Letter from the Mayor informing a few residents of proposed targeted locations for oil exploration.
WHO’S WHO IN THE ELECTION, REGARDING THE OIL AND GAS PROBLEM?
Elections are around the corner, exercise your rights and vote. To find your polling place got to vote411.org. Don’t Drill the Hills does not endorse any candidates, but we will let you know where they are on the issues of oil and gas exploration.
Sourced Information
We’ve updated this information since the primaries. All material was sourced from websites, but did not include Facebook sites.
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Running for Governor of Michigan.
DEMOCRAT –
Mark Schauer (D) – No specific mention of oil and gas exploration on website, although he does speak to pipelines. On his blueprint page he discusses protecting the environment and securing Michigan’s Energy Future: “Protect Our Environment – The Essence of Pure Michigan — As the Great Lakes State, Michigan’s economic strength, our tourism industry and our citizens’ health rely on clean water. The state must get tough on polluters like Enbridge and require it to replace its aging pipelines like Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac, to ensure pipeline safety and prevent future oil spills….” He has additional information under READ MORE. In the second section he describes” “Securing Michigan’s Energy Future — Instead of spending $24 billion each year to import our energy from other states and countries, we must keep more of our energy dollars in Michigan. It’s time to set an aggressive, achievable goal for clean energy by raising Michigan’s Renewable Energy Standard to require 30 percent of the state’s electricity to come from clean, renewable sources like wind and solar by 2035…” He has additional information under READ MORE. Both Read More sections add details but neither address oil/gas exploration.
REPUBLICAN –
Rick Snyder (R) – No specific mention of oil and gas exploration on website. He does include a Energy and Environment section that reads: “Michigan needs a comprehensive energy policy that protects our environment while at the same time ensuring adaptable, affordable and reliable energy for Michigan’s residents and businesses….Energy and the environment go hand in hand, and we need an energy policy that ensures Michigan will forever be a place where we can enjoy our Great Lakes, forests, fields, rivers and streams.” The website also states: Michigan needs an energy policy that ensures we can be adaptable, have energy that is reliable and affordable and protect our environment.
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Running for Federal House of Representatives for District 8.
REPUBLICAN –
Mike Bishop (R) – Attorney, politician/Michigan Senate Majority Leader, and professor. Previously endorsed by Detroit News in the primary. Still no mention of oil and gas exploration on his website.
DEMOCRAT –
Eric Schertzing (D) – Ingham County Treasurer. Previously endorsed by Detroit News in the primary. He is endorsed by Michigan Clean Water. His website has been updated to include: “PROTECT PURE MICHIGAN – investing in clean energy creates jobs, and protecting our air and water ensures a bright and healthy future for our children.”
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Running for State Representative for District 45. Current GOP incumbent Tom McMillin is term-limited.
DEMOCRAT –
Joanna VanRaaphorst (D) – Currently a small business owner. Her stance is clear regarding Property Rights/Oil and Gas Leasing: “VanRaaphorst knows that the State should not allow high density residential drilling anywhere in Michigan, much less in Rochester Hills. The lines between state and local control are vague and need to be clearer.” Supportive of Don’t Drill the Hills, she stated: “Today I met with Jaymes Vettraino, the City Manager for the City of Rochester. He shared his insight on ways the State of Michigan could improve community knowledge and involvement in making decisions whether to lease land for Oil and Gas. How about a 30 day moratorium with a mandated public forum? Sounds good to me.” Her website has been updated to add the following: “With the stark reality of a new oil rig up in Shelby Township at Dequindre and 25 Mile Road, VanRaaphorst knows that the State should not allow high density residential drilling. Meanwhile, Michael Webber, other city council members and Mayor Barnett voted, WITHOUT the consent of Rochester Hills residents, to allow for potential oil and gas drilling in three Rochester Hills city-owned parks.
As a result, a new grass roots, bi-partisan group called Don’t Drill The Hills has been formed to educate local residents about the poor decisions of City council and to push to stop drilling in our neighborhoods. VanRaaphorst will work with local residents at the state level to help prevent this type of intrusive drilling that will lower our home values.”
