KCDP Podcasts

KCDP Special Podcast #1 - Convention 08 with Ron Crowell and host Martin Burch

Martin talks by phone with Ron Crowell who is in Denver at the Democratic National Convention. Ron talks about the sights at the convention, notably the level of police presence and the protesters. Martin asked Ron if he'd heard about the men captured who are suspected of plotting to shoot the presidential candidate, and he had, but didn't think the increased police presence was related. Ron talked about the grueling schedule with breakfast at 7:00 am and every night goes past midnight. We will be seeing a post from Ron on the KCDP web site as he blogs from the convention.

KCDP Candidate Podcast #7 - Patricia Crowley with host Katie Houston

Pat talked to us about the office of Drain Commissioner, the duties and responsibilities. She said "we try to help the crops grow, keep the water clean, the wetlands wet and the basements dry." Pat has a long list of qualifications and credentials including a Ph.D. in Soil and Water Physics and 25 years of experience. Pat wants to be drain commissioner because "we haven't put the time and energy in resource management" and she feels ready to do that. Her first priorities upon taking office are to make sure we have the resources, meet reporting deadlines and do permitting for developers done in a timely matter, but then wants to position the county into a better maintenence system than is presently in effect. Crowley believes people in Kalamazoo would like more control over their water. Pat touches on the controversy with Bill French and charges of extortion and his subsequent illness. She also said the replacement appointed by the county commission does not have the requisite experience for the job while Pat is a specialist with precisely the right experience and expertise. Pat talked about her tattoo on her wrist and the story behind where and how she got it. Pat was also in the Peace Corps and feels small around Samoans.

KCDP Candidate Podcast #6 - Michael Liepman with host Katie Houston

Dr Mike Liepman told us about the 14th district (the northeast corner). He was born in Kalamazoo county and lives in Richland. He's a doctor, a psychiatrist, and treats area drug addicts. He is married to Dr. Marcia Liepman, a popular cancer doctor in the community, and has three grown children, including one son who is a professor at EMU, another who is a chef in Ann Arbor and a strongman contestant, and a student at MSU. He has 400 orchids and lives on a farm with horses. You may recognize him from some local media reports about a recent tragedy in the area with a young person who died of a drug overdose. He cares a lot about drug addiction in Kalamazoo county, especially drug addiction in young people, and is running for the couny commission in order to address the issues of drug treatment, public health, and mental health. There aren't any commissioners who bring that experience and expertise to the county commission board at this time. Dr. Liepman is a very big supporter of the Kalamazoo drug court system and recognizes it as a program leading the nation in drug crime resolution and rehabilitation, and articulates in this podcast why a drug court approach is an important option for judges and prosecutors in our community.

KCDP Candidate Podcast #5 - E. Dorphine Payne with host Kevin Wixson

We discussed the office of County Commissioner and why she would make a good person for that office, her family, her work as a lawyer in private practice and experience in the prosecutor's office and as a public defender, her work and activism at Mount Zion Baptist Church, indigent defense, her passion for helping youth and communities and her love of spicy food, all while biplanes performed acrobatics over the party headquarters.

KCDP Candidate Podcast #4 - Sheriff Primary Special with host Martin Burch

This podcast is a candidate primary double feature - Ray Roberts and Richard Fuller, running for Sheriff. These two candidates are running against each other in the August 5th primary. Only one will represent the Democratic ticket on the November general election ballot.

In the first half we talked to Richard Fuller who talked about why he wants to be sheriff, his experience of 20 years in law enforcement and the programs he runs including the field training officers program, the meth amphetamine investigation unit, AED & CPR instruction, and Project Lifesaver. Richard focuses on the economic pressure put on the Sheriff's department in his campaign, as well as solutions to what he terms "breaking the chain of recidivism." Richard bragged on his family and his children who are taking advantage of the Kalamazoo Promise. Richard also talked about his feelings about unions and how they have had an impact on his life.  In his spare time Richard pursues his passion for local history and volunteers at youth camp in northern Michigan where he tells ghost stories. "Bale! Bale! Bale!"

Ray Roberts lives in Comstock Township and brings a "principals over politics" philosophy to his campaign. He is very concerned about "machine politics." He feels strongly that a candidate for sheriff should be willing to complete their elected terms before retiring. He told us about his experience in safety, survival training and law enforcement experience in the US Air Force, his work as a volunteer reserve police officer, his 12 years experience as a dispatcher at the Kalamazoo Township police department and his road side clean up program in Cooper Township, which he says is a program he would bring to the sheriff's department. A main issue in Ray's campaign is fiscal responsibility, and argues for procurement and use of fuel-efficient vehicles as an example of responsible practice. Ray brags on his family, including his adult son who owns a home in the county. Ray's personal passion is for motorcycles and owns a variety which he enjoys riding to Michigan's Upper Peninsula where he can appreciate Michigan's natural beauty.

KCDP Candidate Podcast #3: Phyllis Smith with host Katie Houston

We discussed Kalamazoo's 63rd district, where it is; her previous run for public office; United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951 (where Phyllis worked for 24 years); her motivation for running; fixed income and pension issues; her passion for health care and how lack of health insurance has affected people in her own life; action the state legislature can take to affect high gas prices; her bipartisan approach to the office of State Representative and her priorities for her first term of service, plus a Where's Waldo of strange environmental noises that are a biproduct of recording in the KCDP offices on Westnedge.

KCDP Candidate Podcast #2: Thomas Post with host Martin Burch

We discussed Disctrict 16 (it's the largest district by land, a quarter of the land area in Kalamazoo county,) Post's previous close race for the seat, Scott's Mill Park, Climax Crecent, Pride of Scotts, and how the corn steamed in an antique vertical boiler is a taste not to be missed.

KCDP Podcast Audio #1: Martin Burch with host Kevin Wixson

This week's guest: Martin Burch, Campiagn Coordinator for the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party

Discussed Martin's position as a support person for county Democratic candidates; important local races such as Don Cooney,  Julie Rogers, Phyllis Smith, Robert Jones, and others; the web site to use to find out if and where you are registered to vote, www.michigan.gov/vote; Martin's favorite voluteer opportunity, canvasing, and how walkers are hardly ever eaten by dogs anymore.