Letter to Editor: Royal Oak Police Associations Endorse Meinecke for Judge
Members of all three Royal Oak Police Associations list Derek Meinecke's dedication and devotion to the pursuit of justice as reasons to support his candidacy in the 44th District Court election race.
Derek with his wife Mandy and three children Drew, Kate and Jane.
Photos (1)
Photos
The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Det. Don Swiatkowski, president, Royal Oak Detectives Association:
As we near the general election date of Nov. 6, I would like to address the candidacy of Derek Meinecke for 44th District Court Judge. Derek Meinecke has been endorsed by all three Royal Oak Police Unions, and all three unions were proud to give that endorsement nearly 6 months ago. As Election Day approaches, please know that our support in Derek Meinecke remains firm, united, and can not be questioned.
Derek Meinecke is not a politician. Derek Meinecke is a well tested prosecutor and the only candidate with the pervasive legal knowledge and experience to serve the citizens of Royal Oak. His integrity and genuine concern for the law and those he serves is admirable and commendable. After an extensive career of serving with the Oakland County Prosecutors Office, Derek Meinecke is ready and able to be the next 44th District Court Judge.
As Election Day draws near, understand that by choosing Derek Meinecke, you will be choosing not only a dedicated, civic minded altruistic man, but also a man that has devoted his career to the pursuit of justice, the protection of the vulnerable, and the common good of all citizens.
Don Swiatkowski
President, Royal Oak Detectives Association
Dave Clemens
Royal Oak Command Officers Association
Jim Stehlin
Royal Oak Police Officers Association
Robert Turner
3:43 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
I wholeheartedly agree with the comments of the Royal Police Officers, Command Officers and Detectives.
Derek Meinecke was assigned to my court as an assistant prosecutor and he was the best assistant prosecutor I worked with over my 21 years as a judge. He is without a doubt the best candidate for 44th District Court Judge. The citizen's of Royal Oak need someone who is not a career politician, but rather an excellent attorney.
Hon. Robert J Turner
43rd District Court (Ret)
Dan Schmidt
12:03 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Seriously? Calling a guy who served for 8 years at 50 bucks a meeting a career politician? Pretty sleazy.
David Morrison
12:45 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
I am not here to comment on the Royal Oak judicial race. I don't live in Royal Oak anymore, and don't have a vote. As far as I'm concerned Meinecke and Ginotti are probably both well qualified for the job.
I find Bob Turner's comments outrageous. Ginotti served as city commissioner for 8 years, and never received more than $750 PER YEAR as a commissioner. That means over 8 years he received a TOTAL of less than $6000 for his 8 YEARS of service to the Royal Oak community. He received no additional benefits.
Bob Turner received well over $6000 PER MONTH plus benefits (for years) as an ELECTED judge. He now collects a pension of over $100,000 per year plus benefits on the backs of the taxpayers. Shame on you Bob Turner! You're the career politician, and you're living with a fat pension paid for by the taxpayers.
Take a lesson from Mr. Reid. He made a civil endorsement that no one will argue with. Maybe you should book an hour with him and lay on a pychotherapist's couch.
I suspect the diagnosis will be that you're a political hack!
ROA2354
4:32 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Hmmm...I think we have found the Ginotti supporters!
And what did Judge Turner say that was so wrong? This is not the first time that Ginotti has run for some sort of office...that would make him a politician! And by his dirty antics, calling him a "career" one was spot on!
Call us to defend Ginotti when he publicly denounces the attacks and says that he wasn't behind the smear campaign. Until then, how can you really defend anything about him?
Plain Coffee
6:10 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Dan, Its TWELVE BUCKS a meeting.
Hmmm
4:11 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Well, that's kind of a smack at Ginotti. "Career" politician?
How 'bout 21 years as an elected official for $140,000 a year, Turner?
Mark Itall
6:11 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Caitlin, Your "disgusted by Ginotti's campaign tactics" statement is a figment of a small group's imagination, or perhaps just yours. Both candidates have plenty to offer, Royal Oak will do just fine with either candidate. I also expect non-snarky endorsements from a sitting judge who should know better.
