrollforlakewood.blogspot.com/ ... chive.html

6: http://www.smartvoter.org/2002/11/05/oh ... ative.html

7: http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/v ... f=7&t=8453

8: http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stor ... 3oct24.htm

9: http://www.jerryandmartha.com/red/2004/ ... trick.html

10: http://interested-participant.blogspot. ... chive.html

11: http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stor ... 4jun11.htm

12: http://www.lkwdpl.org/city/cc/mt050404.htm

13: http://www.ratemyteachers.com/ryan-demro/1027509-t



In an educated, diverse, cosmopolitan, progressive city such as Lakewood, Ohio, we cannot stand for this. This sort of candidate must be encouraged to move away by yet another election failure.



JUST SAY NO

TO DEMRO

There is now serious doubt that John Morrison is a real person.

I had given John as we have done with others time to prove he is a real person
and as of now the deadline has passed, but he has found time to post again.

This website is run by citizens and volunteers that believe one real name, one real voice.

I would hope that well all take this very seriously,and also really weigh out what would
a low blow it is to transparency and honesty that has become the standards here.

So while we are finding it hard for some real politicians to find their voice on this new
internet thing. Let's also think of who and why some would lie and cheat all of us of
the transparency and honesty we all signed up for.

Observers deserve better, Lakewood deserves much better.

It is pitiful.

Vote for honesty, transparency, and council members that can actually converse
with others and use that new internet thingy.

John,

I wasn't going to bother responding to this as it is typically the kind of garbage politics that completely turns me off. For the fun of it, the "rate my teacher" link peaked my interest. So I clicked.
I'm supposed to base my decision for or against Ryan Demro on a website that students use to rate a substitute teacher? Really? That's laughable and completely discredits your whole post. My decision to vote for or not vote for Demro for council will stay with me. Posts of this nature do nothing to sway my opinion or beliefs. Probably more the opposite.

This is pretty comical, but for what it's worth, we gave Demro hell every time we had him as a sub in middle school and the early high school years. One of the issues that I always brought up when he was running for mayor is that he can't handle a class of 25 middle school kids, imagine him handling a city of 55,000 residents. But then again, being a teacher certainly isn't as easy as it looks.

Ivor Karabatkovic wrote:This is pretty comical, but for what it's worth, we gave Demro hell every time we had him as a sub in middle school and the early high school years.

That says nothing about Demro and everything about you.

The onslaught continues. Here are two professional assessments of my teaching from two well-respected teachers at Lakewood High School

Two more in case anyone wants to tear those people to shreds.

Ryan those are student teacher recommendations, not teaching as in a job, recommendations.

Bill,

Did you see where Ivor said Middle School? It is the responsibility of the teacher to order the classroom, not the student. If Ivor had been that disruptive, other teachers would have reported it and he would be handled accordingly. Not the case Bill.

I thought it was a child's job to make the subs job a nightmare. Or is that just me? *giggles* (I was a good kid in school and never ever had a detention...just liked to pick on the teachers!!!)

I think it's safe to say that Demro will get elected to his council seat, and I hope he does. Unlike some of the other lemmings in public office currently, he's actually done a few things while being a Ward 2 Councilman. When I think of city council in general, I think of politicians getting re-elected because they don't do anything...and follow the leaders and vote together as a group.

Demro doesn't fall in that category, which is a positive for me. There are others on council now that don't fall in that group either, and I think it would be positive for Lakewood if we had a council made up of individuals, who speak their minds and voice the concerns of their constituents. I like cage-rattlers.

When you talk issues with the guy, he knows his stuff. His knowledge on local issues can't be taken away from him, he's worked hard.

Would I vote for him for mayor? Not in a million years. Would I vote for him for council? Yes. Two different jobs, with completely different qualifications.

