Wayne County Government 101
Last year when I ran for Wayne County Commissioner, I had a problem with and questioned why the Wayne County Executive, Robert Ficano would give a County Commissioner like Burton Leland 20,000 in campaign contributions, which by the way is over the legal limit. I don't know about you but for me this represents a lack of separation of power between the executive and the legislative branch of government.
You see a Commissioners job is similar to a supervisor and they are elected to adopt a budget, approve contracts and watch over Wayne County taxpayer dollars, while the County Executive manages the day to day operations. The County Executive should know better than to give money to the very people that supervises him and I am calling on Ficano to pledge not to give anymore campaign contribution to County Commissioners--- "No man can serve two masters".
Now, there are allegations of corruption. Commissioner Leland who currently sits on the Health and Human Services committee and is interim Chairman of Wayne County HealthChoice has a very close relationship with Michael Grundy. Grundy is the first of Ficano appointees to be escorted out because of alleged evidence from FBI sources of pay-to-play, kickbacks from contractors, bribery, fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion which extend beyond Grundy. Grundy, the director of Wayne County HealthChoice --was suspended with pay.
FBI sources said Grundy forced payments of $50,000 from ProCare owner Robin Cole and Grundy would call Ms. Cole to complain if those payments were late. While this investigation is still underway and because of Commissioner Burton Leland close ties to Grundy, I wonder if Leland took any campaign contributions from ProCare owner Robin Cole?
As I said before this FBI investigation began, Commissioner Burton Leland and other Commissioners must be held accountable for their actions and should not accept money from Ficano. And in retrospect, all campaign contributions given to Commissioners by the Ficano administration should be returned or given to a community organization. These actions would prevent any impressions of improprieties and assure the check and balance we deserve.
Welcome!
Recently, I attended the Annual Legislation Black Caucus Conference in Washington DC. This picture was taken from the roof top of Charlie Palmer Steak where we enjoyed the annual Michigan/Motown Reception. It was a great trip and now I'm ready and energized to help President Obama win the 2012 election.
There were community leaders, elected officials and emerging leaders from all over the country. A free jazz concert and more sponsored by Congressman John Conyers and a Social Media & Entrepreneurship seminar sponsored by Congressman Hansen Clarke. I recommend you attend next year conference. Here is the website: http://www.cbcfinc.org/alc-2011.html
During another reception sponsored by The National Black Press, featuring Detroit's own KEM as entertainment, we were given for the first time, a Nielsen report which showed how much African- Americans spend. I will cover this very important report in more detail in November's McCormick Report. One fact that I must point out in this report is that the African- American population has a buying power of nearly $1 trillion.
I also thoroughly enjoyed attending the 41st Annual Prayer Breakfast at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Their was a performance by Vy Higginsen's Gospel For Teens of Harlem, NY. Gospel for Teens which is a school of Gospel, Jazz and R&B Arts that has grown to be a highly respected free youth program of teens 13-19 years of age.
The theme of this 5 day Conference was I LEAD. I SERVE. and it really spoke to my heart. POWER is not in the POSITION. Power is how you lead and how you serve. The sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, Pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, TX spoke to the message of service. He said "In order to sit in any position of real power you have to be willing to serve. "To sit where I sit, you must serve like I serve and you must be willing to pay a price to lead as did GOD, Martin Luther King, Mohandas Gandhi and others. The message was powerful!
The Mccormick Report
A few days before St. Patrick's Day I joined my friends in celebrating Commissioner Kevin McNamara birthday. Commissioner McNamara had a full St. Patrick's Day style celebration.
While there, I asked some folks, white and black who and what is St. Patrick. Only 2 of the 10 knew the answer.
So, I thought this would be a great cultural and educational moment. By the way, McCormick is an Irish name. McCormick is a family name that originated in Ireland and Scotland. Spelling variations: Cormack, MacCormack, McCormack, McCormick, MacCormick and Cormac. It comes from the first name of the original bearer. A person whose father was named Cormac would identify as Mc (i.e. "son of") Cormac; the
combination was continued as the family name by subsequent generations.
Cormac is translated literally as "Charioteer, Warrior". The name was a very popular choice of names by parents in medieval times: this was due to the influences of the Saint of the same name.
