Justin Coussoule, the Democrat challenging Republican Minority Leader, John Boehner, to represent Ohio’s 8th District, last Tuesday spoke to the Huber Heights Democratic Club at their annual picnic. Great food.

Coussoule, 35 years old and a West Point grad, shows poise and thoughtfulness. He makes a good impression. And he spoke with conviction that the race is winnable and that he is in the race to win.

He has already raised $100,000 to fund his effort, not nearly enough, but a great start.

Coussoule spoke of the leadership and character that was emphasized at West Point, and said that although politics and policy is often emphasized, a congressional representative must be dedicated to being a public servant. He said, “Leaders of character choose the harder right over the easier wrong. They do the right thing, even when no-one is watching. And public service is synonymous with selfless service.”

Coussoule said a government of the people, by the people and for the people doesn’t just happen, but must be fought for. He said, “There is not a single issue that working middle class people think about and care about that John Boehner is aligned with. His priorities lie with the corporate CEO’s and the super rich.”

The President of the Huber Heights Democratic Club, Georgia Hickey-Wolf, introduced Justin. A transcript follows this You-tube video:

I just want to say a few things about the race. The big thing about this race is viability. I’d like to bust a few myths the first myth is that this is a Republican District. It’s not a Democratic District either, but it is an overwhelmingly Independent District — 220,000 Independents; 104,000 Dems; 99,000 Republicans,

The second myth is that John Boehner is overwhelmingly beloved … If you look at the Republican primary in May, Boehner had two challengers for the first time ever. And one out of six Republican primary voter cast their vote for someone other than their 20 year incumbent, Minority Leader, John Boehner — 16% of Republicans in the primary, voted against him. So, he doesn’t even have his “base” shored up. Even they are losing faith.

The last myth is that Democrats cannot compete in this district. But Democratic candidate for governor, Ted Strickland, in 2006, got 44% in the 8th District. And in 2008, Rich Cordray got 44%. These well funded professional campaigns did 5% better than they shot for. Just imagine what a well funded, professional campaign that shoots for 51% might actually do.

The other thing people say, “Well, Justin, doesn’t Boehner win two-thirds of the votes, cycle after election cycle?” And yes, that’s true, but he has not faced a real challenger in ten terms. People haven’t had a choice. And the good news is, there is a base. In every cycle, 33% or 34% of people in the 8th District vote against John Boehner. We could run a mop and a bucket with a “D” on it and probably get 33%. So there is a base to go up from. We are not starting from zero in this race, like a lot of people think.

Like most people, I value my vote. If I go into the booth, and it is the first time I see a name of a Democratic candidate person I’ve never heard of before, I might just vote for the devil I know, John Boehner, rather than a person I’ve never heard of. So the challenge in this race, and what we’ve not done in 20 years, is to get the Democratic name out, the challenger, and give voters one or two takeaways so they are comfortable with voting for an alternative. They are comfortable because they feel, “OK, this person is qualified, I’ve heard of this person.” …

But, here’s a thought: If you think it is tough running against John Boehner, try being represented by him. (Applause) … As much as it is about policy and politics in this race, it is also about public service. We don’t have a public servant, right now, representing the 8th District. We have a professional golfer and a coin operated one at that. … I don’t think there is a single issue that working middle class people think about and care about that John Boehner is aligned with. His priorities lie with the corporate CEO’s and the super rich — who is out on the golf course with, raising money. And, of course, that money is not used for his own race, instead, he gives it to other Republican candidates. That is why he is the Minority Leader. Boehner bought his position, and he will buy the Speaker’s Chair, if the Republicans win the majority and if he wins reelection.

People say, “Justin, why did you get into this race. You are not a politician, why do you want to take this fight on?” I believe we get the government we deserve and my wife and our children, and my neighbors and their children, and people across 8th District, deserve a lot better than John Boehner. This race is about what we learned in fifth grade civics class — that a government of the people, by the people and for the people doesn’t just happen. We have to fight for it, we have to earn it.

I’m in this race, because I believe what I learned at West Point. Leaders of character choose the harder right over the easier wrong. You do the right thing, even when no-one is watching. And public service is synonymous with selfless service.

I’m in this race, because we get the government we deserve, and we deserve better.

People ask: “How can we help?” You can spread the word, you can tell five friends or family members. You can join our facebook, twitter. You can wear my T-shirt or put a bumper sticker on your car, a sign in your yard, and encourage other people to do the same. Do underestimate the power of “word of mouth” in the District. You can donate your time. We need people to make phone calls and to knock on doors. … We need to get the word out … They say you need to hear a word or name seven times before you remember it. …

Many people need one takeaway: Justin Coussoule, he is a West Point guy, a veteran, I like him. Justin Coussoule, he is the guy from the blue collar family, his dad was a roofer, he talks about the need to make things again in this country, to refocus on jobs and the economy, I like him. Or, Justin Coussoule, he has a pretty wife. Whatever it is — people seeing or hearing the name seven times, and one takeaway. It’s as complicated and as simple as that.

One of the many lessons of leadership from West Point is that good leaders march to the sound of the gun. They arrive on the battlefield and they don’t delay, they head to the decisive point and they fight to win. They march to the sound of the gun. The guns have been raging in the 8th District for 20 years now. It is time for all of us to answer their call.

Thanks so much everybody.

Ed Schultz, host of “The Ed Show” on MSNBC, in a recent show, spared no words in ridiculing Republican minority leader, John Boehner, saying Boehner is the “poster child for the out of touch, elite, Republican Party.”

