Wow. Every year this bush amazes me. Every year it gets bigger and more beautiful. I bought it as a starter plant from Siebenthaler’s, about twenty years ago and planted it in the middle of my backyard. I posted a picture last year and four years ago. 
Albert Griggs, Jr., shown here speaking last November 11 at the dedication of the Huber Height Veterans Memorial. Griggs served as chairman of the Huber Heights Military And Veterans Commission (MAVC)
This pandemic has a lot of people saying, “We are all in this together.” Wouldn’t it be great if we had a politics that would make this wonderful notion actually real? I have a plan.
I’ve spent my career designing and analyzing systems and I’m basing my campaign for the Ohio Senate on my commitment to repair and strengthen our system of representative democracy. Everyone knows that the big reason for the dysfunction of the system is that the citizenry is divided — polarized. It is amazing the hate towards Democrats that I read on Facebook. Of course, there is hate directed towards Republicans as well.
It is true that this pandemic means we are all in this together, but if a nuclear bomb goes off, we all will be in that together, as well. The truth is we, the people, are divided — and unnecessarily so. The wonderful people in the Sixth District have much in common. We are united by patriotism, love of country and love for our fellow humans. There is a big consensus in the citizenry to work together to advance the common good. Regardless, we, the people, are divided, polarized.
In our dysfunctional system, a minority is electing our government and this minority has no reason to deal with the majority. In Ohio, this minority has taken over the whole state government system as a monopoly — fixing the rules. In the U.S. Congress, this minority is divided into two hostile and uncooperative camps.
We need a system where candidates arise from a diverse community — not from a political oligarchy or a well-funded special interest. To fix our system, there must be leadership with a plan and vision. I’ve named my campaign, “The Campaign To Build A 21st Century Democracy.” My plan is to use 21st century technology to build authentic communities.
District Six has 240,000 voters. My goal is to engage at least one percent of these citizens as voting members in a “District Six Leadership Community.” The goal is for this group to fairly represent the diversity of the district and for members of this group to be committed to leadership — committed to understanding each other and to understanding issues. I want to work with a group who has a real hunger to understand and to participate in politics.
This Leadership Community will study and debate the work of the Assembly and will partner with me — empowering me to be an effective, responsive, transparent, and creative member of the Ohio Senate. This Leadership Community will be committed to developing consensus within the group. It will write proposed legislation and will engage and inform the public. The goal is for young people to become active, creative members and leaders in this civic community and for this experience to prepare these young people for eventual election to public office.
Members of the Leadership Community will team together in their local jurisdictions to engage and inform citizens and to build community. These teams will network together on district wide projects. One big project — to engage citizens of all persuasions — will be to develop civics education opportunities for youth. I’d love to see district-wide projects dealing with the U.S. Constitution (Constitution Day, September 17) and the Gettysburg Address (November 19).
There is a hunger within every person for community. Democrats need to champion a politics of unity, a politics of community building, and dare the Republicans to do the same. “We are all in this together” is a wonderful notion. We need to make it real. I am offering leadership and vision to empower civic communities that will bring citizens together into active and meaningful citizenship. This is the vision and the plan that can flip this gerrymandered Republican district. I am asking for your vote in this Democratic Primary.
My Civil Service Career
During my Civil Service career, I managed a wide range of programs and provided leadership to organizations ranging from approximately 35 to over 3,500 government civilians, military, and contract personnel. My experience includes cross-functional positions in strategic planning, program acquisition/management, and weapon system support. I worked in staff positions at Product/Logistics Centers, Major Commands, Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), and the United States House of Representatives.
Programs I managed: aircraft (fixed wing and rotary wing), space (space based and ground systems), Intelligence, Weather (space and terrestrial), Missile (offensive and defensive), and the integrated tactical warning and attack assessment network. I’ve worked with other governments on very sensitive issues. I held a TS/SCI security clearance when I retired from the government.
April 8, 2024 — four years from today — the Miami Valley will be at the heart of a full eclipse of the sun — the first full eclipse in this region in over 100 years.
