In this November newsletter:

• Notable Announcements
• Get Out and Vote on November 3 to Elect Local GOP Candidates- offer your help to them for election day!
• Meet Jennifer Oram 14th CD Executive Member and Candidate
• First Ever 14th District Holiday Party set for December 17
• Mexican Town: A 14th District Tourist “Gem”
• CPL Class is First Successful Fundraiser for 14th CD
• Another Detroit Bailout?
• Democrat Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence “Votes for Us” in Washington
• Spooktacular Debate Party Event
• News Links of Interest
• A Message from the Chairwoman

Notable Announcements:

• November 3: Election Day. Remember to vote and encourage your friends to vote as many local elections are being held today. See details of our 14th CD candidates below.
• November 10: Salute to Justice Banquet at The Heathers sponsored the Oakland County Republican Party. Register at https://www.oaklandgop.net/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/register&reset=1&id=3
• November 16: Oakland County Young Republicans meeting with special guest Ronna Romney-McDaniel, Chairwoman of the MIGOP at 7 p.m. at the Black Finn Restaurant in Royal Oak
• November 19: 14th District Republican Committee meeting, Jimi’s Restaurant in Royal Oak at 6:00 p.m. dinner & networking, and 7:00 p.m. meeting
• December 10: Oakland County Young Republicans Annual (and free) Christmas party at Birmingham Community House is open to everyone. Call Jennifer at (248) 761-8084 for details.
• December 17: First ever 14th District Republican Feliz Navidad (Christmas and holiday) party to be held in Mexican Town. Hold the date. (Details below)

 

Get Out the Vote on November 3 to Elect Local GOP Candidates

>Jennifer Oram - Orchard Lake City Council contact her at 248-761-8084 or email at [email protected]

>Carl Yauk - Orchard Lake City Council contact him at  248-421-8199or email at [email protected].

>Aaron Tobin - Mayor in Oak Park contact him at 586-770-3300 or email at [email protected].   Like on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/tobinforoakpark and check his website at www.votefortobin.com.  Check out this interview with Aaron: http://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/08/20/interview-aaron-tobin-candidate-for-mayor-of-oak-park-video/.    Aaron has requested volunteers help him on election day at various polling places to hand out material.   Contact him directly at using the information provided here.

>John Chouinard  - Grosse Pointe Park City Council contact him at 586-918-0836 or email at [email protected]. Like John on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/johnforparkcouncil

>Cheryl Costantino - Harper Woods City Council contact her at 313-720-4184 or email at [email protected]

>Ken Massey - Mayor in Farmington Hills contact him at 734-834-3156 or email at [email protected].  Like him onwww.facebook.com/masseyformayor or check out his website at  www.ken-massey.com

>Richard Lerner - City Council in Farmington Hills contact him at 248-471-4960 or email at [email protected]

>Al Zaparackas - City Council in Farmington Hills contact him at 248-553-0540 or email at [email protected]  

Support our LOCAL Republican candidates!  Please report any other 14th CD candidates for local elected office in November 2015 to Janine or Glenn Gilbert ([email protected]) so we can help promote their efforts.

Meet Jennifer Oram 14th CD Executive Member and Candidate

It probably would not occur to Jennifer Oram to talk about family values as she makes her first bid for public office in Orchard Lake.

But the concept of family defines the very essence of who she is as a person.  

Not only does Oram work for the family business and credit her parents, Joseph and Joann, as key influences in her life, but her praise for them flows naturally without any hint of pretense. 

“My mother is a gem, the most selfless person one will ever meet,” Oram says.

Of her father, she says he “came to the United States when he was 15 years old, grew up in Detroit and started working right when he came here.  He's the perfect story of a self-made entrepreneur.”

“My parents moved to Orchard Lake when I was about 9.  I'm the daughter of immigrants who came here with not even $5 in their pockets.”

Is it any surprise that these hard-working, self-made individuals became Republicans?

“My earliest political consciousness of being a Republican was when I realized how important taking personal responsibility is, how much I preferred limited government and how I value traditional American values,”  Oram says.

Oram is one of four candidates seeking three 3-year seats on the Orchard Lake City Council.  

“All of the council members have been very supportive and given me great advice.  Our Oakland County commissioner John Scott endorsed me.”