Shulz played the ad prepared by Blue America Pac showing the amazing statistics of how much golf Boehner plays each year (over 100 rounds), and how much money, each year, he spends on golf.  The ad states: “For those who want an out of touch golfer for a congressman there is  John Boehner, for everyone else there is Justin Coussoule.”

About Boehner, Shultz said, “He’s kicked the American worker in the teeth of health care, unemployment benefits — and wants Americans to be 70 years old before being eligible for Social Security.”

Shultz played a clip of Boehner appearing on “Meet the Press,” aired on August 8, which showed the host, David Gregory, becoming increasingly exasperated by Boehner’s refusal to reply to Alan Greespan’s view that it is wrong to extend the Bush tax cuts with borrowed money.

MR. GREGORY: …I’m sorry, you’re — that — you’re not, you’re not being responsive to a specific point, which is how can you be for cutting the deficit  and also cutting taxes , as well, when they’re not paid for?
….

MR. GREGORY: I just want to clarify this. I mean, if you — I’m relying on what Chairman Greenspan  said.  … He says that tax cuts  that aren’t paid for are not — they are not cutting the deficit , that they are not actually paid for, it’s borrowed money . And so do you believe tax cuts  pay for themselves or not?

The following is an e-mail that I sent this morning to Dr. Jim Schoenlein, Superintendent of Kettering Schools.  In this e-mail I communicate three items:  1) I applaud Dr. Schoenlein for his bringing to public discussion the new book by Frederick Hess that calls for a transformation of public education  2) I request an explanation of the new five year plan, that shows $19 million in savings and is the basis for moving from a request of 6.9 mills of new property tax, rejected last May by Kettering voters, to a request of 4.9 mills to be voted on in November.  3) I make a public records request.

Dr. Schoenlein:  Three items:

First, I enjoyed reading your editorial in the KO Times, with the title, “Educators Becoming ‘Gardeners’,”  centered on a book written by Frederick Hess, “Education Unbound:  The Promise and Practice of Greenfield Schooling.” You report that this book was part of a discussion by Kettering school administrators at a recent “retreat.”  Your editorial inspired me to spend some time Googling Mr. Hess and I found a wide library of his speeches and articles. Here is a link, at ASCD, where Hess discusses the book.

Mr. Hess articulates a point of view similar to the view I arrived at during my 30 years of teaching.  Hess writes about the need for “dramatic change,” the need for “transformation” of public education.   And as you report, in your editorial, “Hess believes that the key problem facing education is systemic.”

The problem is, as everyone who has spent any time in public education knows, achieving systemic change in public education seems near impossible.  Hess states, “Why ‘Greenfield Schooling?’  Our conventional approaches to school reform have not delivered and after 40 years, I’m suggesting, it is not likely to deliver.”

The idea behind “Greenfield Schooling” is that to arrive at the needed reform of public education, we must use unconventional approaches. For Kettering public education to realize its potential, we need visionary and energetic leadership and an engaged community.  By bringing the Hess book to the attention of the community, via the KO Times editorial, and by beginning a discussion with your administrators about the idea of “Greenfield Schooling,” I applaud you.  I want to encourage you to keep making the effort.  I am hoping that if I can form a community group that would commit to read and discuss the Hess book, and use the book as a springboard to discuss the future of Kettering public education, that you would agree to participate in such a group, and would encourage others to do the same.

Second, I spoke with Kettering School Treasurer, Steve Clark, this morning and requested an explanation of the new five year plan. He indicated that I would need to talk with you.

The new five year plan, prepared by Mr. Clark, shows a big change in the five year plan used to justify a 6.9 mill request for new property tax, rejected by Kettering voters last May.  The new plan shows a scaled down budget and is now the basis for a 4.9 mill request for new property tax that will be on the November ballot. There is a $19 million difference between the two five year plans and I believe Kettering voters deserve a thorough explanation. The first five year plan called for total expenditures over the five years of $440 million and the new plan calls for total expenditures over the next five years of $421 million.

The first year of the new five year plan is identical with the first year of the discarded five year plan.  It appears that $500,000 is saved each year by closing the  Moraine Meadows Elementary School for a total of $2 million for the next four years of the plan.  It appears that $1.5 million is saved each year in personnel costs for four years, resulting in a total of $6 million for the last four years of the five year plan.  I am requesting that you send to me the exact changes in personnel that resulted in a $1.5 million savings in personnel expense each year, starting in the second year of this approved five year plan.

Much of the remaining $11 million in total saving appears to come from a change in the amount paid to personnel in salary and benefits.  In the previous five year plan, the inflation for personnel expenses was shown at 4.8% and the rate in the new plan is shown at 2.8%.  Is there a further attrition in staffing planned or does the reduced inflation rate in the new plan indicate that the board has established a policy of significantly reducing the inflation of salaries in new contracts for personnel?

Third, As you know, I have been receiving a copy of board material, at the time of each board meeting, and paying 5 cents per xeroxed copy.  I’m surprised that none of this xeroxed material contains answers to the questions I ask above.  Certainly, there must be a record of the Kettering Board members asking the same questions I ask above, and, in fact, much better questions than what I’ve thought to ask. And, I’m thinking, there must be a record of the answers to such questions.

By this e-mail, I am making a request for a copy of all reports, letters, memos and e-mails provided to Kettering School Board Members, and any communications shared with your administrative team, that are designated in Ohio law as public information, from the time period of May 1, 2010 through today’s date, August 8, 2010.

Thank you very much.  Here is wishing you a great year.

Sincerely,

Mike Bock

Old Forecast — Predicting a need for 6.9 Mills

New Forecast — Predicting a need for 4.9 Mills