Greetings. I am Albert Griggs Jr. I’m seeking the Democratic nomination for the Ohio State Senate, District 6. I retired as an Air Force senior civilian leader. In that role, I led organizations that designed and managed complicated systems. My life has been devoted to service. I am seeking election to the Ohio State Senate to continue to serve. I believe I can win this election by providing leadership, and vision that will inspire an awakened citizenry. (See below summary of my career of service.)
The shocking election of Donald Trump was a big wake-up call that our democracy is in deep trouble. This pandemic is a second wake-up call. The lack of preparedness of our divided and corrupt government is very disturbing. Many Republican leaning voters agree that our democracy is in trouble and that the polarization — the hatred and division within the citizenry — is a growing danger.
Fellow Democrats, I am offering the leadership and the plan that can inspire and engaged this awakened citizenry. I can win Republican votes and flip this district by showing my plan for being an effective senator of the people — all the people. I can win Republican votes by showing my plan to empower citizens and to bring citizens together in harmony. I’m calling my campaign, “The Campaign To Build A 21st Century Democracy.”
District Six has 240,000 registered voters. My goal is to create such interesting and challenging opportunities for service that at least one percent of these voters will want to become active in a “District Six Leadership Community.” The technology of the 21st century makes it possible to create a cyber space where hundreds of individuals can come together as a deliberative community.
This Leadership Community will study and debate the work of the Assembly and will partner with me — empowering me to be an effective, responsive, transparent, and creative member of the Ohio Senate. This Leadership Community will be committed to developing consensus within the group. It will write proposed legislation and will engage and inform the public. The goal is for young people to become active and creative members in this civic community and for this experience of service to prepare youth for eventual election to public office.
The goal is that Leadership Community members in every jurisdiction will organize, as a local community group, and will advance projects that inform citizens and that engage youth in civics education projects. The local groups will be networked together and will help each other to be successful.
Albert Griggs Jr. and Mike Bock — Glad to welcome Albert Griggs as a guest author today. This picture is from an event that Al hosted at the West Carrollton Library on March 7.
My campaign literature shows a beautiful picture of a total eclipse of the sun. I’m anticipating April 8, 2024 — the date when the entire Dayton region will experience a full eclipse. My goal is to do the work and provide the leadership so that, by the time of the eclipse, I can celebrate, with 2400 new friends, the light breaking through scattering the darkness. Within four years, I want to celebrate the establishment of an exemplary 21st century system of democracy in District Six, a model for the whole state.
We should learn from history. I am enjoying reading “How Rome Fell Into Tyranny,” by Edward J. Watts. Humanity suffered a great loss when the Roman republic became a dictatorship. If our politics persists in producing a divided and ineffective government, eventually, a crisis will provoke a big public outcry to end our incompetent democracy and to establish authoritarian control. If we are to preserve freedom for new generations, we must repair and strengthen our system of democracy now.
This pandemic is waking an electorate to realize that our democracy is in trouble. Worried citizens are ready to be energized by a campaign to build an exemplary 21st century democracy in District Six. Providing leadership and vision for building community and for strengthening our republic is how we can win this gerrymandered district. I have the message, the experience, and the plan. I am asking for your vote in this Democratic Primary.
My Civil Service Career
During my Civil Service career, I managed a wide range of programs and provided leadership to organizations ranging from approximately 35 to over 3,500 government civilians, military, and contract personnel. My experience includes cross-functional positions in strategic planning, program acquisition/management, and weapon system support. I worked in staff positions at Product/Logistics Centers, Major Commands, Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), and the United States House of Representatives.
Programs I managed: aircraft (fixed wing and rotary wing), space (space based and ground systems), Intelligence, Weather (space and terrestrial), Missile (offensive and defensive), and the integrated tactical warning and attack assessment network. I’ve worked with other governments on very sensitive issues. I held a TS/SCI security clearance when I retired from the government.
Secretary of State, Frank LaRosa
The primary election plan unanimously agreed to by the Ohio Assembly will dramatically reduce voter participation. Of course, participation will be suppressed at this point, regardless. But the plan approved by the Assembly advances the worst solution to a difficult problem.
