Does Campaign History Repeat Itself?

It is interesting to see in Ruth Ann’s past campaign ads that there are some old issues that are applicable to the Election in 2008.

Full Time Pay for Full Time Work

In a 1976 campaign advertisement for Ruth Ann when she was running for Ypsilanti Township Treasurer, the main title read “You Deserve a Full Time Treasurer”.  This ad could be updated to read for the 2008 election “You Deserve Full Time Elected Officials”.  Ruth Ann is on the job daily performing her duties and serving the residents of Ypsilanti Township as their elected Supervisor.

The township Civic Center is open from 9-5pm.  If a full time elected official is out campaigning during the work day, they are not on the job performing their elected duties.  Given the current economic climate in our community how many residents have the luxury of not reporting to work for the full work day for more than one month?  If you are wondering Where’s Ruth Ann?  She’s working for you during the work day and beyond on most days.

Tricky “Sample Ballots”

In another ad for Ruth Ann’s 1976 campaign, it reads “THIS ELECTION – DON’T BE MISLEAD BY TRICKY SAMPLE BALLOTS.  MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE.  THE CHOICE IS YOURS.  HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH? THIS TIME BE RIGHT!  I TRUST YOU – YOU CAN TRUST ME.”

During this 2008 campaign, there is a tricky “sample ballot” that was mailed to absentee voters and in many cases arrived in the mail the very same day as the actual absentee ballots.  Today, the word tricky should probably be replaced with misleading, inappropriate, and unethical. 

This 2008 “sample ballot” raises very serious concerns regarding the integrity of the election process in Ypsilanti Township and those individuals elected to insure the integrity of our elections.  Why would any candidate subject the voters of Ypsilanti Township to this style of campaign literature?  Voters need real information to make informed decisions not tricks or gimmicks.

Ruth Ann has trusted the intelligence of Ypsilanti Township voters for the past 32 years.  She knows that informed residents create stronger communities.  She respects the voters and is not seeking to be re-elected based on tricks, gimmicks, or misinformation.