Recipes for a Healthy You that Don't Involve Cooking: Richards is Right for Dearborn

On July 27, 2012 I wrote this blog, http://dearborn.patch.com/blog_posts/recipes-for-a-healthy-you-that-dont... about educating yourself on who to vote for and what the issues are in your community.  Once again, I’m asking you to make sure you take the time to do your research, listen to the candidates and make the best informed decision.  We have a very important local election this year and we SHOULD be very involved in voting in the BEST people for the job.   Basing who you vote for on how much literature you get in the mail or how many robo calls or emails you get might not be the wisest choice.  Meeting the candidates, talking to them and learning from people that know them well is probably a better means to finding out more about those people. 

Everyone will tell you that they are running because they believe in our city and want what’s best for all of its citizens.  I totally AGREE that we all believe that!  I know most of the people who have pulled petitions for City Council in one way or another and I would say that this is true for all of them.  The difference between the candidates is going to come down to how they campaign, how they handle talking to the citizens of our city and their current and prior dedication to our community. 

Last Thursday I held my Campaign Kick-Off Fundraiser.  Here is an excerpt from my speech:

Now is the time for change in Dearborn.  It’s time for fresh ideas and new outlooks.  I believe I am the person to bring about new visions and new ideas to our city.  I have always been a team player and my track record proves it from serving 4 years as President on the Dearborn PTA Council, taking on a leadership role on the Board of Directors for the Dearborn Rotary Club to serving on the executive board of the Wayne County Parent Advisory Commitee, but I’m also an individual thinker who will look at all sides to make the best decision for all citizens of Dearborn.  My heart is here, my life is here and my future is here.  I want Dearborn to be a leading city where others strive to be like us.   I want to leave behind a legacy for all of our children and grandchildren. 

I will be the voice of Dearborn residents and will do my best to build up our community even in tough times.  I believe we have so much to offer and I will make sure others outside of Dearborn will see that and will want to come here to open their businesses, move here, and raise their families here.  Dearborn is a wonderful community and I love it here.  I want everyone that lives here to feel the same sense of pride in their community like we do.  I want them to be able to drive down Michigan Ave and see businesses open and people shopping here.  It’s time to fill the empty buildings and it’s time to bring in young families to fill the vacant houses throughout our neighborhoods. 

We need to build up our neighborhoods and business districts.  We need to use our tax payer’s money wisely and show them just how far we can make their hard earned money go to improve our wonderful city. 

I’m ready to work hard to make Dearborn the leading community in Michigan.  We are a very large, diverse community with a small town feel and that’s what we love about Dearborn, isn’t it?  It’s time to show others what we’re made of! 

Thank you all for coming tonight!  With your continued support, I will be able to serve you in the next four years as a member of the Dearborn City Council.  I encourage you to tell others to please vote for me on August 6th.  WE must first pass the primary!!  Voting for me is a vote for a vision of an even better Dearborn.  Remember, Richards is Right for Dearborn.  Our committee believes that, I believe that. Do YOU believe that???!!! 

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Let me expand a bit about my background for you because a lot of people don’t know me personally and only know what they’ve heard and seen.  I moved to Dearborn in 1998.  I worked full time as a retail manager, then when I got pregnant in 1999, I went to work for a copier sales and supply office in Plymouth as the Office Administrator.  When I had my son in October of 1999, I didn’t go back to my job and worked part time at a hardware store as the front end supervisor.  I was also self-employed with PartyLite.  For those of you that don’t know, it’s a direct sales company and they sell the best candles in the world.  Yes, I’m a firm believer in PartyLite.  I have been a “business owner” for over 14 years with PartyLite.  If you’ve ever dabbled in Direct Sales, you know you need to be a self-starter and you need to learn how to train your consultants that you bring into the business and provide assistance on a regular basis.  I worked my way up to the 3rd level of leadership in PartyLite at one point.  I’ve earned 5 incentive trips to wonderful locations throughout the world and got to enjoy traveling which was always a life-long dream of mine.  In May of 2000, I quit my part time job to do PartyLite full time and was very successful at it.  The best thing about direct sales is that you can do it around your life and you have the flexibility to adjust the amount of business you do.  Now, I do a few shows here and there and have a very good online order business that I built up with 14 years of hosts and customers.  While I was very active with PartyLite, I found out my son had a stroke in-utero and that he had epilepsy and cognitive delay.  This was the reason I got so involved in school.  I started out learning all I could about special education and finding out what he needed to be successful in life.  I’m still doing this as I am his advocate.  Along the way, I taught many other parents how to do the same thing.  I found myself in a unique situation of knowing more people in administration and special education than most parents.  I have spent many hours in IEP meetings helping my son as well as other parents helping their children. 