There is a tradition in Orchard Lake for incumbents not to formally endorse, but she noted that  fellow 14th District Republicans and council members Bruce McIntyre and Jerry Kosmensky have been very helpful. Bruce Tobin also has been supportive, she said.

“I decided to run for Orchard Lake City Council because I love this community and grew up in Orchard Lake,” Oram said.  “This town has given me so much and I want to do my part and help our community prosper.”

Oram is a graduate of Marian High School in Bloomfield Township and Wayne State University, where she majored in communication  and minored in psychology. She is a current fellow  in the prestigious Michigan Political Leadership Program at Michigan State University.  MPLP is considered one of the nation's premier training grounds for people who have a compelling interest in public service.  About 50 percent of MPLP alumni are serving or have served in an appointed or elected capacity since MPLP started in 1992.

Oram is an active volunteer for the Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society, which includes Orchard Lake and teaches religious education to third graders at her church, St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church

She works for and is part owner of the family business, 5 Star Outdoor Media, which offers  billboard outdoor advertising.

First Ever 14th District Feliz Navidad Holiday Party

The 14th CD will hold its first ever Feliz Navidad holiday party on December 17. Please hold the date for this fun event. Registration details are not final as of this newsletter cut off date, but the event will be held in Mexican Town (see article below about Mexican Town, an exciting part of our District). The planning committee includes Gloria Rocha, Karen Faett, Matt Schonert, and Donzell Green. Hold the date and help us celebrate the season!

Mexican Town: A 14th District Tourist Gem

When 14th District  Republicans gather at Mexican Village Restaurant for their December 17 Feliz Navidad holiday party, they will be in the midst of a little publicized gem of a Michigan tourist destination.

Hopefully this event will entice folks to return to Detroit’s Mexican Town, which is part of the 14th District’s unique geography,  sometime in the daylight so they can see and enjoy the surroundings.

Mexican Town is perhaps best known for the Cinco de Mayo event that draws thousands of people of people annually for the May 5th celebration. For years, Gloria Rocha, a member of the 14th District GOP Executive Committee and heading up the planning for the December 17 event. Gloria has been an organizer of the Cinco de Mayo Parade and is vice president of the Mexican Patriotic Committee of Metro Detroit. 

But as Rocha (pictured at the left) points out, “The parade is only one of many attractions to Mexican Town.  Another, coming up in just days on November 7, is the annual Day of the Dead observance that will include the popular Run for the Dead 5K/10K beginning at Patton Park Recreation Center, 2300 Woodmere Street, Detroit”.

The Run of the Dead grew from 600 participants in its first year to nearly 1,000 last year.  Participants are from primarily metropolitan-Detroit, with current and former Southwest Detroiters heavily represented.  Race participants are encouraged to enjoy a day in Southwest Detroit and are provided a map of cultural sites and food establishments to visit in the commercial district. For more details see http://www.active.com/detroit-mi/running/distance-running-races/run-of-the-dead-5k-10k-2015 

Dia de los  Muertos — Day of the Dead — coincides with the Catholic holidays of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Its focus is to gather family and friends, during a significant time of the year for the Latino/Hispanic culture, to remember and pray for those who have passed away. Traditions include building private altars (ofrendas—Spanish for “offerings”) honoring the deceased using photos, sugar skulls, marigolds, the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting the graves of the loved ones with these as gifts, according to information on the Southwest Detroit  Business Association website (www.southwestdetroit.com).

Ofrendas will be on display at locations throughout Mexican Town. A complete listing is available from SDBA.

Located in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge, Mexicantown is actually one of six neighborhoods that are part of a compact 15.5-square-mile region known as Southwest Detroit.  The others are West Vernor, Delray, Oakwood Heights, Michigan Avenue and Corktown.

The area is rich in history. Rocha pointed out that that Detroit Mass Mob organization, which was formed last year, recently chose Mexican Town’s St. Anne de Detroit Catholic Parish as a destination in May.  The Detroit Mass Mob (www.detroitmassmob.com) was inspired by the Buffalo Mass Mob movement. On a chosen Sunday, everyone attends Mass at a specific parish.   The events have drawn as many as 2,000 people, filling these churches and providing much needed support.

