PLATFORM
For some time I have been the only Spokane Valley Councilman standing for common sense:
1. I motioned to repeal the unwanted $20 License Tab Tax passed by this council without voter approval. I was voted against 6-1. Washington State voters were clear on tab taxes. I would never vote on any tax without voter approval.
2. I motioned to lower the stormwater tax that this council raised even above what was legally required ALSO WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL. They voted to keep your taxes high 6-1.
3. I motioned to have a financial responsibility ordinance (an idea that I got from CM Bingle who did the same in the city of Spokane) that would mandate the city include staff hours and costs for every proposed motion and ordinance. They voted 6-1 to keep those costs hidden from the public.
4. I motioned to end the practice of keeping the Valley's Committee secret from the public, they voted against 5-2 to keep committees a secret from the public.
5. I motioned to include the pledge of Allegiance at the start of every single Spokane Valley City Council Meeting, they voted against this 4-3.
6. I motioned to end this wasteful Sprague project 3 times, even bring a petition of more than 100 Valley Residents who were against this project. They voted against 6-1.
So what do we do when up against those odds?
We get the word out to the people on who the servants aren’t serving…
THE PEOPLE!
I'm not giving up. I'm coming directly to the people to help remind these councilmen who they work for, if they don't change, the people will remind them through elections next year.
In a lot of ways this is just like being a conservative in Olympia. To serve the conservative 4th district you have to be willing to standup to those in power and remind them who they work for.
Someone who will stand up to the pressure to conform and instead of voting in more taxes be ready to represent Washington State residents who want a better future with a smaller government.
I've proven that I am ready to fight for common sense conservative ideas, I want your help to take that fight to Olympia.
Here are some of the items I want to address:
ISSUE#1: Public Safety
Washington is grappling with surging crime rates, the spread of Fentanyl, and a growing homelessness crisis. I will advocate for legislation that reallocates marijuana tax revenue back to municipalities for law enforcement, support sensible drug possession laws to clean up our streets, and collaborate with organizations like UGM to address homelessness effectively.
ISSUE#2: Growth Management Act Reform
Our communities have struggled under the constraints of the Growth Management Act, which has led to mismatched city development and inadequate infrastructure, resulting in higher taxes and subpar services. I will work to reform this act to allow for development that aligns with our community needs.
ISSUE#3: Education
Having served as an emergency substitute teacher, I have seen the challenges our schools face first-hand, from teacher apathy to student behavior issues. I will push for more local control over school districts, removal of unfunded mandates, and sensible planning in school growth to ensure resources are utilized effectively without overburdening taxpayers.
My campaign is about more than these issues; it's about working tirelessly to make Washington a better place for all of us. I am eager to meet with you, the people of the 4th District, to hear your ideas and visions for our future.
Together, we can leverage our shared values to serve as a model for what Washington can be. I am excited to embark on this journey and humbly ask for your support as we strive to build a better tomorrow for our state.
I look forward to your feedback, your questions, and most importantly, the opportunity to meet each of you in person. Let’s work together to make our state a beacon of prosperity and community-driven success.
Al Vs His Opponents
Dear Friends!
Its time to face some hard truths:
Government needs to listen to people! The people spoke on the Sprague Road Diet, WE SAID NO!
Just like Olympia, this council, lead by one of my opponents Mayor Haley, walked right over the people and spent the 5 million on this wasteful project!
We need change at every level of government!
We need a person who can STAND UP TO THAT KIND OF PRESSURE!!
AL MERKEL HAS DEMONSTRATED HE IS FOR THE PEOPLE!
AL MERKEL HAS PROVEN THAT HE WILL STAND UP TO ALL THE DIRTY POLITICS THE OPPOSITION WILL THROW AT HIM TO TAKE YOUR TAXES AND SET THEM ON FIRE!
Because I have been strong on lowering your taxes, not wasting city money, common sense government, they have come at me and my family with “investigations”, Wacko “Private Investigators” telling lies, and even tried to ban me from city hall. I have stood up to all of it and kept the people informed!
Now our TAX AND SPEND MAYOR WANTS TO CLOSE ALL CITY POOLS and stop local street maintenance in order to make sure her “special group of people” staff all get raises. They are proposing a budget where all our city staff will make over 100k on average! Do you make that?
This is exactly what I will be facing in Olympia, and I have shown that I am ready to face it for you.
