Week in Review
City Council Midterm Grades
With City Council canceled this week, we took some time to put together midterm grades for City Council—and its CEO (who makes $200,000 per year and does not live in Hillsdale).
Ward I
Hardworkin’ Gerg Stuchell
Best line, on staff resignations: “Can we write a letter to Ginger from Council for gratitude? Something that she could hang on a wall?”
Notes:
Works 50-hour weeks and runs a small business on the side.
Most Decorous on Council.
Feels young.
Says the City Manager makes Hillsdale great.
Grade: D
Jacob Bruns
Best line, on Nurse Mackie: “It’s not the City Manager’s job to determine what’s appropriate. That’s Council’s job. The inappropriate thing going on is your political opinion being offered to this political body.”
Notes:
Useless in driving things forward.
Votes fine.
Occupies a seat.
Grade: B-
Ward II
Will Morrisey
Best line, recklessly assigning blame: “If people in the town treat our employees like crap, they’re going to leave.”
Notes:
Subservient to staff.
Eager to spend other peoples’ money.
Grade: C-
Matthew Bentley
Best line: “Some on this Council just plow ahead, indifferent to the will of the people.”
Notes:
For listening to the people.
Combative with out-of-line staffers, performative Councilmen.
Not as consistently belligerent as we would prefer.
Grade: A-
Ward III
Jogger
Best line, on government 101—too advanced for this Council: “Legislatures change the statute all the time.”
Notes:
Knows less about the Dawn than one might expect.
Sometimes seems to be up for a fight.
Raises fees on citizens but not nonresidents.
Grade: C+
Bitchin’ Bob
Best line, on comfort food: “The overwhelming thing that I heard that made me smile was that, ‘I can now shop at Aldi, I can now shop at Kroger, I can now shop at Meijer’. . . It’s comforting to see. . . The people in the front of the line—I kid you not: they were there at midnight—they came all the way from Flint.”
Notes:
Neither old.
Nor retired.
Nor wealthy.
Says Hillsdale is the perfect place, but votes to change it whenever possible.
Grade: D
Ward IV
Joshua Paladino
Best line, on Decorum & Professionalism in action: “We’re going to collect interest on a surplus, and then tax our residents and then collect interest on their inability to pay. We’re acting as a bank.”
Notes:
Speaks clearly and sets the agenda effectively.
Knows the charter and ordinances.
Has ideas about incremental improvement—but mistakenly talks about said ideas.
Scrappin’ with Mackie.
Still has man bun.
Grade: A-
Robert Socha
Best line, on the Win-Win: “We’re on the precipice of a launch into a Bright and Beautiful Future. . . It’s going to be magnificent and visionary.”
Notes:
Will solve the City’s problems by getting a $250 million endowment.
Asked Big Nurse Ratched for permission to run for Mayor.
Called Paladino “disingenuous,” rescinded his insult, and then reissued it.
Sound and fury.
Wants you to open up your pocketbook.
Grade: D+
CEO
David “Ratched” Mackie
Best line: “I prefer not to work with these elected officials who are willing to change voted policies on a whim to suit whatever complaint comes to them and I hope that soon the city’s residents will recognize their efforts are not for the betterment of the city.”1
Notes:
Performed admirably in his realpolitiking.
Cultivated a hostile (Decent) work environment.
Couldn’t answer basic questions.
Loves SADs, fees, permits, forms, ignoring the people.
Grade: F
External Links
“This petition effort is about protecting Hillsdale County taxpayers and our public safety funds from substantial and unnecessary financial risk.” Andrea Clark.
“It’s a running joke here that drunk drivers drive straight, and sober drivers drive like drunks.” Jacob Bruns, writing for the Michigan Enjoyer.
“Four candidates have filed the necessary paperwork with the Hillsdale City Clerk’s Office to officially announce their candidacy for the city's top elected office.” Corey Murray is as informative as usual.
“Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated a campaign finance law . . . but attorneys in Nessel’s office . . . determined they don’t have the authority to punish Benson.” Bridge Michigan.
“I can tell you this, that if, as the book reports, Cabinet members didn’t have access, that tells you that, as a governor in a state . . . I was busy working.” Gretchen Whitmer.
“Republican Congressman John James is getting a $5 million campaign boost from members of the west Michigan DeVos family in support of his bid for governor.” The Detroit News.
“West Michigan’s wealthy DeVos family is planning to set up a new political operation ahead of the 2026 mid-term election with the goal of turning the state Republican.” The Detroit News.
“Don’t ---- around with Medicaid.” President Trump.
“In the aftermath of the consensus machine, the 21st-century’s increasingly AI-enhanced digital public discourse grows more hallucinatory by the day.” Mary Harrington.
“The transhumanist mission will inevitably require a large number of human test subjects . . . utopianism always demands its blood sacrifices in the name of the distant paradise.” Ewan Morrison.
We should mention that these words are alleged to have been written by former engineer Kristen Bauer.
I have a different grading system based on what they personally have gained.
Stuchell-B-, edited. He's quite good at stroking his own ego and servicing his "constituents" those in govt. employ or benefiting from "the keefer". The Keefer isn't open so he's not reaping the full waffles with syrup rewards. I can't see what he gains but ego points, but people do value that kind thing.
Bruns-D-, in voting logically and calling out staff he has put a target on his back, for no real personal gain I can see. I fear Bruns is doomed, he has integrity.... it will be his heal.
Bentley-F+, in asking logical questions he has isolated himself from the feed trough. Bad move unless you already know the answers and can spin it for your benefit. He is smart maybe he will "learn", if only he can put aside his honorable character, it burdens him on council.
Morrisey-B-, He's done a nice job of saying and doing the necessary limited amount to maintain the "power" he is allowed. I can't see what he gains other than his position but some people value those kinds of things highly.
Wolfram-A-, similar to my neighbor Bill he does the right amount of doing but he's very good a chiming in to make sure the Dawn gets its "due" and whatever goes on does so out of his harbor-his "needs" are served while petting his govt. buddies real good. I'm quite impressed with Gary, he is doing a good job getting his.
Flynn-C+, Bob has the correct tone and delivery. He is pointed in the right direction but I'm not sure he's found a good landing place like many of council have. I honestly think if Bob had better info he'd destroy his grade... He just needs to tune out any other voices but those working in city hall and he will be on the right track for a better grade.
Paladino-F-, I can not figure out what Josh is doing... He has stood up for what's right and he has to know that is not how its done.... Just an all round failure I can see nothing he has gained but pain.
Socha-C- Robert knows what is right and wants to do it, then he get's his senses and pivots to better moves. Other than the road diet and camp hope it's hard to pin Robert down enough to see what he has gained other than position. I think if he really leans into it especially as mayor, just do what "the staff" says he could earn an easy B+, and a left turn lane into his home.
Mackie- S+++++++++++++++++++++++++, He gets paid 4-6 times the HOUSEHOLD average in county. He has no sads or mill-to-the-gill he lives with me in township, he has ultimate power to do as he pleases, he controls even the local press (HDN, Murray) it would appear. I really have no negatives on David he is the puppet master and he is masterful at it. No one has taken him on and triumphed other than a man with a driveway. David really is a man to watch and admire.... I do!
You fools have this all wrong, see these seats are about you, "gettin' mine" not serving the people.... When you WAKE UP and see that clearly you'll see the need to regrade based on merit not your fee fees.... Young idealistic immature FOOLS, stroke Lansing/DC, stomp on tax payer nutz, get money, serve self interest with that money.... Come on can't you see the play? There is no other curve worth grading, until the voters wake up and care... your just fooling yourself and encouraging good young men to make a bad wrong play.
"Sad for you, township for me"...... is the play young men, learn or be doomed.