Donna Schmitt Speech, Meet Barb White.. misc.

My name is Donna Schmitt and I am running for a seat on the city council. My husband and I have been married for 30 years. The first 7 years of our marriage we moved 7 times. It wasn’t until we found our house in Columbia Heights that we finally found a home and have now lived here for 23 years. I am very proud to live in Columbia Heights. This pride in my community is the reason I am running for Columbia Heights City Council. I have been watching our community change over the last several years. Neighbors have less time to get to know one another, the city government is passing more ordinances that are affecting residents and local businesses, and now we are seeing an alarming number of foreclosures in our community as is happening all over the country. As I look around, Columbia Heights is becoming less inviting for families to call home. I am running for city council so I can work to keep Columbia Heights ‘home’ for all of us. As your city council member, I am committed to reducing the role of government in all of our lives. I believe that we need more city ordinances passed with a sunset clause attached to them. This is especially important when there is a tax or fee involved. This will force the city council to review an ordinance for its continued value to our community. Having a sunset clause on ordinances is like having term limits on an ordinance. One of the reasons my family and I chose Columbia Heights as our home was the sense of community that we found in Columbia Heights. As your city council member, I am committed to being an active member of the council by representing our community. I have been on the Planning and Zoning Commission for 8 years representing the needs of the people who live here in Columbia Heights. I have been an active participant in city issues including being an opponent of the Residential Inspection Before Sale (RIBS) ordinance that was recently voted down at the July city council meeting. I will actively work hard every day to continue making Columbia Heights a safe place for our families and a place in which local businesses can continue to grow. As your city council member, I will encourage our city government to work hand in hand with community outreach organizations to help solve the issues that face our community. I have often learned that the community, and not local government, can come up with the some of the best solutions for problems we face together. We have seen great success when the community and the city work together. National Night Out is a great example of the residents and local outreach programs coming together to solve problems facing our community. SACA is another fine example of neighbors helping neighbors. Many of our local churches offer needy families assistance in many areas, food and clothing to even rent assistance. I would like to expand the role of the community in solving the issues facing the city instead of the city council trying to solve all the community’s issues. As a community we need to take ownership of our neighborhoods and be responsible for helping to fix problems not be a part of the problem. There are too many times that the city has taken a cookie cutter approach to fixing things within our city. They see what is happening in other cities and try and apply that to ours. That doesn’t always work. It takes time to think, discuss and imagine new solutions that will fit our city and I fear we have lost some of that at our leadership level. I ask that when you go to vote on Election Day, September 9th that you vote for me Donna Schmitt, as your next city council member. Your vote will help to keep Columbia Heights feeling like home to all of our residents and businesses that call Columbia Heights home. Tell your friends not to forget next Wednesday's Meet & Greet in New Hope. Meet & Greet the Candidate Wednesday, August 27, 2008 from 6:30 to 8:30 Barb Davis White for Congress 2008 At the home of Dennis & Kathy Swenson 3132 Hillsboro Avenue North, New Hope Corn dogs, cheese curds, and the U It's state fair time, and the U will once again entertain and educate over the 11 days of the "Great Minnesota Get-Together," August 21 to September 1। (Maroon and Gold Day falls on August 24)। Discounted admission tickets ($8) and special-edition University of Minnesota T-shirts ($6।99) are available at U Bookstores। For a complete list of events and stage acts at the University building on Dan Patch Avenue, as well as information about free shuttle service, see Discover the U at the Minnesota State Fair. Follow the Link to... Article: Woe is me, Said the Democrat http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/dsaunders/2008/ds_08211.shtml http://www.nrcc.org/ http://www.americastanker.com/ http://www.americansolutions.com/actioncenter/petitions/default.aspx?guid=54ec6e43-75a8-445b-aa7b-346a1e096659 http://mikeconaway.com/platform http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_porkerofthemonth&JServSessionIdr011=gx23x4nxa4.app26a http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=CCAGW_getinv_Advocacy_energyexploration_IssuePage