I'm one of the few Lakewood residents who are extremely happy with their Ward rep. I'm in ward 3, and I personally don't care if Demro is elected or not, because I wouldn't go to him if I had an issue anyway. If there are any ward 2 residents who voiced their concerns to Ryan when he was still in council, I think it'd be great if they shared their experience on his effectiveness and assertiveness, because I can't comment on it. I can only comment on the Ryan Demro that I know as a person and as a substitute teacher.

Sharon, call David Pannell, Administrator at 421-7517 and as him how I did at LSC for the 2.5 years I worked there.

Bill,

When you're 14 and have a substitute teacher squealing at you and your classmates in a high pitched voice, I think the natural "survival of the fittest" instinct kicks in. We used to look forward to having him as a sub, because that meant we had recess in the middle of the day.

If it makes you feel any better, I'll buy him a shiny red apple and thank him for all he's done.

Missy, we didn't treat all of our substitutes horribly. The rest were great and were eventually able to get permanent teaching jobs in the district....and they still teach here.

I'll add that this thread is ridiculous, and I wish Ryan the best of luck tomorrow and in the future. He has my vote for council. He'd become a local council member, not the President of the United States. I don't recall a council member having the power to change the US Constitution, so relax people. We need leaders who are willing to think progressively on local issues.

By the way, are local political campaigns allowed to give out cellphone numbers to other campaigns? As in, if a local politician was helping another get elected, would that politician be allowed to give out a number of a resident so that the new politician's campaign could call them and ask to do a lit drop, etc. on the weekend?

I know email/newsletter lists can't be given out. Wondering if it applies to numbers as well.

Just wondering.

All of us certainly represent differing points of views, and have differing perspectives on those things that matter to us in an election cycle.

As a former Political Science honors graduate, and as one who follows Lakewood politics, I may or may not disagree with a number of Mr. Demro's positions, but on the whole, I have found him to be an intelligent, sincere and articulate person, and certainly worthy of consideration in this election; at least in my honest opinion.

This statement is not intended to imply a personal endorsement for Ryan, or for any other candidate.

As for substitute teachers? Their job is a challenging, but extremely important one. All too often, however, their effectiveness depends on the plans left for them by the regular teachers. Students need to continually be reminded to support their teachers and the learning process. There is no excuse for not following a teacher's instructions, regardless of which teacher is directing an activity.

Ivor this is my experience with Ryan as a council person.

I met Ryan back during the skatepark days. He was the only politician in this city to step up and say "you can't go back on your word". I thank him for that as the skatepark has been used and used and used some more by my family, although not by me personally. I lived in ward 2 for several years. I had a few issues over those years and Ryan helped to get them addressed. One was a traffic issue at Grant elementary. Once again Ryan stepped up when no one at city hall or the police department would give us the time of day. Ryan also stepped up when my parents (ward 3 residents) had an issue with railroad debris. I called him about their problem and he immediately called Dennis Kucinich and the problem was taken care of within 48 hours. Also several years back Ryan was nice enough to give my husbands cub scout pack a tour of city hall. The tour was scheduled over a school holiday so that the kids could see city hall in action. Unfortunately the then mayor (George) didn't like this for whatever reason. Ryan tried to reason with him saying it would be a good civics lesson for the kids to see the action first hand but he said no and restricted them from going into any city offices. That was some of the ridiculous crap he dealt with during the prior administration.

So that is what I had to add, this is my personal experience with Ryan as my ward council person. I found him to be cordial and very attentive.

Thank you Danielle for sharing your experience.

We would get much farther by having discussions like this and sharing experiences. You can't really choose who to vote for by reading mailers. Real life stories are much more credible than a politicians word, whether it be about himself or about the person they are running against.

I agree completely Ivor. Deeds are so much more important than party affiliation. All I want is to have council people that actually do stuff for their community not just say they do and that has been my prior experience with Ryan. And especially with my parents he could have very easily done what their ward council person did and ignore them but not only did he help them but he called Kucinich because he knew that is who would be able to take care of their problem.