Long time city employee recognized

On October 4^th Phil (P-Nut) Goodlock began his 31^st year working for the City of Hudson. Today, P-Nut is the city’s Department of Public Works Superintendent. He is the longest serving city employee now, but in 1976, p-nut began as a CETA employee at a rate of $2.50 an hour, working through a temporary federal grant funded position at the DPW. In the 1970’s, the federal government, faced with high unemployment and a mounting energy crisis, started the CETA program, to fund employment and training opportunities in government and the non-profit sector. In many instances, these temporary CETA jobs, became permanent, at least that was the intent of the Carter era program.

Today, Phil Goodlock fills many shoes in his job as DPW Superintendent, including being the cemetery sexton. Overseeing the water system, the cemetery, parks, streets, sidewalk, snow removal, lawn maintenance. To name just a few duties. He is a ready resource in terms of our water and sewer distribution system and literally where people are buried.  

The work day begins in the early mornings for our DPW chief…………you can find him most mornings, including weekends at the DPW garage around 5:00 am, preparing for the workday, and deciding on job assignments for his top drawer crew of DPW co-workers………..that’s correct co-workers, P-Nut Goodlock is a hands on manager, just as his predecessor Sheldon Peltier was hands on. Sheldon taught him well.  

On Tuesday, October 9^th. Members of the city council and city staff gathered for a lunch to recognize P-Nut for his years of service. The City of Hudson and the community are very fortunate to have a person of Phil Goodlock’s dedication and devotion to work on its city staff.  

Election Day-Importance of voting

Early in our educational process we are taught that responsible citizens exercise the right to vote.

On Tuesday, November 6^th municipal elections will be held in Hudson, and most cities in Michigan. In our case, four of seven council positions are on the ballot.

Allow me to relate a story, a true one in this case, that demonstrates the importance of each vote. 

The year is 1983, and November elections are being held throughout Michigan in most cities and townships. In a small community north of Flint, city residents are following the campaign for Mayor and Alderman Positions (council members). For Mayor it is a rematch, between the two year incumbent Mayor, and his predecessor, a former Mayor that had served for 12 years, prior to being defeated two years prior, by a youthful 27 year old.  

At the time in that city, the position of Mayor was by direct at large election by the people, and not from amongst the alderman (council member). In November, 1981, the Mayor race consisted of a 12 year office holder, and a young former school board member. The race was hot and continuous, and the turn out would prove to be the largest in that city’s history. At the end of the day on November 3, 1981, a new Mayor was elected in a 36 vote squeaker. 

Two years later in 1983, the same names would appear on the ballot for the Mayor’s office, and the race would be hard fought. This election proved to be much different, the candidates, ended the election in a 388-388 tie vote. The outcome of the election would be full of uncertainty. According to that City charter, the Mayor and Alderman would take office 6 days later, yet who that person would be was yet to be determined. 

A tie vote followed a recount and legal challenge. In the 1980’s counties were just beginning to introduce computerized elections, with a mainframe computer reading the ballot cards. In this case, the election outcome was in technical dispute, due to some ballot irregularities.  

In Michigan at the time, and perhaps still today, an election that results in a tie vote, is decided by a coin toss. Yes, a game of chance would determine the election outcome. The same process that would be used for a Mayor, State Representative or Governor. The outcome would be up to a game of chance.  It should be noted, that the Michigan State lottery, had just recently started.

Following that November Election Day, with the outcome in dispute, tensions in the small city were high. Citizens would tell the candidates that they meant to vote or forgot to vote, or thought the incumbent Mayor would be a shoo in and their vote was not necessary.  

The election attracted considerable attention, some due to the tie, and some as a result of the ages of the two candidates, one a 55 year old former 6 terms Mayor, and the early 20 year old incumbent Mayor. The media loved the story, pointing out the importance of the individual vote and how that one vote can count. The tie election was picked up in newspapers throughout the country, and even network news.  

On November 17, 1983, News crews from Detroit and surrounding cities would cover the “flip”. The situation was somewhat unique, and a fairly new morning show, Good Morning America, decided to cover the flip live. An ABC news crew spent the morning filming the incumbent Mayor making his early morning rounds. This was an election outcome that attracted considerable attention, for what would normally be a low profile elected position.  

The 17^th was to be decision day, the “flip” would happen at the Genesee County Courthouse, and the County Clerk, would be responsible for the process. At the appointed time, supporters for both candidates gathered at the County Courthouse, with plenty of radio and television crews present to record the event. The process would be two-fold. A coin toss would determine, who would be first to draw a slip of paper from a small gray box, one which said “elected” and one “not elected” on two slips of paper, written in neat script. 

The County Clerk explained the process that would be followed. A coin toss would determine who would draw a slip of paper from the box first. Heads would be the incumbent Mayor and tails would be for the opponent. 

The County Clerk readied the shiny new quarter, and then tossed it. It came down heads. The incumbent Mayor then would draw first from the box. His attorney, drew for him, and pulled a small folded white paper, which contained the words “Not Elected”. 

So live on Good Morning America and that evenings network news on ABC and NBC, people witnessed democracy in action and the value of the individual vote. 

At a future date, the youthful Mayor, would come to hold various County state and federal offices, including the position of Chief Deputy County Clerk, which included responsibility for county wide election administration. The winner of the drawing would serve as Mayor for many years, and in 2006, at the age of 79 would become the City Administrator. In January, 2007, that formerly youthful Mayor would become your middle aged City Manager in Hudson, and still preaching the importance of each vote.

Thrillers Book Club

A book club for adults interested in reading mysteries and other fiction will begin on Thursday, October, 18^th, 7-8:30 pm at Lydia’s Book’s Store, located at 114 North Market. The bookstore was formerly named Hartman Books. The store has a wonderful reading area, which will make for a very comfortable meeting space. The book club will meet on the third Thursday of each month 

Club meeting dates and book selections for the remainder of 2007 are as follows:

October 18 2007:    Trains- A Hidden Childhood, Miriam Winter
November 15 2007:  A Perfect Evil, Alex Kava
December 20 2007:  Hard Row, Margaret Maron

The Hudson Public Library will have each of these books available for check out. In addition, Books will be available for purchase at Lydia’s Books; their number is 781-6021. The Book Club is a community activity, and there is no cost to participate. Do join us.    
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