REPUBLICAN –
Michael Webber (R)- Currently serving as VP of Rochester Hills City Council. Also an insurance agent. Previously endorsed by Detroit News. Previously there was no mention of oil and gas on his website. It has now been updated to read: “Oil and Gas Drilling: An issue regulated by the state, I would work across the aisle to craft legislation to address oil and gas drilling in High Density residential areas through increased setback provisions (currently 450 feet). I do support domestic oil and gas exploration in order to obtain energy independence. We must be mindful to protect owner’s property rights regarding the leasing of minerals below the surface.” Twice, he was among the council members who voted to lease parklands to oil/gas companies without a vote of the people. He did vote in favor of a six month moratorium, citing Senate Bill 1026 which has not left committee.
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Running for State Senator District 13. Current State Senator John Pappageorge is term-limited.
REPUBLICAN –
Marty Knollenberg (R) – A former representative, commissioner and insurance agent. Still no mention of oil and gas on his website but he has told cangnews.com “that while he had concerns about it being done near areas where there was a risk to property values, the oil was needed and it would create jobs. We need to be careful where it goes.” Another article reinforced “Knollenberg supports it – but cautiously. I think we need to approach it very delicately,” he said. “Fracking pulls oil out of the ground and creates jobs … on the other hand, there are concerns if you live in a home near fracking that it might be detrimental to your property values.”
DEMOCRAT –
Cyndi Peltonen (D) – A music teacher and former Board of Education member. She does not specifically mention oil and gas exploration but her website states “Cyndi knows we need to step up the pace of transitioning to clean energy and find comprehensive solutions to meet our long-term energy needs.” Endorsed by Detroit Free Press. Her website has been updated to describe an environmental action plan, but still has no other information about oil/gas exploration.
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Running for State Representative for District 27
REPUBLICAN –
Michael Ryan (R) – A dentist. Supportive of fracking on his website stating: “Throughout the early 2000’s, natural gas prices were rising rapidly due to falling production, causing our heating costs to skyrocket and our jobs that depended on lower gas prices to move overseas. Due to the ingenuity of the oil and gas industry, production of gas from shale formations has greatly increased the supply and dropped the price over 30%. Not only has this kept the cost of heating our homes more affordable, “fracked” gas displaced dirty coal as a fuel to generate electricity as well bring back jobs to this country. So why has my Democratic opponent stated that he wants to block “fracking” in Michigan? He claims that the small amounts of chemicals added to the fracking fluid that’s injected into rock formations thousands of feet below the groundwater will somehow contaminate our water supply, an unlikely scenario. What extreme enviromentalists such as him really don’t like about fracking is that it has stopped natural gas prices from skyrocketing, meaning that the financial feasibility of renewable energy, which is currently unaffordable to the average person, is pushed further into the future. Fortunately, even if my Democratic opponent is elected, more reasonable legislators will stop this nonsense that we should ban fracking. In other words, fracking in Michigan should be safe, legal, and rarely blocked.”
DEMOCRAT –
Robert Wittenberg (D) – An insurance agent. His website, which is unchanged since the primary, states “Robert is opposed to hydraulic fracturing and will help to protect our Great Lakes, to promote and support green building initiatives, and to further research renewable and alternative energy sources.”
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Please don’t forget Colleen Crossey running for Oakland County Commissioner. She actually helped collect signatures for the ballot initiative to ban fracking.
As a resident of Rochester Hills and attendee at Rochester Hills City Council meetings, I am appalled at the actions of current councilman, our Vice Presicent, Mike Webber, in regards to the oil drilling leases for city parks. I CANNOT support a candidate who doesn’t seek a vote of the community on such an important issue. Mr. Webber voted twice for this, without any consent or approval by US, the residents, the constituents he had been elected to serve. Its not only irresponsible its also very sad.
It is obvious to me that this issue of oil drilling in residential neighborhoods is not going to go away unless we vote out the people voting for it! I will be voting for Joanna VanRaaphorst and Cyndi. Peltonen. Mike Weber voted twice for leasing Rochester’s city property to the oil companies. Marty Knollenburg is too vague, which tells me he will vote the way the oil companies want him to vote. Rochester Hills was just voted 9th in the country as one of the best places to live! Let us not blow our stature!!!
I will be voting for Cyndi Peltonen as she has made it very clear that she recognizes Michigan’s Great Lakes as one of our State’s most valuable assets, not to be sacrificed. She is also aware of the great danger that frack waste, both produced locally as well as imported, poses. I believe both candidates would genuinely listen to their constituents and do what is best for our community.