Letters to the Editor: Rochester Hills Mayoral Election

The Rochester-Rochester Hills Patch mailbox is overflowing with letters to the editor about a hotly contested mayoral race that pits declared candidates Ravi Yalamanchi and Jim Stevens against current Mayor Bryan K. Barnett, who is seeking election as a write-in candidate.

Rochester Hills is unique in its approach to term limits. In most cities, he wouldn’t be able to seek a write-in vote when his term ends this year.

The original city charter did not impose term limits, but language drafted by the city attorney and approved by voters in 1995 allowed a candidate to run every third term as a write-in candidate.

In a phone interview, Barnett said he is “following the exact prescription in the charter that residents amended.”

What that means, in effect, is that if Barnett wins next month, he could then seek two more terms on the ballot.

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The election will be held Nov. 3.

Below are the most recent letters (edited for grammar and clarity, but not for content). All opinions are those of the author and do not reflect the editorial position of Rochester-Rochester Hills Patch.

Insulting Our Intelligence

As a long time Rochester Hills Resident, business owner and involved in many community organizations, I find it disconcerting that the current Barnett administration insults the intelligence of Rochester Hills residents by cheap gimmicks and mockery of our City Charter.

Historically, terms limits have been abided by every mayor that has held office since 1984. Bryan Barnett has served nearly 10 years in office as mayor (two years of the previous mayor’s term) and six years on City Council. In that time, he has grandstanded and self-promoted for the benefit of no one but his personal political aspirations. In his wake, he has disenfranchised residents and has totally disregarded the voice of the voting electorate but, most importantly, disrespected our City Charter time and time again.

I for one say to our residents, be aware before you know it our beloved city with a beautiful residential character will be destroyed environmentally by someone who takes more time communicating to Madonna than listening to the voice of his constituents. Our family wants what is best for Rochester Hills. Ravi Yalamanchi is an experienced man with high ethical standards to start leading from Day 1. The best is yet to come under his leadership.

— Linda Davis-Kirksey, Rochester Hills

Keep the Mayor on Board

As residents of Rochester Hills, there are many things we love about our city but at the top of the list is how safe we feel. We love our strong community where we look out for each other and the day to day safety we enjoy. We love that we can walk after dark without feeling uncomfortable or having to look over my shoulder. To us, it is a blessing that we are able to have our kids play outside without having to worry about anything more than a scrapped knee or a banged elbow. We are both truly grateful for that.

Equally, if not more important, is the top notch police and fire protection we enjoy in Rochester Hills. Under the direction of Mayor Barnett, this administration’s support of the Police and Fire Department has made our city an even safer place to live and raise our family. Thanks to the Mayor’s vision and willingness to enhance public safety in our city, we are able to rest easy knowing our outstanding public safety teams are well trained, well equipped, and at the ready.

We encourage our fellow residents of Rochester Hills to join us in keeping Mayor Barnett at the helm of our city. His attention to detail and steadfast support of our police and fire protection cannot be underestimated. Write-in Bryan Barnett for Mayor and keep our city safe. Thank you.

— Dr. Michael and Kim Williams, Rochester Hills

No Place for Negative Campaigning

Over the last three weeks I have received a half dozen mailers from Mayor Barnett asking for my vote. I’m OK with that, but the last two have taken a turn, with negative attacks on his opponent using out-of-context information. This I have a problem with.

We don’t need this kind of politics in Rochester Hills, but it’s more of what we have gotten from Bryan Barnett for years — invite in the water towers, invite in the oil companies, push through a no-bid trash contract, then deny any involvement.

It’s time for a more honest, more transparent city government, and time to ask Mayor Barnett to step aside.

— Chris Morris, Rochester Hills

Mayor Supports Seniors in Many Ways

As seniors in Rochester Hills, my wife and I strongly support Mayor Barnett as a write-in candidate for the election this November. We are both active in the Older Persons Commission and feel very fortunate to have such an outstanding senior center with so many services. When friends and family come to visit from out of town, they are always amazed by the things we have for seniors in our city.

Since we began going to OPC on a regular basis, we have seen Mayor Barnett show his support in a number of ways. We love his Mondays with the Mayor meetings and try to attend whenever we can to keep up-to-date on what is happening in our city. The Mayor also supports our annual picnic every year by bringing and grilling the hotdogs for our rather large group. Many of our friends and the people we talk to feel the same, Mayor Barnett is always there for the senior community in Rochester Hills.

Thank you for the opportunity to share our support of Mayor Barnett, and to encourage our fellow seniors to keep a good thing going by writing in Bryan Barnett for Mayor of Rochester Hills this November.

— Ross & Darlene Robinson, Rochester Hills

Time for Leadership Change

I met Ravi Yalamanchi, Rochester Hills mayoral candidate, on Oct. 10 at a meet-and-greet event at Country Club Village subdivision in Rochester Hills; I was pleased to meet Ravi at Talbert Circle.

By the time event was ended, he had convinced all the neighbors why he deserves their vote. I sincerely appeal to all my fellow Rochester Hills citizens to vote for Ravi for new direction.

We need someone like him to balance the need for peaceful healthy lifestyle and use of the 21st century technology. I encourage individuals to seek one-on-one meetings with Ravi if there may be any doubts. The current administration has done what they could. It’s time for change.

