PAGE 9
THE CITIZE
AUGUST 1 .7, 1979
c COO
with job opportunity.
4. or with Busine
and Industry and other
local, tate or federal agen­
cies to make improvements.
Our city ha the re­
source and kno ho to
eliminate our 'unemploy­
ment of 15-23%. Thi can
be accomplished by the
total community and busi-
WILCE COO E is a candi- e orking together.
date for ayor. In 1968 he The encouragement of
received a diploma from ne industry and develop­
Oakland Community Col- ing of ne busin will
lege. School of Practical play a major role in re-
ursing; 1970 Certificate ducing the pre nt unem­
from Institute for Adult ployment rate.
Education In tructor ; 1975 In order to build the
Associate in Arts from Lake kind of unity which "
Michigan College; 1976 B.s. necessary to accomplish the
from Western ichigan goals e t for ourselve ,
University; and is a candi- e mu t open up channel
date for a asters at that of communication to meet
same school. Mr. Cooke is the needs of all resident.
a nurse at ercy Hospital. e must learn to voice our
His statement: opinions in a constructive
way - to build up and
not tear down our com­
munity.
And what may be more
important, we must learn
to listen to the opinion of
other and under tand that
the opinions are impor­
tant as our own.
e must al realize
that while opinions differ
one from the other, con "d­
eration must be given to
each and put into practice
hen tho opinions will
add to the quality of
Benton Harbor.
Toward this purpo ,
I f I am elected mayor,
I will:
1. or to de elop a
viabl m thod to involve
citizens in functi ns of the
government nd the com­
munity.
2. ys to end
dam ge to private proper-
tie busine and other
disruptive confrontations
in our total community.
3. See ways and means
to e the rate of polari­
zation among all peopl and
or for conciliation be­
tween all citizens, youn
and old, rich and poor
blac and hite, in our
communiti .
4. ncourage citizens
to attend council m etings
and become in 01 ed in
matters of ignificant im­
pact, to eep citizen in­
formed ..
5. Encour ge all com­
rru oners to dl harge
their obligation to their
con titutents by eeping
them informed on matters
of public interest.
6. or with youn
people and young adult
in building viable programs
for them in the total com­
munity be it in go rn­
ment recreation or edu
tion.
7. or to e t bli
youth center for all youth
of the city of Benton H -
bore A
8. or
community,
labor union and busin
in buildin a greater Benton
Harbor - BE P RT OF
TH SOLUTIO
Le dership is hat we vacancies occur
need in City Hall. That on the various governing
doesn't mean peache and board, announcement 0
fancy ord. Thataneans ac- those vacancies will be made
tion. To m it means: that the citizens can
- The buck top here. come forth with nominees
Citizens' complaints mu t for tho pots.
be addr d iftly and - The Michigan Tenant
. efficien tly by city aff. If ordinance will be adopted
complaint reach the ayor and enforced. E pecially
without h ving been addre - tho provisions requinng
d, then head will roll. the payment of interest on
- Public servants must curity deposits.
be just that - citizen must - Cooperative insur-
be treated ith re peet. ance for residents can pro-
- City or op on vide home owners coverage
ednesd y night will be as well as medical, dental
just that - wor ops. All eye and legal insuran.ce. It
go to department heads will be would take time to imple­
own eb pre oper -. required to attend so that ment, but it could be done.
tion, h ped organize High- a free exchange of informa- - For all tho staying
land Community Bank. tion will t e place. 0 in city-owned homes and
He organized the 79th more one man knowing for tho on fixed income ,
Street Busine en - t everything. isions 'can I ould propo to make
and t - helped Bla only be made b d on repair and Homestead
obtain financing to e tab- f ct . The department heads tho houses for a dollar
clothing manufactur- ha e that information. They to the residents.
ing firm, nigftt club and must be pre, nt to give and y chief concern is
printing company. take information. that the people of Benton
He carne to Benton ayor and Commis- Harb r get involved in the
Harbor in 1975 an loners will be available one pro e that governfheir
ent for ational Life night each eek to the pub- daily Ii s. The fir t step in
In urance company. He lic. On that night, the doing this and the m st
moved his family here and citizens can come and dis- important tep is to vote.
tarted the Citizen ne - c their concerns with I would urge tyou t
their elected leaders direct- vote. An acti electorate
tatement: ly. will problem being
worked on.
If I am elected mayor,
I will: 1. Support congres­
sional legislation to provide
public rvice jobs for the
chronically unemployed and
at 'the same time wor
to create other types of
employment.
2. Seek new ways and
programs to train citizen
who lac adequate training
to qualify for jobs or ad­
vancement in a job posi­
tion which they already
hold.
3. Support existing pro­
grams and agencies working
to locate jobs and will
support job training coupled
o
during Commi . on met­
ings when I kno that
there are issues that should
be brought to the ttention
of the public. I will not
condone or tolera e a clo-
d-door city government.
And, with the help of
the citizens of Benton Har­
bor, and me of the other
members of the City Com­
mi 'on, I beli ve it will
b po ible to �uild a great OLD E. S ITH . a I
future for our city. candid at for First ard
Commissioner running on
the Reo' ce Slate. He
a tea er t Benton
Harbor High. School d
h rved Pre . den t of
the Citizen' Advi ry
Board.
Returning the control
of the' city government to
the people will not be an
easy job.
As your city co mmi s­
. oner, I cannot promise a
quick lution to all the
problems that face us.
However, I can promise
to do all in my power to
root out any corruption
that exi ts in Benton Har­
bor.
I will not remain silent
E
government co-operative in
uch ventur �
For instance, senior
citizen ho ha skill and
are unemployed, drawing
social curity, are able to
earn up to 4000 a year
Without 10 of benefit.
Putting these people to
work, wi th their ills,
working together with un­
employed youns people,
teaching them these skills
w�uld go a long y
program is currently to ard simultaneously
being de eloped independ- lving the problems of
ent of the city through the housing and unemploy- 1'- --1
St. John' Community ment and provide us all
Counseling Center here- with a reason to feel
by low-income individuals self-re pect while working
and famili will be . - together.
ed in purchasing their own
homes in the city of Ben­
ton Harbor.
Th homes will need
to be rehabilitated. It is our
desire to make the city
R' a
didate for First ard
Commissioner. He -i run­
ning on the Candidate for
Change teo
ichael er mar-
qed, 0 children. He serv-
d for four years in the
United S tes Air Force.
He recei d his B.A. from
the Unise . ty of ichigan
and is employed with the
Social Securi y Administra­
tion.
A city re 'dent since
1975, Baker' member
of the Ad Hoc Committee
to form St. John' Ho ing
. d Coun ling Center. He
. Tr urer 'of onte ri
Ho of Children and a
member of the Bl0 m­
land Uni d Way Alloca-
tions Commit for three
years. He is P pre . dent
AFGE local 3351. Hi
F
�D