Donald M. Reid
8:38 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Donald Reid
Your endorsement of Derek Meinecke is a top drawer decision on your part. I have been serving the community of Royal Oak for 46 years (last year's Honorary Grand Marshall in the St. Patrick's Day Royal Oak Parade.). A lot of my work was exercising judgements about people in my work as Associate Director of the Boys & Girls Club and in my work as a psychotherapist in the community. Derek is a sound choice and a man of deep integrity, not just on the surface. It runs deep enough that he is a large part of the solution to Royal Oak's challenging problems of today and tomorrow. No one knows the course of future events. But I feel very good about Derek Meinecke being in a position of community leadership as the future becomes the present.
Dan Schmidt
12:06 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
I’ve heard the talk on the street concerning the recent allegations against Derek for the Royal Oak District Court. I’m not a lawyer, but here’s my question – While I’m not crazy about the method used to make the allegations, and having Derek's friends on here accusing Ginotti of doing them with no proof is even less wholesome--they appear to be TRUE. Derek has admitted that he took the money and according to his face-book posting, he continues to take money from defense attorneys who appear with him in court on criminal matters.
Is anyone concerned about this? If he wants to be our next judge, is there any reason why we aren’t asking him to explain himself?
ROA2354
4:29 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Dan -
Get it right - Ginotti's smear attempt said that Derek Meinecke's campaign was being funded by the defense attorney's of accused killers. What Meinecke said was that it was $75, and the attorney in question is actually a court-appointed attorney who was assigned the case. Why are we not asking Ginotti who is supporters are? Why has Ginotti not publicly denounced these horrific and unfounded attacks? Having Ginotti's friends on here defend him, attack Judge Turner and try to excuse the recent efforts by the Ginotti campaign are deplorable and unexcusable. Go give Ginotti another $100 - maybe he can print up more horrific flyers to garner support for his failing campaign.
Ronald Wolf
12:11 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
Don, you hit the nail on the head. I have observed for years that in too many Oakland County Courts including our circuit court that its the $$$$ first and justice not even a close second.
I do not blame Derek for taking the money as in this tight club that is just the way things are done and to my knowledge no one has ever refused the candy.
Does this put him in any obligation to these attorneys? Of course it does. Will he respond to these allegations? Of course not and unless he does I will go with Don Gionotti whom I can only hope will be the better choice considering his exemplary record of community participation and integrity.
ROAcorn1977
2:31 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Dan maybe we should ask all of the judicial candidates why they are receiving money from attorneys. Seems to be the practice from the Michigan Supreme Court on down to the District Court level. And it appears both candidates in this race are as well. If you take a look, among those supporting Mr. Ginotti is an attorney who has taken a pretty high profile case in Royal Oak himself that started in our District Court and is now at the Circuit Court. Looks like a hypocritical tempest in a teapot and not very productive as far as I'm concerned. I expect better in this race.
Plain Coffee
6:09 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
"Mr. Ginotti is an attorney who has taken a pretty high profile case in Royal Oak himself that started in our District Court and is now at the Circuit Court. Looks like a hypocritical tempest in a teapot and not very productive as far as I'm concerned."
HUH?
ROA2354
6:22 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Plain Coffee = Ginotti himself! Same snarky tone he uses when he updates his Facebook page.
Plain Coffee
12:34 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
What high profile case? You don't want my snark, cause you can handle the snark!
Ronald Wolf
11:52 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
Don Gionotti is in my opinion a good choice for the bench after I had talked to him and found him to be understanding about a misunderstanding revolving around my first short conversation with him that was interrupted. That he took the time to listen and apologized without hesitation in my opinion says a lot about his character and make him a good choice. The fact that he is friendly with our local politicians does not make him one, and he has his reservations about recent events. With strong roots in the community he has paid his dues and deserves your vote. Without a doubt he is one of us.