As a resident of Rochester Hills for almost 40 years, I have had the chance to witness any number of individuals serving as Mayor and while many have been excellent, none have served our city with as much distinction as Mayor Bryan Barnett. I supported the 1995 effort to amend the Rochester Hills city charter to limit the number of terms an individual might continue on as Mayor, but the amendment was crafted in a way that also recognized that in cases where the incumbent serves with great distinction, the residents reserved the right to hold on to excellence in office. The bar was set high for an incumbent, forcing a candidate for office to run as a write-in should they desire a third term. Given all the accolades Rochester Hills has garnered during his tenure in office, it is abundantly clear that Bryan Barnett has earned re-election and that in very quantifiable terms, life in Rochester Hills has improved with him at the helm. That is why I will be proud to cast my ballot for him on November 3rd and I urge others to do the same.
Sarah Dees
About Rochester Media
So why can’t the current Mayor just run on all those “accolades” instead of making up stuff and distorting his opponents record?
There’s something wrong there, or the Mayor really isn’t confident he can run on his own record.
Sarah Dees… best letter ever written in Rochester Media!
The original City Charter did not have term limits. The compromise was when this issue came up by three City Council members … three City Council members did not want to change our City Charter to include term limits, I was on the fence and felt the same way you do about term limits and made an amendment to the motion on the floor to add you could run as a write-in candidate every third term, and that passed by a four to three vote; and that was the language that our City Attorney drafted to put on the ballot to change our City Charter that at the time did not have term limits!
Scot Beaton
Political Experience former Rochester Hills City Council member 1988 to 1997
President, Rochester Hills City Council (2 Years)
I have to believe I am not alone when I say how disappointed I am that the Mayor has chosen to take what should have been a very positive message and turned it into a typical political smear campaign. My guess is that quite a few people will turned off by this and change their vote. Stick to the issues and accomplishments.