— Hiren Shah, Rochester Hills

Many Reasons to Support Write-In Candidacy

On November 3rd, I urge my neighbors to join me in writing in Bryan Barnett for Mayor.

I could tell voters that he deserves re-election because he has been a great fiscal steward and that despite having added funds to important city services like road and green space maintenance, he has still managed to produce a balanced budget for three years running all while holding the line on taxes. I could tell you he deserves to be returned to office because it has been through his leadership that our city now has the lowest crime rate in the state and we now ranks 16th in the nation among U.S. cities with the fastest-increasing home values. I might also mention that during his tenure, our community has flourished and as a result, Rochester Hills was voted one of the top 10 places to live by CNNMoney magazine in 2014.

Any of those factors alone would merit his re-election, but to me what really sets Mayor Barnett apart is his dedication to constituent services. I recently had need to call upon the Mayor and not only did he devote his time and attention to my call, he actually made every effort to address my concern.

Though I called others on the Council, only Mayor Barnett was willing and able to solve the problem. It is that sort of compassion and dedication that a community needs and we have been blessed by his desire to continue to serve in that capacity. I urge my neighbors to reward excellence, by joining me in supporting our Mayor.

— Lauren Dees, Rochester Hills

Frustrated with Bryan Barnett

Is anyone other than me getting flyer after flyer from mayoral candidate Bryan Barnett? Can’t believe it. He is done with his service as mayor. He’s served his two terms in office. Now he wants voters to write him in? Why?

Our city charter was written for the health and well-beingof our community. It is supposed to be honored by our elected officials.

I hope this community will wake up and realize this isn’t the first time Barnett has ignored the rules of the charter. He also signed a lease with an oil and gas company to allow exploration in our parks, even though the charter says “no selling leasing or change of parkland property without the vote of the people.”

It’s crazy what’s happening in Rochester Hills

Time for new leadership in our city.

— Rachel Ann F-Baker, Rochester Hills

Firefighters Endorse Barnett

Mayoral candidate Ravi Yalamanchi recently sent a mailer to residents of Rochester Hills insinuating that he has the support of the local Rochester Hills Fire Department. That IS NOT Rochester Hills FD. Where he got that picture. Who knows? The Rochester Hills Professional Fire Fighters Local #3472 does NOT support Ravi. He has a bad record of not supporting Public Safety in Rochester Hills.

Please stop using firefighters in your campaign.

In a recent op-ed Ravi said, “Recently a negative piece was sent out about me indicating that I voted NO for Police and Fire.” Moreover he states that “How would anyone not support their Police and Fire departments?” Well Mr. Yalamanchi, did you forget your entire comments from the Oct. 20, 2014, Rochester Media website? In that OpEd Ravi said, “I am voting no on the proposal.”

Your lack of support for public safety was made very clear. You did not support the fire department when over 70 percent of the residents did. You did not support making Rochester Hills a safer place to work, live or raise a family.

Rochester Hills was recently named the safest city in Michigan and we did not achieve this by accident. We have the leadership in place that’s dedicated to public safety and we need to keep it that way. Ravi, your policies and lack of support for public safety are too risky for the residents of Rochester Hills.

The Rochester Hills Fire Department local 3472 is proud to endorse the only candidate who supports public safety in Rochester hills and that candidate is Bryan Barnett.

Now is not the time to try something new in Rochester Hills. Let’s keep a good thing going and write-in Bryan Barnett for Mayor of Rochester Hills on November 3rd.

— Paul Wright, President – Rochester Hills Professional Fire Fighters Local 3472

Oil, Gas Lease Issue Not Dead

I’m saddened, but not surprised, that Mayor Bryan Barnett is resorting to half truths to try to win a third term. This professional politician floods our mailboxes accusing his opponent of undermining police/fire budgets and other nonsense.

This comes from the same Mayor who undermined his constituents and the City Charter by improperly leasing two parks and a cemetery for the purpose of oil/gas exploration.

At a recent Mayoral debate, Barnett told more whoppers; mong them, he announced that oil/gas was dead in Rochester Hills. Not true. No written assurances have come from West Bay Exploration or the city to back that up.

Barnett was asked, at Council, to get a written notice many times. Like many other broken promises, nothing has been delivered.

It’s past time for Barnett and the council members involved in the oil/gas debacle to move out of office.

— Clark C. Barrett, Rochester Hills

Accolades a Testament to Barnett’s Leadership

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 ,ayor, 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, Rochester Hills

Not So ‘Green’ After All

Over the last 1½ years, I have been working with other residents to fix a problem Bryan Barnett brought to our city: Oil/Gas exploration. Barnett tells us how green he is, but did he mention signing a oil/gas exploration lease in December 2012 for Tinker Park (by Adams High School), Nowicki Park (by Shadow Woods Subdivision) and Stoney Creek Cemetery?

Most RH residents have no idea still. Why?

If you don’t live near these properties, you wouldn’t.

There was no vote per the City Charter (Sect. 11.2: There will be no selling, leasing or changing of park land property without the vote of the residents....”), no public hearing for our community, no letter to all residents informing us.

I found out by a land man coming to my neighborhood in December 2013, a full year after the lease was signed.

We need a new leader in Rochester Hills.

— Jeannie Morris, Rochester Hills

(If you’d like to submit a letter to the editor on the mayoral race, please send it to beth.dalbey@patch.com. We’d like to hear from all sides on this issue. Thanks in advance.)