I am flabbergasted that every Democrat in the Ohio Assembly agreed to this absurd decision. I can’t understand why our Democratic members of the Assembly did not support the clearly superior plan proposed by Secretary of State, Frank Larosa. I’m hoping there is more to this story than I know.
If the goal is to encourage voter participation, the Larosa plan is preferable because this plan clearly would result in many more people voting than the plan approved by the Assembly. Just the requirement to pay for the needed postage would discourage some voters. Greatly reducing the number of days that voting is allowed would have an impact. Why did Democrats not support the better plan?
The beautiful community room at new Kettering Library at Wilmington and Stroop is reserved this evening for a get-togther for area Democrats for the purpose of meeting Democratic candidate Albert Griggs Jr and discussing his vision for flipping Republican control of Senate District Six.
Albert Griggs Jr. — candidate for the Ohio Senate — will meet with Democrats this evening, March 9, at the beautiful new Kettering Library at the corner of Wilmington and Stroop Rd. There will light refreshments from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM and then Griggs will make a short presentation starting at 6:45 PM. All Democrats and all interested voters are welcome to attend.
The topic of Griggs’ presentation is, “The Campaign To Build A 21st Century Democracy.”
Griggs is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for Senate District Six. The Democratic Primary is Tuesday, March 17. Senate District Six has elected a Republican to the Ohio Senate for the last 35 years — reliably contributing to the big Republican 24-9 super majority. It is a huge geographic area consisting of about two-thirds of Montgomery County.
Griggs says that the dysfunction of our democracy is our biggest issue, and that Democrats can gain public support by structuring a grassroots “for-democracy” movement that builds unity. He believes that this is the issue that will inspire non-voters and unaffiliated voters to support his campaign. His plan calls for empowering citizens with opportunities to fully participate in an “E-Democracy” — a on-line participatory democracy — he is initiating.
Albert points out that because we fail to elect a government of the people Ohio’s tax system is opposite of what most citizens think is fair. He feels that that Republicans must be held accountable for cutting expected state payments to cities and schools in order to cut state income taxes for the very wealthy. He points out that in this latest tax cut, the one percent of Ohio income earners — average income over $1 million each year — will receive 20% of the tax cut. Meanwhile these tax cuts for the wealthy have forced an increase in property tax, sales tax, and other local taxes for everyone else.
Griggs pointed out that now low income earners are now paying twice as much of their income in state taxes than high income earners.
Albert Griggs says:
“Our tax system is very unfair. It is a tax system that a government of the people would never have implemented.
“The central issue of our time is the brokenness of our system of representative democracy. The suppression of the vote has been very deliberate. The lack of transparency and accountability of the Ohio Assembly has been very deliberate. The central battle of our time is between those of us who welcome democracy and those who resist it at every turn.
“I like Martin Luther’s words, ‘Here I stand I can do no other.’ In this 2020 election, our opportunity is to challenge voters to take a stand — a “for-democracy” stand. This is the issue that can bring citizens together in unity. I believe the more that Democrats show an answer to the degradation of our democracy, the more we will gain the support that will flip this Republican district. The public is hungry for something real.”
“I have a plan and structure for building unity, a plan for empowering citizens and giving them a voice. I have a plan for how as senator I will be accountable.
I appreciate Albert’s life story and his determination. Albert was born in Mississippi in a share-cropper family. He remembers not having adequate food or clothing. He grew up in Gary Indiana, in the same general neighborhood as the Jackson family and worked for eight years in the steel mills there. He served two years in the navy. He later served as a police officer in Los Angeles. Through a lot of determination he earned two graduate degrees and started on the ground floor as a civilian in the Air Force rising to the GS-15 rank. He oversaw billion dollar projects. He served one year as an Air Force Fellow working with our Democratic congressman, Tony Hall.
I am glad to endorse Albert. He is sincerely motivated to serve and to use his life experiences to provide the leadership that will make a difference.
