Last year I ran for Ann Arbor City Council as a Republican. I was told that if I didn't run, the Democrat incumbent would run unopposed. I think that's bad for democracy and encourages cynicism and poor voter turnout, so I ran. Although I didn't win, I did get 40% of the vote, in an overwhelmingly Democratic town. I decided to run for Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner (renamed "Water Resources Commissioner") first, to prevent my Democratic opponent from running unopposed, but I am also running for what I consider legitimate philosophical reasons.
During my City Council campaign, it became clear to me that our local government's philosophy is to reverse the dynamic in the longstanding relationship between people and water. Instead of putting people first, this new philosophy puts water first, and regards people as hostile invaders. At times, this borders on outright water worship.
Water is a valuable resource to preserve and cherish, but it should not be forgotten that it is also an element, and a powerful element which can cause great destruction. I believe in responsible water management and use, keeping in mind that people come first. When I campaigned for City Council, homeowners in Ward 4 complained that government-mandated sump pumps were causing floods in basements that had never flooded before. I also learned about floods in the West Park neighborhood which resulted from poor water management practices. A local business owner complained to me that the Washtenaw County Water Commissioner had failed to clean his drain for many years and his complaints were ignored. Later, when the area was flooded, the Water Commissioner told him it was now a "wetland" and he could not drain it. There is so much water in Washtenaw County that vast areas of private land can be deemed wetlands. I think that policies that disproportionately place water above people in the highly populated, flood-prone area are irresponsible, and (ironically) end up causing sprawl. I would like to work for a healthy balance between people and water. Remember, there are historic reasons this office was originally called "Drain Commissioner." We live with water, and we must not forget that water is a powerful element -- and can be a foe as well as a friend.
Voters concerned with fiscal responsibility should also remember that the Drain Commissioner office is "the only elected office in Michigan that can directly levy taxes and borrow money without a vote of the people." As a local taxpayer I know how high our taxes are, and if elected I will do everything I can to prevent further financial burdens from being imposed on citizens.
While the office I am running for has been renamed "Water Resources Commissioner," its responsibilities remain those of the Drain Commissioner.
Please vote for Eric Scheie for Water Resources Commissioner, because we need a Drain Commissioner!
