Heritage Newspapers – February 19, 2010 - “County board doesn’t let politics get in the way of business”

By Mark Ouimet, Guest Writer

If you listen carefully as this election year heats up, you’ll notice that every politician loves to say these five words: “I work across the aisle.”

It sounds good, doesn’t it? It sounds like everybody wants to join hands and do what’s best for constituents.

The thing is, anyone can say anything they want. That’s easy.

But I actually have worked across the aisle. And I know firsthand how difficult it is.

A bi-partisan effort requires putting aside the ego and party politics. It requires staying focused on the issues, and remembering that resolving issues isn’t for the benefit of one side or the other. It’s for the benefit of all Michigan residents.  Read more…

News Release - February 14, 2010 -  The Manchester Ladies Varsity Basketball Team battles breast cancer on and off the court. 

On February 11, the Flying Dutch hosted the Vandercook Lake Jayhawks for their second Pink Zone game to raise money for the Kay Yow Breast Cancer Fund.  Both teams wore pink uniforms and a pink basketball was used to play the game. Mark Ouimet, Washtenaw County Commissioner and candidate for Michigan House of Representatives, 52^nd District, announced the starting line-ups of the teams and spoke about the importance of breast cancer awareness.  Ouimet underscored the importance of early detection and screening.  Prior to the game, Ouimet helped serve spaghetti at a dinner to raise money for the Manchester After-Prom Committee.

The Pink Zone initiative is a national effort to raise awareness for breast cancer. The effort, started by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association in 2007 strives to bring awareness of the disease to schools across the country. Over 1,000 high school and college teams participate in the program.

The team engaged in a number of fundraising activities, holding a silent auction the day of the game which featured team posters, items donated by local businesses and more.  For more details of the fundraising activities of the team check out this article in The Manchester Enterprise.

Chelsea Standard – February 10, 2010 – “Crowds turnout for winter carnival”

Local residents, fishermen and chili chefs flocked to Chelsea over the weekend to compete in several tournaments for the American Legion’s annual winter carnival.

Though area youth braved the 24-degree weather to participate in the ice-fishing challenge, the adults were heating things up inside the legion hall Saturday in a winner-take-all chili cook-off….

Washtenaw County Commissioner Mark Ouimet attended the cook-off as one of the judges.

“It’s a lot of fun and it’s an relatively inexpensive family activity,” he said. “I’ve been coming here for the past four years and the crowds seem to get better every year.”  Read more…

News Release - On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, Whitmore Lakes Publics Schools held a forum entitled “Community Conversation.”  The approximately 80 parents, students, teachers and other community members in attendance were asked a series of questions regarding proposed budget reductions for the 2010-2011 school year, and responded anonymously using a software program.   The district’s administration provided the audience with information regarding sources of funding, limitations in the use of funding depending on the source, reductions in funding, and the budget challenges faced by the district and the state.  Ouimet commended the audience for attending stating that this forum was a “high-quality first step” in identifying solutions to the budget issues faced by the district.  ”All of the programs are good,” said Ouimet, noting that addressing potential program cuts is not an easy process.  For more information regarding the forum and the information presented, contact the Office of the Superintendent of Whitmore Lake Public Schools at (734) 449-4464 or www.wlps.net.

Chelsea Standard – January 23, 2010 – “Other Voices: Michigan’s educational funding crisis”

By Mark Ouimet, Guest Writer

Projections recently released by the Senate Fiscal Agency in Lansing point to a budget deficit of $1.8billion for the 2010/2011 fiscal year. Under those projections, the School Aid Fund, which was sparred during the current fiscal year by one-time federal stimulus dollars, is anticipated to take a hit of $315 million.

Not twenty-four hours after the announcement of those startling figures, the Kids Count in Michigan Data Book was released. The annual report ranks Michigan counties based on a variety of quality-of-life issues that face our children, not the least of which is the quality of education opportunities.  Read more…

Chelsea Standard – January 20, 2010 – “Residents honor King’s memory”

Members of the Chelsea community paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in grand fashion Monday evening at the One World One Family community celebration… Washtenaw County Commissioner Mark Ouimet acknowledged the importance of the national holiday.

“It’s an important day for all of us to reflect on how we treat each other,” he said.

Ouimet, who spent the day helping coordinate Red Cross relief efforts for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, said often he thinks about how King handled certain situations during his public life.  Read more…

The Saline Reporter – January 12, 2010 – “County Board of Commissioners takes steps to reduce expense account spending”

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners has put into effect an expense account reduction that will see the fund nearly halved.

The measure is intended to send a message during a time when employees are forgoing raises and union negotiators have been asked to accept cuts to their member benefits.  Read more…

The Ypsilanti Courier –  January 14, 2010 – “Newly formed Chamber ready to get started”

County Commissioner and new board member to the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mark Ouimet, speaks before the group’s first Tuesday breakfast held this week.

“Today is as fine of an example as any that the invisible wall at US-23 is coming down.”

Those were the words of Diane Keller, president of the newly formed Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 12, at the first Tuesday morning breakfast of the merged organization. More than 400 people attended the first meeting group.  Read more…

www.annarbor.com – January 15, 2010 – “2010 Chelsea Community Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Washington Street Education Center (WSEC) hosted by One World One Family Task Force”

When:  January 18, 2010 at 7 p.m.
Where:  500 Washington St., Chelsea, MI
Admission:  Attendees are also encouraged to bring canned goods or personal care items to be donated to Faith-in-Action. Collection boxes will be available at the door.

The keynote speaker is Frances Kai-Hwa Wang. Ms. Wang writes the Multicultural Living column for AnnArbor.com. She will address this year’s theme for MLKJr. Day: Living in Harmony. Her column speaks to living with diversity and how to handle the everyday issues – good, bad and funny – that come with multicultural living.

Our State Representative Pam Byrnes and our County Commissioner Mark Ouimet will be sharing a few thoughts. Both have long been supportive of Chelsea’s efforts to celebrate Dr. King.

The winner of the 8th annual Carrying the Dream Award will be announced and Chelsea’s own Michigan Pops Choir will perform several songs to close the program.

Community groups are encouraged to come as a group and sit together. OWOF will be recognizing all groups in attendance

Heritage Newspapers – January 9, 2010 – “County Board of Commissioners takes steps to reduce expense account spending”

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners has put into effect an expense account reduction that will see the fund nearly halved.  Read more…

Heritage Newspapers – January 9, 2010 – “Ouimet plans to seek 52nd District House seat, continue life of public service”

As one of the most recognizable figures in Washtenaw County, Mark Ouimet leads an active life of public service.

Elected as county commissioner for District 1 in 2005, Ouimet is in his third term and plans to seek election for the Michigan House of Representatives 52nd District in November.  Read more…

Whitmore Lake Current - December 2009 - Letter to the Editor, Page 6

Though he hasn’t officially announced his candidacy to represent Michigan’s 52nd District in Lansing, Washtenaw County Commissioner Mark Ouimet was the guest of honor at a fundraiser at the Black Sheep Tavern in Manchester Monday.

Recently, the Manchester Enterprise sat down with Ouimet to ask him about issues facing the residents of the 52nd District…read more

Whitmore Lake Courant – November 2009 – Guest Column, Page 6

Ann Arbor.com – October 2009 – “People & Achievements in the greater Ann Arbor area including Mark Ouimet”

Heritage Newspapers -  Editorial September 16, 2009 – “Take time to thank public safety workers”

Whitmore Lake Courant – September 2009 – Guest Column, Page 6