While I have been involved in parent advocating for most of my sons life, I found myself involved in PTA.  Before I knew it, I was secretary of the Dearborn PTA Council and then President.  I ended up being President for 4 years and I have to say that was a very big learning experience.  The first year I was President of PTA Council, I was President of Snow School PTA and the Dearborn Relay For Life Chairperson.  I thanked my lucky stars I wasn’t working a full time job and that I was able to do PartyLite around all of my volunteer work.  It kept be VERY busy.  The next year, I wasn’t involved in PTA on a local school level but was still President of the district PTA and found myself in Lansing 7 times in that one school year, about 4 of them between October and November fighting for education funding.  We bused parents to Lansing a few times and I drove there a few times on my own to speak to legislators.

Throughout my Presidency on the Dearborn PTA Council, I had to be very impartial to all topics.  One of the things I prided myself on was being able to see both sides of the story.  I have had to mediate intense conflicts within local school PTA’s between parents as well as between parents and building principals. The one thing I learned when advocating for parents of children who receive special education services is that when it comes to our children, we are very passionate.  This is true for all parents and their children.  Having someone level headed and able to bring people together was very important as Dearborn PTA Council President. 

Three years ago I joined the Rotary Club of Dearborn.  I’ve never been a member of a service organization until then.  I was involved in several things up until last year but this was one group I wanted to remain involved in.  When I went to my first orientation, I was amazed at how close the overall atmosphere and message was to my PartyLite business.  It is a very positive and selfless group of individuals.  Service above Self is for sure the Rotary way and because of that, I have been able to do so many things throughout the community.  I’m also very fortunate to be on the Board of Directors for our club and it has been one of the best experiences of my life.  I love working with a group of people who truly believe in doing good for others.  The Rotary 4 Way Test is something I have lived by for a very long time and I didn’t even know it.  1. Is it the TRUTH?  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?  3. Will it bring GOODWILL and better FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? I am not perfect but I strive to do these 4 things daily in all that I do and all that I am involved in. 

One of the things that any City Council member must do is look at all sides of the story, do the research to find out what will be the best way to handle the situation and do what is in the best interests of ALL citizens in Dearborn.  I know I can do that and I’m prepared to make educated decisions based on the facts.  Will I make everyone happy with my vote or decisions?  Probably not.  What I do know is that I will have voted for what I think is right and what I feel will have the BEST and most positive impact on our city. 

I can ONLY promise one thing in this campaign and that is to be the voice of the citizens of Dearborn, ALL of the citizens of Dearborn! I am the average neighbor in the average neighborhood in Dearborn.  I live paycheck to paycheck like many do.  I am a Media Secretary for Dearborn Public Schools as stated a few times in newspaper articles about the candidates. My job does not define me.  It helps pay my bills.  I absolutely LOVE my job and love the people I work with.  I do, however, believe that others will relate to me as being a stay at home mom for 12 years and then having to get a job to make ends meet.  I know I’m not the only one who has had to do that.  I know that I have witnessed foreclosures on my street and watched vacant homes sit for months and even years.  I have witnessed renters who were wonderful tenants and others who couldn’t care less for the house they lived in.   I have witnessed stores closing or moving out of Dearborn.  I have watched as Michigan Ave has built up in some areas and lost tenants in other areas.  I have been involved in my Neighborhood Association and have helped others get involved in theirs.  I just wish I could have given my Neighborhood Association more of my time.  I feel the neighbors need to take back their neighborhoods and bring back that “neighborly” feeling we all long for.  It’s time for us to step outside of our four walls in our homes and get out and see what’s going on in our neighborhoods and community. 

I believe that running for an elected position should not require the candidate to have tons of money of their own.  We should be voting for the BEST people for the job based on the information presented, not based on how many mailers we receive, robo calls or emails we get.  However, that is not how it works and we all know this.  Because of that, I will be working twice as hard to get the word out that Richards is Right for Dearborn. 

I have the desire and the passion to make Dearborn an even better place for us to live.  I believe I can be most useful as a City Council member by bringing my knowledge as an average citizen to the table.  I may not have a Bachelor’s Degree or better, but I have a lot more between the ears than what some people give me credit for.  Make no mistake that this particular blonde is as far from the stereotype as you can get.  I am a fast learner, I do my job well, I have learned to think outside of the box and I have something very important: Belief in myself and the vision to see myself serving as your next City Council member. 

I am ready for the ride of what we call a City Council Campaign Season.  I am looking for people to come along with me.  Who wants to join my mission?  I believe that I will achieve this goal.  Spread the word if you believe too.  Share this message and ASK everyone you know to vote for me for City Council. 

For those of you I don’t know yet, I hope to meet you on your front porch one day.  I am looking forward to working hard for you throughout this campaign AND after as I serve YOU on Dearborn City Council. 

Remember, Richards is RIGHT for Dearborn!