St. Anne dates to Cadillac's settling of Detroit in 1701, and it's considered the second-oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in the U.S., according to a report in the Detroit Free Press.  Father Gabriel Richard served St. Anne's as its pastor from 1802 to 1832. He founded churches, schools, co-founded the University of Michigan, was a politician and a member of Congress.

Theresa Zajac, vice president of SDBA, defines Mexican Town’s borders as Bagley Street, from 16th to 24th Streets. She notes that Southwest Detroit also includes more recent immigrants from South and Central Americas, the Caribbean and the Middle East, with the variety of foods reflected in the area’s two dozen or so restaurants. 

As far as Mexican Town goes, she recommends that tourists also visit Xochi’s Gift Shop, 3437 Bagley Street, which has been in business for 30 years and specializes

in Mexican imports, hand-made crafts, clay pottery, Aztec deco, Day of the Dead art and  silver jewelry.  It  also  carries Western wear with over 70 styles of leather boots to choose from. 

Two  other vaqueritas (Western wear stores) in the Mexican Town  business district are  Rodriguez Vaquerita at 5698 West Vernor Highway (between Junction and Livernois/Dragoon, near Holy Redeemer Church and Cristo Rey High School), and  Twisted X Western Boots (formerly El 7 Leguas) at 7139 West Vernor Highway (between Waterman and Green).

Obviously, Mexican Town is an area of great potential for 14th District Republicans. Rocha, long active in the party, feels more visibility in the area by leading Republicans would be helpful. Then Gov. George W. Bush found that to be the case when he visited Mexican Town in 1999. Hopefully, this season’s crop of presidential candidates will do likewise.

CPL Class is also First Successful Fundraiser for 14th CD

Lead by Robert Oestreich, 14th District Committee member and newly appointed member to the Oakland County GOP Executive Committee,  the 14th District held its first ever Concealed Pistol License (CPL) Class in October 2015. The class was a success and hopefully will be the first of  many events to come. We salute Robert for leading this event for the District (and John Daniele, Executive Committee member, for his help also) and thanks to them for the phenomenal job done in organizing this very important 2nd Amendment class.

CPL class members focused on their right to own and carry a concealed handgun for personal protection.

Consistent with our respect for the U.S. Constitution, our first fundraiser was based on training citizens regarding their 2nd Amendment right to own and carry personal protection.  Those attending each earned the certificate needed to obtain their very own Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL). 

The two-night class was led by highly trained instructor Ian Murphy and was held at Action Impact Firearms located on West Eight Mile Road in Southfield, center of the 14th District.  

The event had three financial sponsors whose significant support is appreciated.   Sponsors for this event were Dave Agema, RNC Committeeman, Representative Mike McCready (Michigan 40th District Republican) and Dr. Rob Steele, candidate for RNC Committeeman in 2016.

CPL participants fire on the practice range

Among the comments from class participants are these:

• Tom S. stated “Our instructor did a great and thorough job teaching the class. He did an excellent job of presenting a lot of different personal scenarios and how a CPL licensed person should handle them."
• Ramona J. said “The class was very informative and very organized. The instructor was great and I enjoyed it.”
• Robert B. said “I had a lot of fun, learned a lot and recommend everyone take it.

All net revenues generated will be used to support designated candidates running for office in the 14th CD.  We know that this highly successful first event will set the trend for our future events.  Thanks to all involved, and thank you event lead, Robert Oestrich!

Another Detroit Bailout?

News from Lansing says that statewide taxpayers would be on the hook for about $700,000,000 to bailout Detroit Public Schools.   Certainly here is one reason.

Detroit Public Schools (DPS) has made only a single payment of its obligation toMichigan Public Employees Retirement System (MPSERS).  These pension payments are scheduled at $750,000 per month.  DPS had not made a single payment in nearly a year and reportedly it now owes MPSERS $100 million. To stop MPSERS from “intercepting” state School Aid payments to cover pension debt, DPS made a single payment. This is like making a single mortgage payment to avoid foreclosure on your home.

Notwithstanding this single payment, DPS will need 12 years to clear this $100 million debt to its own pension obligation. WOW!!  This is the school district Governor Snyder is asking statewide taxpayers to bail out. Click here to read a related The Detroit News story. This is a result of liberal “leadership” for decades and, now, an attempt to use OPM (other peoples’ money).

