MY SIX REASONS TO VOTE FOR RAY FRANZ

Wednesday evening, August 27, 2008, I received a call from the Dan Scripps Office.  The woman that called stated that she was calling for Mr. Scripps, at which I gave a short laugh.  She asked why I was laughing and I told her that I’m working on the Committee to Elect Ray Franz.

She then asked why, and I replied that I wanted to elect someone that is against raising taxes.  Her reply was, “You would vote for someone that stocks grocery store shelves?”   This ended our conversation.

My wife and I are retired school teachers.  I hope that I never gave anyone the impression that some honest occupations are better than others, without our farmers and retail grocery stores there would not be food on most tables.

I will vote for Ray Franz for all the following reasons:

1.He has real life business experience, more than thirty years of making a payroll for many local employees.

2.  Ray is a volunteer fireman of about 30 years – some as chief.

3.  He is a charter member of the Medical First Responders.  If someone in the area has an emergency, Ray was probably the first one on the scene.

4.  Ray served many years on the Onekama Village Council, many years as president.  During his tenure of office the village millage rate was reduced by 50 percent – from 10 mils to 5 mils, without a reduction in services.  I served with Ray part of this time, and I am still impressed with the job that he did.  The village needed an affordable sewer operator; Ray became licensed, no cost to the village.

He never charged the Village for the use of his license or for the time spent on sewer work.  If you were up early enough to see the streets being plowed after a storm, chances are Ray was in the driver’s seat, never charging the village.

5.  When his country called for military service he responded with a distinguished record, receiving a Bronze Star.  He is a proud member of the VFW.

6.  In our community, Ray is the first person to help with needed fundraisers, schools, churches, 4-H and others.

Johm A. Lyman, Sr., Onekama