I am looking forward to meeting with fellow Democrats at a get-together this evening at the new Kettering Library at Wilmington and Stroop Rd. I hope there is a good turn-out. All interested voters are welcome to attend.
See: The Montgomery County Democratic Party Shows Blatant Favoritism In Democratic Primary Endorsements
Glad to be with my friend Albert Griggs Jr. (on left) today at the West Carrollton library. Albert is seeking to be nominated to be the Democratic Party’s candidate for the Ohio Senate representing this region — District Six. Albert gave a short presentation explaining his vision for how Democrats can win this Republican District. His talk was illustrated with a power point and was entitled, “Building a 21st Century Democracy In The Sixth District.” There was a good discussion with the Democrats who attended the meeting. The Democratic Primary is March 17.
Albert Griggs Jr. — candidate for the Ohio Senate — met with West Carrollton Democrats today and discussed his campaign to win this Republican dominated district.
This Senate District Six has elected a Republican to the Ohio Senate for the last 35 years — reliably contributing to the big Republican 24-9 super majority. It is a huge geographic area consisting of about two-thirds of Montgomery County.
Griggs says that the dysfunction of our democracy is our biggest issue, and that Democrats can gain public support by structuring a grassroots “for-democracy” movement that builds unity. He is calling his plan, “The Campaign To Build A 21st Century Democracy.” This calls for empowering citizens with opportunities to fully participate in an “E-Democracy” — a on-line participatory democracy — he is initiating.
The goal is to bring citizens from all over the district to network together and to bring grassroots leadership to local jurisdictions.
Albert points out that because we fail to elect a government of the people Ohio’s tax system is opposite of what most citizens think is fair. He feels that that Republicans must be held accountable for cutting expected state payments to cities and schools in order to cut state income taxes for the very wealthy. He points out that in this latest tax cut, the one percent of Ohio income earners — average income over $1 million each year — will receive 20% of the tax cut. Meanwhile these tax cuts for the wealthy have forced an increase in property tax, sales tax, and other local taxes for everyone else.
Griggs pointed out that now low income earners are now paying twice as much of their income in state taxes than high income earners.
Albert Griggs says:
“Our tax system is very unfair. It is a tax system that a government of the people would never have implemented.
“The central issue of our time is the brokenness of our system of representative democracy. The suppression of the vote has been very deliberate. The lack of transparency and accountability of the Ohio Assembly has been very deliberate. The central battle of our time is between those of us who welcome democracy and those who resist it at every turn.
“I like Martin Luther’s words, ‘Here I stand I can do no other.’ In this 2020 election, our opportunity is to challenge voters to take a stand — a “for-democracy” stand. This is the issue that can bring citizens together in unity. I believe the more that Democrats show an answer to the degradation of our democracy, the more we will gain the support that will flip this Republican district. The public is hungry for something real.”
“I have a plan and structure for building unity, a plan for empowering citizens and giving them a voice. I have a plan for how as senator I will be accountable.
I am glad to endorse Albert. He is sincerely motivated to serve and to use his life experiences to provide the leadership that will make a difference.
I appreciate Albert’s life story and his determination. Albert was born in Mississippi in a share-cropper family. He remembers not having adequate food or clothing. He grew up in Gary Indiana, in the same general neighborhood as the Jackson family and worked for eight years in the steel mills there. He served two years in the navy. He later served as a police officer in Los Angeles. Through a lot of determination he earned two graduate degrees and started on the ground floor as a civilian in the Air Force rising to the GS-15 rank. He oversaw billion dollar projects. He served one year as an Air Force Fellow working with our Democratic congressman, Tony Hall.
Al Griggs, I believe, is the Democrat who can flip this district.
I was glad to attend today’s meeting in West Carrollton and Monday, March 9, I am planning on supporting Albert by attending his meeting with voters at the Kettering Library at Wilmington and Stroop. The meeting starts at 6:00 PM with light refreshments and Albert will begin his presentation at 6:45 PM. All Democrats are invited to attend.
See: The Montgomery County Democratic Party Shows Blatant Favoritism In Democratic Primary Endorsements