Democrat Rep. Brenda Lawrence “Votes for Us” in Washington

Your Democratic 14th Congressional District U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence has been busy in Washington, D.C.  Here is a recap of several of her recent and shocking votes.   Her role in supporting the Democrat Party line and not Michigan values can be seen very clearly here.  After reviewing her positions, please feel free to call her office at 202-225-5802.

• HR 411 passed 245 to 186 but Lawrence, voted AGAINST.  The resolution asserted that President Obama failed to comply with the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act as “side deals” were made between Iran and other international agencies which were required to be presented to Congress for consideration and were not so presented.
• HR 3134 passed 241 to 187, Lawrence voted AGAINST the proposal to defund Planned Parenthood.  This bill would place a one year moratorium on taxpayer dollars being given to Planned Parenthood.
• HR 3504 passed 248 to 177, but Lawrence voted AGAINST the sanction of doctors who deny care to a child born alive during a failed abortion.  This bill would  make it crime for medical personnel to NOT give medical attention during a live birth abortion in which a living child survives.
• HR 758 passed 241 to 185, but Lawrence voted AGAINST the change in federal court ruling to require a judge to fine a person who files a lawsuit deemed to be frivolous.  It also would repeal a 21-day window during which a lawsuit can be withdrawn without penalty.  This is intended to stop lawyers from filing bogus lawsuits and then withdrawing same after a defendant is forced to spend time and money to respond.

Spooktacular Debate Party

Greater West Bloomfield Republican’s (GWBR) hosted a Spooktacular Debate Watch Party for the GOP primary debate recently held in Colorado.  GWBR claimed that the event would make the debate less “scary” and guests were encouraged to wear candidate or patriotic costumes. Held at Huerto Tequila Bar in West Bloomfield, the room was decorated with candidate posters and materials.   Tables full of candidate “bling” was available for the taking by supporters.

The post debate candy corn vote (i.e., votes were recorded by dropping a piece of candy corn into a candidate’s Mason jar) produced Donald Trump winning over Senator Ted Cruz.   After being counted all the “ballots” were eaten.   Held as a GWBR fundraiser, this fun event was attended by approximately fifty GOP enthusiasts and yielded these “scary” pictures.

(Left) Caricatures fill the place mats used at the Spooktacular Debate Watch party.      

(Right) Best costume winner Hillary (a/k/a Janine Kateff) used her magic wand to grant guests with big government “pixie dust” (a/k/a “free stuff”).  Sharing the picture with Hillary is event guest Carole Maddox.

News Links of Interest

1. High tech “down on the farm” invented here in Michigan.  Learn more at http://techcrunch.com/2015/09/22/one-in-three-farms-are-using-farmlogs-to-power-their-yields-with-big-data/?utm_campaign=naytev&utm_content=56020cf9e4b0f5dfa4f14006
2. Detroit Hustles Harder and is recognized as the All American Turn Around City http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannah-l-compton/detroit-hustles-harder_b_8198976.html
3. Michigan has its own (potentially) Keystone Pipeline project http://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/Annual-2015/Michigan-Ohio-Alliance-Supports-Proposed-43B-Natural-Gas-Pipeline/
4. Tiny flying submarine.  Who knew this was possible?  http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/10/the-tiny-flying-submarine/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hu-facebook-general
5. Michigan ranked as sixth best state to earn a living http://www.forbes.com/pictures/fjle45lmdf/no-6-best-state-to-make-/
6. Taylor Swift is CEO of the year.  No, really, she is https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141209171902-10189491-the-ceo-s-triple-crown
7. Three famous quotes from the movie “Star Wars” that are not spoken in the movie http://scifi.about.com/od/starwarsfilms/a/3-Famous-Star-Wars-Quotes-That-Were-Never-Said.htm?utm_source=zergnet&utm_medium=tcg&utm_campaign=zergnet-test-644775
8. In Detroit:  Cheap Eats and DIY Art described here http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/travel/detroit-budget-travel.html?_r=1
9. Major gifting going on in Detroit and here is the overview https://philanthropy.com/article/Economic-Matchmaker-Revs-Up/233441
10. Eastern Market to have 210 new residential units http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20151007/NEWS/151009874/eastern-market-projects-could-add-more-than-210-residential-units-to#utm_medium=email&utm_source=cdb-michmorning&utm_campaign=cdb-michmorning-20151008
11. Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island named best historic hotel in the whole USA http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20151012/NEWS/151019986/mackinacs-grand-hotel-named-best-historic-resort-by-historic-hotels#utm_medium=email&utm_source=cdb-michmorning&utm_campaign=cdb-michmorning-20151012
12. Ten things that will change your mind about Detroit (from people who don’t live here) https://www.yahoo.com/travel/10-things-that-will-change-your-mind-about-detroit-070113288.html?utm_source=HootSuite&utm_medium=Social
13. Kresge Foundation seeks grant applicants to improve Detroit’s neighborhoods http://kresge.org/news/kresge-foundation-initiative-fund-more-innovative-neighborhood-projects-across-detroit
14. Detroit has even more new apartments being constructed http://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/Annual-2015/Construction-Begins-on-New-Luxury-Apartments-in-Detroits-Historic-Lafayette-Park/
15. Scenes of Michigan’s fall colors and a way to share your photos  http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20151016/NEWS/151019899/scenes-from-a-michigan-fall