Who is Saint Patrick?
Little is known of Patrick's early life, though it is known that he was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father and grandfather were deacons in the Church.
At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken captive to Ireland as a slave. It is believed he was held somewhere on the west coast of Ireland, possibly Mayo, but the exact location is unknown. According to his Confession, he was told by God in a dream to flee from captivity to the coast, where he would board a ship and return to Britain. Upon returning, he quickly joined the Church in Auxerre in Gaul and studied to be a priest.
In 432, he again said that he was called back to Ireland, though as a bishop, to Christianise the Irish from their native polytheism. After nearly thirty years of evangelism, he died on 17 March 461, and according to tradition, was buried at Downpatrick.
Wearing of the green
Originally, the color associated with Saint Patrick was blue. Over the years the color green and its association with Saint Patrick's day grew. Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century.
He is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish, and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become feature of the day.
In the 1798 rebellion, in hopes of making a political statement, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on 17 March in hopes of catching public attention.The phrase "the wearing of the green", meaning to wear a shamrock on one's clothing.
The Re-Education of Detroit
Our Future Leaders
As the Detroit Free Press stated, "Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, who faced no opponent, helped Commissioner Burton Leland hold off a strong challenge from Monique Baker McCormick".
I am so proud of and thankful for my volunteers and supporters and I appreciate your hard work and commitment to my campaign. Your actions spoke louder than any words and spoke volume to your dedication to improving Detroit.
We all know that elections take money to win and most of my campaign was self financed so I can't help but think about the potential power of Detroiters. First, Just Think----If each person went to vote (600,000 people) In District 7 Northwest Detroit only 12,000 voted. Just Think---- if each of us in District 7 supported a candidate by donating just $25 (12,000 X 25= $300,000 per candidate). Just Think---- If each of us in District 7 took 10 people to the polls to vote (12,000 X 10 = 120,000 more votes).
WOW! What power we would have and our candidates would WIN. These candidates would truly be empowered, funded and elected by the people of Detroit. Can you image that? Yes, I can because there was a time, not long ago, where people came together and worked together.
So, I will continue my work of helping Detroit and Michigan move forward by reaching out to teach the next generation of leaders and educating our voters. I am asking elected officials and community leaders and others to join me in this effort by letting go of their baton. It's time to pass it on !
"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing."- Denis Waitley
Monique Baker McCormick
Monique Baker McCormick is a lifelong Detroiter (40+ years). She attended Detroit Public Schools (district 7); Alex Dow Elementary, Ludington Magnet Middle School and graduated from Henry Ford High School. She has a Bachelors Degree in Business and a Masters Degree in Business Management from Walsh College. She is an actively involved parent of two Detroit Public School students attending Ludington Middle School where she is L.S.C.O Vice Chair (Local School Community Organization).
Monique is an US Army Veteran, Community Advocate and lives in District 7. She owns and operates commercial property and is a licensed Broker and Owner of Unique Realty (a property management and full service Real Estate Company). Since 1995 she has sold millions of dollars in real estate focusing on property management and contract negotiation. Most recently, as a Home Mitigation Specialist for lenders around the country she has helped many Detroiters going through foreclosure to keep their homes.
As an elected Precinct Delegate and past Vice Chair of the 14th Congressional District, Monique has worked on national, state and local elections. Additionally, she is a member of Wings of Love Baptist Church, the NAACP, Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Coalition of Women in Labor, Rosedale Park Players, Coleman A. Young Veteran Post and the Community Coalition.
Currently, Monique is also Executive Director of Project Celebrity Read, a nonprofit organization which promotes reading and literacy by partnering with celebrities and organizations such as the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Public Library to sponsor reading events throughout Detroit. Yearly, Monique has given away hundreds of toys and turkeys to families in need during the holiday seasons.
On March 20, 2010, Monique Baker McCormick was honored as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. "Woman of the Year " and named one of the Most Influential African American Women of Metropolitan Detroit by Women Informal Network. Monique was also awarded "2009 Emerging Leader of the Year" by WWJ News Talk Radio and was presented with two Spirit of Detroit Awards in 2008.
We Deserve Better! We Can Do Better!
