Chetley and I teamed up just a couple of months ago for this: theblogprof on "Off The Record" with Tim Skubick, April 9, 2010
This is my second blogger friend that has passed in the last year.Last November, I had to write this sad post: R.I.P. - Conservative Michigan Blogger David Hinz Killed In Auto Accident Today. If I get any details, I will post them here.
UPDATE: Went to a fundraiser this afternoon and got to talk to people. All were aware of the passing of Chetly. From what I could piece together, he wasn't feeling well on Friday. Nobody heard from him on Monday and perhaps even as far back as Sunday. So they went to his place this morning and found him sitting up on his sofa. The time of his passing is not known right now but it could have been Sunday.
UPDATE #2: From WHMI:
A well known conservative blogger and consultant has passed away. Chetly Zarko of DeWitt was found dead this morning at the age of 39. He reportedly passed away while reading, sitting in a chair in his apartment. Zarko has directed numerous petition drives and has worked as an investigative writer and political consultant in Oakland County for the past five years. He also currently served as a legislative aide to State Representative Marty Knollenberg. More recently, Zarko was the plaintiff in an ongoing Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Howell Public Schools district, which claimed that e-mails sent by union bosses from school computers discussing union business were "personal communications" and thus exempt from disclosure. Following the news of his death, Howell school board member Wendy Day is reflecting on his legacy. Day met Zarko after being elected to the board but got to know him better as she became more involved in the Tea Party movement across Michigan along with other projects. Day is also the founder of a group that was working to place a proposal on the ballot for Michigan to opt-out of federal health care reforms. Day tells WHMI that Zarko is well known in both liberal and conservative political circles and is well respected. She says he was very much a gentle spirit but also a soldier for liberty and was happy to be behind the scenes doing research and offering advice. She says he was an optimist and was also the one who exposed the fake Tea Party in Michigan, adding Zarko was a man who had his finger on the pulse of the movement. Funeral arrangements are pending.UPDATE #3: From The Mackinac Center for Public Policy:
Jack McHugh:
Chet's greatest passion was defending the people's right to know through the state Freedom of Information Act. The University of Michigan's bureaucracy was one early target of his dogged pursuit of the truth.
More recently, Zarko was the plaintiff in an ongoing FOIA lawsuit against the Howell School District, which claimed that e-mails sent by union bosses from school computers discussing union business were "personal communications" and thus exempt from disclosure. The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation and the Michigan Press Association are co-authors of an amicus curiae brief pointing out the defects of this blatant violation of the plain language of the law.Ken Braun:
My own favorite Chet story was during the board of canvassers hearing when Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer was giving instructions to board member Doyle O'Conner about how to spike the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative petitions (a campaign on which Zarko did extensive work). Chet put the video camera in their face, in a public building, when public officials were behaving badly.
The results speak for themselves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lJFWxR1ko4.Here is that vid:
Chet's version of the event: http://www.chetlyzarko.com/brewer.html.
I like this one because it was vintage Chet.
More at the link.
He was young. He was working against the unions.
ReplyDeleteI hope they do a thorough autopsy.