Be Heard
We can make government work for us. But only if we make our collective voices heard.
On this page is information to help you vote, write letters to the editor, and communicate directly with your elected officials. If you would like to make an even greater impact, go to the “Volunteer” or “Donate” sections of this website!
If you’re not sure to whom you should speak concerning your issue, please feel free to get in touch with me at (269) 830-9116 or ryan@hersha.org. Thanks for speaking out! – Ryan
Cast Your Vote!
To confirm that you’re registered to vote, find out where your polling station is, and even learn what ward you live in, you can visit the Michigan Voter Information Center. (There is also a map of the five wards available here, which can give you a general sense of where each ward is located in the city. To be sure which one is yours, though, I recommend using the Michigan Voter Information Center.)
The Secretary of State’s site also contains other useful information, including a demonstration of how to use the voting equipment and voting tips for college students. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about voting in Michigan.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 6. The polls open at 7:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM. Ryan Hersha’s name will appear on your ballot in a list of six ”At-Large” candidates. The four candidates from that list who receive the most votes throughout the city are elected.
Also on your ballot will be a list of candidates running to represent your ward on the Commission. In this race you may only vote for one person, and the top vote-getter is elected from your ward.
To see a list of all the candidates in the wards and at-large, check out the right-hand column in this Enquirer story.
Want to learn more about the candidates? The Battle Creek Enquirer’s “The 2007 Vote” page contains articles and even audio interviews. If you’re interested in researching the votes that incumbents have made while on the Commission, you can find minutes of meetings at the city website. (You can use that same page to study the agendas that Commissioners will tackle at their next meeting. The agendas become available generally on the Thursday before the meeting, which is usually held on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Please note that the first meeting on November 2007 will be held on the second Tuesday instead, as the first Tuesday is Election Day.)
Write a Letter to the Editor
To send a letter to the Battle Creek Enquirer online, click here. For some tips on writing effective letters to the editor, click here.
But don’t stop there! Be sure to contact the appropriate elected officials directly as well. Below is information to help you communicate with them. And here is a guide to help you make the maximum impact as you do so (requires Adobe).
Battle Creek City Commissioners
10 N. Division St.
Battle Creek, MI 49014
Email and telephone numbers here.
Calhoun County Board of Commissioners
315 W. Green St.
Marshall, MI 49068
Email and telephone numbers here.
State Representative Mike Nofs (House District 62)
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Phone: (517)373-0555
Email: mikenofs@house.mi.gov
State Senator Mark Schauer (Senate District 19)
S-9 Capitol Building
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (269) 373-2426
Email: senmschauer@senate.michigan.gov
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
PO Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-3400
U.S. Senator Carl Levin
269 Russell Office Building
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510-2202
Phone (202) 224-6221
Click here to email
269 Russell Office Building
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510-2202
Phone (202) 224-6221
Click here to email
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Debbie Stabenow
133 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4822
Click here to email
U.S. President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone: (202) 456-1111
Email: comments@whitehouse.gov