Thank You!
Voters of Shiawassee County, District 3. Corunna. New Lothrop. Hazelton, New
Haven, Caledonia and Venice Townships.
Special Thanks to: Bus and Carol Spaniola, US Senator Carl Levin and the
Shiawassee County Dems!
Jack Johnson, County Commissioner-District 3
Statement regarding Drain Office Scandal
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Accessibility
- Fairness
- Dignity
Contact:
Ph: 989-743-5000
Address: PO Box 22
Corunna, MI 48817
Statement regarding the Drain Office and
Accountability for all.
Letter regarding the County Coordinator
Letter regarding new ideas and integrity
Party: Democrat (independent, progressive)
Currently representing Shiawasse County, Disctict 3, on the board of commisioners.
1st elected in 2006.
Life long resident of Shiawassee County.
Born at Durand Hospital, Durand Michigan.
Graduate of Corunna High School.
Accepted to Eastern Michigan Univerity to study music.
Attended Mott Community College, Vocal Music Department.
Toured the US and Canada as a musician.
Small Business Owner: River Rock Music LLC including Jacks Music Store, Johnson & Sons Piano Company, Graham Records and Rock Ecommerce Web Hosting. Active board member Sounds of Shiawassee.
Married to Tina Fett Johnson.
5 Children, Jason, Skotti, Amoreena, Haylee and Graham.
About:
Shiawassee County is represented by 7 commissioners elected from 7 districts. Together the commissioners represent the county in a wide variety of ways. My vision for Shiawassee County is to foster a culture that identifies and discourages abuse of power. Rankism is a new word in our language that identifies the abuse of power to unfairly manipulate others of less rank. Once rankism is identified, the organization will prosper in ways that will benefit all. The unfair treatment of anyone leads to a deeply entrenched feeling of resentment that is often covered up until it boils over. Great progress in all worthwhile endeavors has it's best chance in an environment of faith trust and confidence that only respect for each other can provide.
Debate Forum Argus Press
The turn out by the voters was dissapointing.. but the event is still worth while and we should all encourage and try to participate. Some technical difficulties with the sound... but all in all run pretty well.
Not enough time to really answer some very good questions.. Some not so good.. I really felt the falling asleep question asked of my opponent, John Patjas was a bit humiliating and undignified.. I'm surprised it was asked.
I wanted to ask Deanna Finnegan, with all the domestic violence and women's protection training and advocay she boasts, why does her website list prominently a notorious domestic abuser? She seems despicapbly disengenous. The abuser that is supporting her for sheriff is quite a con and talented at deception, so I might give Finnegan a pass if it were not for the fact she works in the procecutors office and works with the sheriff department, where he has been investigated and proof was made available regarding parenting rights being taken away, child protective services investigation and finding of abuse, and a long history of complaints, that were, incidentally mostly ignored by a culture in shiawassee county that generally fails miserably to deal effectively with domestic violence.. At least Braidwood had something to offer regarding better training..
And any surprise Colbry seemed so weak on his answer regarding domestic violence. Ann Gambo Hall brought up a very good point.. the victims rights advocate works with in his administration. Does this make sense when the prosecutor claims to have no responsibility or obligation other than to convict criminals?
There were a lot of strong and weak moments..
Domestic Violence Awareness Month:
The Shiawassee County chapter of the Michigan Townships Association hosted a meet the candidates at their monthly meeting, Oct 7th, at the Caledonia Township Hall. Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and both candidates for County Sheriff were present, I thought it was a good chance to gauge their understanding and commitment to Domestic Violence issues. Recently, letters to the editors have indicated that there is still a lot of work to do in regards to how we handle Domestic Violence in this county. My family went through a very difficult time several years ago, and I too wrote a letter to the editor that was critical of the courts and law enforcement. It looks as though not much has changed after reading the letters this month that are appearing in the newspapers.
I wanted to ask the question of Deanna Finnegan in particular because she touts her work and support of domestic violence issues on her website. She also has prominently displayed in her endorsements a notorious spouse and child abuser, who was investigated by Child Protective Services and the claims were substantiated. So I asked the question, given the letters to the editors to the local newspapers, it appears we still have a long way to go in learning to be more effective dealing with domestic violence issues in this county. What would you do differently. Her response was nothing. She simply noted a change in the law some time ago that requires an arrest when called to the scene. Which tends to make responding less likely.
Veterans Relief:
I am a son of a sailor! My father, John (Jack) Mack Johnson was a WII Navy Veteran, Pearl Harbor Survivor. My Grandfather, Dr. Bryce Miller, was an army medic on the battlefields of Germany in WWI.
Looking back on the father I knew, or tried to know, I realize a measure of the difficulties he was facing as I get to know veterans issues today. Though Dad died in 1977, at the early age of just 59, I am still looking for a way to help, to heal, for both his sake and for mine. I miss him greatly, I miss the man I never knew.
Perhaps, through our new understandings and commitments to veterans today, to help them with the battles that often never end, a measure of healing can transcend generations. I hope so.
The PA 214 Veterans' Relief Act that is on the agenda for tuesday, Oct 21st, is a place we as Shiawassee County, can show our support for veterans beyond flag waving and parades. In particular, I hope the passing of this millage by the commissioners will help provide an opportunity to better serve our veterans suffering from PTSD, Deep Depression, Mental Illness and Drug Addiction. These are the illnesses that have been and are so often overlooked and swepted asside.
Please consider contacting your county commissioner and attending the meeting on Oct 21st in support of this critical motion that will provide desparately needed funds and services to those veterans that need it the most. A very small price to pay to help those who have given so much to our country to protect our way of life.
Jack
Veterans' Relief Passed!:
As many of you know, in a last minute change of hearts and minds on the board of commissioners, the Veterans' Relief Fund Act passed unanimously, and at full funding of 1/10 mil.
Thank you to all the Veterans that persisted in attending meetings and voicing their support for this relief. Once again, you answered the call to serve your country, in this case your county.
Thank you also to the Board of Commissioners, who in the end, unanimously supported this funding, and also to the support staff, including the county administrator, Margaret McAvoy, for their help in gathering data and making important contacts and arranging for vital support from experts from other counties. This degree of success on this issue could not have been possible without the support and contribution from everyone involved. Thank you is just not enough, but a good place to start.
Now, after years of trying to get this funding, we finally have it, and the work is just beginning as we carefully consider how best to use it to provide true relief for our veterans.
I will be supporting using a substantial amount of the $180,000 available to fund Mental Health Services which can now be provided in Shiawassee County by Community Mental Health, as has recently been directed by the Congress for the VA to begin utilizing Community Mental Health systems to provide services to our veterans. I sit on the board of directors at our CMH and can assure you we have a fine organization and we will thoroughly investigate our options to develop a Veterans outreach in our community that is sensitive and effective. I have already been discussing this issue for some time, and it looks very promising now with the new county funding and the VA directive to use CMH systems. A perfect storm.. !! Funds that the county provides to CMH are matched by the state at 9-1 and by the federal medicaid program by about 7-1. All the dollars we direct to CMH for veterans services will leverage you tax dollars many, many times over for veterans relief in the form of mental health services, which has been identified as a priority as indicated by the recent directive from the VA to use CMH to provide services to veterans.
Stay tuned. As we are poised now, in Shiawassee County to be on the front lines and be one of the first in the state and the nation to implement these policies for veterans.
Jack
Quotes from the Senator at the meeting
US Senator Carl Levin with Jack during his visit to Shiawassee Democratic Hq
10-26-06
Endorsements:
Shiawassee Democrats
US Senator Carl Levin
