Rex Hauser on the Issues.
A Proud Citizen.
- My wife and I have raised our kids in Mason schools. Kindergarten soccer coaching was a specialty, and I worked to get soccer fields when I was an Optimist (youth support group) president.
- I have worked as a leader of the Friends, a special needs kids’ program sponsored by Mason Community Services, an outreach group for all who have needs of any sort in our area.
- I know from personal experience the issues of old home preservation that ought to drive new public policies--incentives and tax supports, in support of homeowners.
- I am a Mason Second Precinct Delegate (precincts are divided by Precinct One to the east of Jefferson, and to the west of Jefferson, Precinct Two). It is an easily electable position. Your help is welcome if you would like to know more about becoming one and doing the ground work for change in Mason.
- I was a ‘player’ on the team which founded the local Mason Area Historical Museum in the nineties, and worked to get the Mason Electric Light Parade started many years ago (now under the Chamber of Commerce).
How to Govern.
- I believe in constructive engagement, building on what gains the city, state and country have made, and opposing the chaos that seeks to “tear everything down” so that some billionaires may glorify themselves by wealth or false superiority, or in elections bought and sold. Class warfare does not help toward success. I am not in support of a one-issue candidacy. (To support pot shops, for example, is not a good platform. It offers nothing to our youth, and there are plenty of such retail outlets available for adults who know what they’re doing. To oppose data centers, alone, is not an adequate program for council candidacy.)
- Politics should not be a matter of waffling between support for one demographic or another, a working class or a middle class, a Black class vs. a White one, etc. As a teacher I was well versed in Hispanic history, language and issues, and these are important to the development of this country and the Western hemisphere since the late 1400s. Human progress is about AND, not OR, and thus immigration is a foundation of the USA which we respect, while also respecting the lands and cultures of Native people.
- The struggle for dignity and rights is not about urban sectors, nor rural communities alone, but must involve both, and more. This has been clear from the struggles over data centers. Mason must welcome the people and interests of the townships around us, for their input and for a true balance of city interests with theirs. All people strive to do better, and get better lives for “them and theirs,” deserving a hand up. This should not be so difficult, in a community “of, by and for” the people, and for an area and country of all the people.
Protect Mason and Our Area
- In Mason we are facing the threat of water and land pollution, if untested data center technologies come in. How much of the aquifer underlying a large area would be affected? How affected would be our city water treatment facility, if city water is to be used or (hopefully!) not used up!
- I have spoken out at City Council meetings several times, and have urged caution, even a moratorium, but not a speedy approach. Now a referendum has blocked the zoning called M3 which was trying to restrict data centers from being encouraged or welcomed here. However there is the danger that the M2 zoning, less stringent, can be used by big tech and other investors, to plant a center. “Unintended consequences,” for the referendum? That cannot be good, if that happens.
On Extremism
- What I have seen far too much of recently is a willingness to throw personal charges about, in public, without knowledge of the people accused, or even caring to shore up any charges made against them.
- Conspiracy theories have been used online to fill in gaps where there is little or no information. Evil has been the accusation thrown at City and Council officials, and this is not good. I have said as much. I will not stand idly by when I see folks releasing personal contact information (called doxing), or trying to build a movement based on smearing.
- I have noticed people and politicians of extremist views trying to use City Council citizen speaking time as a platform for grievance and vendettas, or the goals of a political party which poses as conservative.
- As a Councilmember I will work for more community engagement outside of City Council meetings, because the format of the meetings seems to be plainly alienating to citizens, visitors from townships, and to members of Council themselves. When officials appear to be stonewalling, by keeping to the rules required of them, then we need to explain the rules better and suggest it for those engaged in public speaking as well. Let’s not permit attacks on persons, for example.
Local leadership
- At the Mason Area Historical Society, I worked for many years (three as VP, and three as President) until my children’s activities in high school became too much for my MAHS schedule. At MAHS – in creating the museum--- we worked to sustain financial accountability, never relying on the City or other governmental resources for funding, with excellent treasury work being done by Mrs. Patricia Harvey. I worked to effectuate the real estate transaction and a team of us improved the property at 200 E. Oak for museum use, displays, and public gatherings. We improved the building quality and value by 100%. The group continues to thrive and inform this area.
Community Leadership
- Mason Optimists meet every Wed. at 6:30am, at Bestsellers Extra. I have served as President, chair of Highway Cleanup, and more, for many years into the present. While president I obtained school and church permissions for several youth soccer fields, worked on contract agreements, and oversaw a youth bicycle rehab and reuse program. I work on the scholarship committee that distributes 15-20K per year to graduating Mason High School youth.
- My Local Church has had my services as Finance Comm Chair (two years), and Mission Chair for many years into the present. I served at Advent House in downtown Lansing for three years of weekends, in hot meal serving and at the children’s literacy program while it was going.
- MCS Leaders Group has been a good coalition to work with on community and individual needs of citizens, whether in networking and information, transportation, food insecurity, housing and medical, etc. The meetings once a month are open to community leaders of all kinds. A lot of work gets done by people just sharing their information and awareness of groups’ available services.