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Welcome. On this page, we will post rants, raves, and musings. Please stop in often.... -Mike Robocall
is Completed
O’Dell
Thanks Voters for Input
McCook,
Nebraska
– September 18, 2008 Today,
McCook City Council Candidate Mike O’Dell announced that all automated phone
calls, sometimes called “robocalls,” from his campaign had been completed.
“The call campaign was a success. We will begin delivering signs and filling
information requests this weekend.” During
the call, which featured recorded endorsements by former McCook Mayor and
University of Nebraska Regent, Dr. Don Blank, former McCook Mayor Dr. Jerda
Garey, former McCook City Councilman and County Commissioner Dick Trail, and
former McCook City Councilman Marty Conroy, requests were taken for yard signs
and campaign literature. Minor polling data were also taken. “We
had a surprisingly warm response. It demonstrates that McCook is capable of
great generosity when called upon. I am grateful for the support.” In
a September 15 news release, O’Dell acknowledged that automated calls were
unpopular with some voters, but pledged to broadcast only one call during the
2008 campaign. Mike
O’Dell, 46, is running for a seat on the McCook City Council on a platform
that emphasizes economic development, reversal of outmigration and holding the
line on taxation. O’Dell has been a resident of McCook since 1994, is
Chairman of the Red Willow Republicans and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in
Business Administration. More information about the candidate is available at
www.voteodell.com.
Ed
Howard Comments on Announcement
September 23, 2008 - Ed Howard, Statehouse Correspondent, Nebraska Press Association comments on robocall announcement in "The potential problems with term limits and robo-calls."
O’Dell
Apologizes in Advance of Robocall
O’Dell
Promises Only One Call This Season
McCook,
Nebraska
– September 15, 2008 Today,
McCook City Council Candidate Mike O’Dell expressed apologies in advance of
a voice broadcast, or “robocall” to be placed later this week. Scheduled
relatively early in the campaign season, the call will precede the onslaught
of phone robocalls to be placed by national campaigns in the last 30 days
before the election. “I
don’t know of very many people who look forward to receiving automated
calls,” O’Dell said. “We looked for other ways to gather information on
a city-wide scale, and this is the only one that made economic sense.” O’Dell
added, “The call addresses important local issues and is voiced by four of
our McCook neighbors, so I hope that will generate genuine interest.” The
full voice broadcast includes an endorsement message from four former city
officials as well as polling and information distribution options. The entire
call is expected to take about three minutes. An abbreviated version will be
directed at answering machines. O’Dell
concluded, “This is the one and only automated call that I’ll be sending
out this election cycle. If I interrupt someone’s evening meal or favorite
television program, please accept my apologies.” Back to the Future?
August 3, 2008
Last night, a friend reminded me of a piece I wrote back in 2003 introducing an issue of Southwest Nebraska News that dealt with population decline issues. At first, I was a bit concerned. Some of my earlier editorials were less than circumspect and I wasn’t looking forward to revisiting one of my youthful rants. Having re-read it, however, I thought it appropriate to link to this site. Although the Nelson institute no longer exists, and Chuck Hagel’s “New Homestead Act” never picked up steam, the remainder of the article is just as applicable today as it was in 2003. Five years later, we are still facing the same issues. You be the judge… http://www.swnebr.net/newspaper/cgi-bin/articles/articlearchiver.pl?156856 Who remembers Chris Overman?
May 20, 2008
Who remembers Chris Overman? Chris was a city councilman here a few years back, and by most accounts, he was a good one. When Chris was running for office, he would usually give a short laundry list of reasons that he thought he was qualified for the job. Regardless of the occasion, audience or forum, Chris consistently voiced his belief that a city councilman should “be able to understand complex issues.” To this very day, the memory of that statement brings a smile to my face. To suggest that a councilman should be “able to understand complex issues” is, of course, a no-brainer. We know that and Chris knew that we knew that. What Chris was telling us was that there were folks running against him, and perhaps one or two already in office, who didn’t necessarily fit that description. Now, I would like to add to Mr. Overman’s observation. I believe that any individual running for office—any office—should be in command of a well formed, but ever-evolving philosophy regarding the role that government plays in society. A candidate should have a clear sense of what government does well, and where it tends to fall short. As I look at the current crop of public servants—not just at the city level, but further “up ticket,” I have reason to question that not all of our decision makers are tuned into the question, “what is the role of government?” Without pols who give careful consideration of that question, I believe (and history has proven) that government can only expand, it can only bloat, and it will eventually engulf and smother the electorate that it wishes to serve. Stay tuned… O’Dell
Announces Launch of Campaign Web Site
VoteO’Dell.com
is Now Online
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
McCook,
Nebraska
– February 29, 2008 Today,
McCook City Council Candidate Mike O’Dell unveiled the first incarnation
of his campaign web site, VOTEODELL.COM. The site includes a feedback icon,
a page for individuals who wish to help with the campaign and a page where
visitors can request a yard sign. The site includes basic biographical
information about the candidate and a section called “rants and raves”
that promises to include position papers in the future. The site also
accepts PayPal for individuals who wish to contribute to O’Dell’s
campaign.
O’Dell
said, “At the outset, my hope is that the site will allow me to
communicate with the electorate, but if I do it right, they will also use
the site to communicate with me. “ O’Dell added, “The web site is just
one element of my attempt to be the most informed, well studied candidate in
the race—regardless of what other challengers may come.”
O’Dell, who is a candidate for one of two available seats on the McCook
City Council, filed for election before the February 15 filing deadline for
incumbents. Both incumbents up for election, Councilman Aaron Kircher and
Councilman Jack Rogers, have filed for reelection. The last day for
non-incumbents to file is Monday, March 3.
Mike
O’Dell is running for a seat on the McCook City Council on a platform that
emphasizes economic development, reversal of outmigration and holding the
line on taxation. O’Dell has been a resident of McCook since 1994 and
earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Bellevue
University. O’Dell and his wife, Tara, have two children. Cliff and Taylor
are eight and four years old respectively.
#
# #
Interviews and actualities are available
upon request.
February 23, 2008 The deadline for filing has not yet passed, and our campaign has already received two endorsements in the McCook Daily Gazette. Dick Trail mentioned a phone call I placed to him in his column, then Mike Hendricks responded in kind with a resounding “me too.” Granted, both of these endorsements are a bit light in the name recognition department, but at 45 years old with both gray hair and waistline gaining ground daily, being referred to simply as “young man” isn’t the worst thing that can happen. Dick
Trail's column
February 20, 2008 County
Chair Encourages Republicans Today, Red Willow County Republican Chairman Jerda Garey reminded area Republicans that March 3 is the last day to file with the county clerk’s office as a delegate to the 2008 Red Willow County Convention. Filing as a delegate is free and up to 50 registered Republicans can file before a runoff is triggered. If more than 50 Republicans file, those names will be listed on the primary election ballot. Delegates to this year’s county convention will decide upon local party bylaws and will be eligible to participate in the selection of party officers as well as delegates to the state Republican Convention. In 2004, a delegation from Red Willow County attended the state convention and won the party’s approval of language which is now included in the Nebraska GOP platform recognizing that the revitalization and repopulation of rural Nebraska is vital to the well-being of the entire state. Garey said, “Participation in the county convention is both personally rewarding to the delegate and strengthens the party. A strong local organization can only benefit our regions efforts at the state level.” The Red Willow County Convention will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the County Courthouse on Tuesday, June 3. |
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