A Message from the Chairwoman

Dear 14th District Executive Committee Members, and Fellow Republicans;

Yet another month has passed with so many events and activities to attend. How lucky are we to live in an area that offers so many events for Republicans? In the 14th District, we had several club events and candidate fundraisers.

We also have GREAT candidates vying for a seat in their local municipality.

I can not say it enough, filling seats in local municipalities is of huge importance for the growth of the Republican Party.  If Republicans win Township, City and Village seats, these positions will grow into higher levels of office.  See this article called  “Ask Not who’s Running for President, Ask Who’s Running for School Board”

http://thefederalist.com/2015/10/27/ask-not-whos-running-for-president-ask-whos-running-for-school-board/?utm_source=The+Federalist+List&utm_campaign=b56ce10879-RSS_The_Federalist_Daily_Updates_w_Transom&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cfcb868ceb-b56ce10879-83811289

SALUTE to our very hard working Republican candidates who are campaigning to win a seat on November 3.  Knocking on doors in hot, cold and rainy weather is perhaps one of the best methods to meet potential voters, yet poses a real challenge for the candidates. Each campaign season I hear stories of the need to re-sole shoes, weight loss, dog chasings and sheer exhaustion. Each district has thousands of doors to knock. Our candidates deserve our respect and support, in the name of hoping to make a difference.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Our candidates would love your help on election day at their precinct handing out literature and greeting voters with a smile. If you are available on Tuesday, November 3,  call one of our candidates listed above and offer your help. Your help could provide that much needed “bump” in a tight election to get that win.  Or, let me know if you want to help and I will offer ideas..

A special shout out goes to Lt. Governor Brian Calley for speaking to the 14th District on Oct 15, 2015. The Lt. Governor took some tough questions from the 70 person audience on topics such as the need for road repair and refugee resettlements.

We were pleased to hear the Governor has put “on hold” the proposed 200,000 refugee resettlements in Detroit until such time he is confident on how these refugees are vetted before coming into the United States. Thank you Lt. Governor Brian Calley for speaking to our group.

Most proudly I share with you, the efforts of Robert Oestreich.  Robert is a 14th District Committee member and Committee “Lead” for the first ever 14th District CPL Class fundraiser. Robert and another Executive Committee member John Danielle spent months planning the event.  I am so happy to tell you we not only recruited new folks within the 14th District, but we raised about $1,300 to support candidates in the 14th CD. See pictures and comments above  in this newsletter from participants in the class.You can also visit our Facebook page where there are many more pictures from this awesome event. 

Michigan is an especially beautiful place in the fall.  The crisp temperatures help paint our trees with a rainbow of colors.  Share your favorite photographs with all of us by posting your best to our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/mi14gop or to our 14th Twitter at  https://twitter.com/.  We will recognize the best pictures submitted at our upcoming meeting.

 

All Republicans are welcome to attend this open meeting!  Please join us with your ideas, energy and help to make us grow!