Lets do some fact checking on my opponents:
Mayor Pam Haley:
in Mayor Haley’s GOP Candidate Questionnaire she says the following:
What does success look like for this position and what key performance indicators should voters use to evaluate you?
“Success looks like lower taxes, stronger drug laws, constitutional values being held up in legislation. Increasing public safety and giving back to our law enforcement the tools needed to do their job would be a priority as well as reducing lenient sentencing for offenders.”
Reality:
Mayor Haley has raised taxes more than any other Mayor in Spokane Valley History!
Here are two specific examples:
Stormwater Tax: 6 Million Raised!
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/nov/21/spokane-valley-homeowners-will-pay-an-extra-37-nex/
License Plate Tax: 3 million raised!
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/dec/06/normally-tax-wary-spokane-valley-may-adopt-a-vehic/
9 MILLION IN RAISED TAXES!!!!
Dont worry Mayor Haley defended herself:
But lets check the facts!
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/aug/14/city-oks-telephone-tax/
Sorry Pam, Mayor Wilhite’s Phone Tax was only 3 million.
Don’t worry, your record of most tax raises is quite safe!
How bout drug laws?
Sorry Mayor Pam, when I proposed strengthening drug laws in the city
you voted against Strengthening drug laws in Spokane Valley :(
1 hour 32 mins into the video.
https://spokanevalley.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=1365
How Bout Constitutional Values?
Strike 3 for Mayor Pam :(
When I proposed doing the pledge of allegiance before every meeting
YOU VOTED NO TO DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
That doesn’t sound like a constitutional value vote….
3 hours 28 mins into the video
https://spokanevalley.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=1384
So I guess by Mayor Haley’s own standards she has utterly failed. Why would we give her a chance to fail some more?
Mike Kelly
Mr. Kelly seems to have changed his website somewhat, gone is the statement about not partaking in the DRUGS HE WAS FINANCING. I guess he realized that no one was worried about whether he had used some drugs in the past, everyone is worried about the fact that SELLING DRUGS HURTS COUNTLESS OTHER PEOPLE. Think about the lives who may have been lost ODing on his product, or those that may have killed each other over the illicit drug trade HE WAS FINANCING.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THINK ABOUT THE FAMILIES AFFECTED BY HIS DRUG FINANCING.
I believe in redemption, but speaking about how you took advantage of the prison library to figure out how to get out on a technicality is not impressive to me and
MOST IMPORTANTLY DOESNT INDICATE REMORSE FOR THE
PEOPLE YOUR PRODUCT AFFECTED!!
Sorry Mr. Kelly, I am unmoved. lets not forget that you have only lived in this district a few years! When I asked you what the most important planning issue was for Spokane Valley, you said “no, but I look forward to finding that out”. Well I encourage you to keep working on that, but not while you are supposed to be representing us in the senate…
Representative Leonard Christian
Rep Christian, every time you speak or write about this office you indicate that it is an exciting opportunity to ‘move up’. Here in your packet for the GOP you even write:
What does success look like for this position and what key performance indicators should voters use to evaluate you?
“With the retirement of the current senator, a path has opened for me to serve you at a higher level.”
I have a few things to say about this:
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The senate is not a “higher level” than the house. Both houses have the equal ability to propose laws and review the budget. Sure, the senators are there to be different, representing established ideas by having longer terms and less senators, it doesn’t make representatives (who’s position is designed to be more responsive to the people with shorter terms and more of them) less important. Political service isn’t about ‘moving up’, its about doing a job. I am running because I am not convinced that any of my opponents will do the job well and help 4th district Constituents avoid tax increases, and have common sense government, NOT BECAUSE I WANT TO ‘MOVE UP’. THATS WHY I AM GOING TO REMAIN ON THE SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL.
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THIS IS SERVICE NOT AN OPPORTUNITY. I am here to serve my community, my city, my district, my state, and my country NOT HERE FOR AN OPPORTUNITY. These statements don’t feel like district first, they feel like for you the most important thing is your opportunity, and that should not be the case. Not to mention, that nothing in your answer indicated any way to evaluate you at your job…
4th District Republicans
ITS TIME FOR A TRUE CONSERVATIVE TO WORK FOR YOU!!
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MY RECORD SHOWS THAT I WILL STAND UP AGAINST THE PRESSURE
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I WILL FIND AND PROPOSE REAL TAX CUTS
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I WILL STAND FOR CONSERVATIVE VALUES
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I WILL WORK FOR YOU!!!!
I ask for your vote and your support
VOTE AL MERKEL
for 4th District Senate