The Hillsdalian’s recent profile of mayoral candidate Robert Socha might sound polished to the casual reader—but for Conservatives, it raises deep concerns about property rights, transparency, fiscal integrity, and the proper role of government.
Socha often speaks the language of liberty, but his actions and policy positions tell a different story.
On Homelessness: When Government Picks Property Rights It Likes
Robert Socha says he’s “a compassionate man,” yet he proudly told The Hillsdalian he was the “main driver” behind the city’s no-camping ordinance—and he has taken a hostile stance toward Camp Hope, a privately funded homeless encampment hosted by Hillsdale Community Thrift.
Let’s be clear: this is not about compassion. It’s about control.
Socha wants to expand government zoning authority and use municipal power to force people off private land without the property owner’s consent. That’s not just government overreach—it’s a direct violation of private property rights. If a private landowner chooses to help the homeless on their own property, it is not the government’s job to interfere just because it makes city officials uncomfortable. It’s bad enough, his solution to fix the homeless problem was to punish public campers. But, that’s what overreaching government does, punish everyone, for the misdeeds of the few, then claim to be compassionate.
If there are legitimate health or safety concerns, there are legal remedies—through due process, not intimidation. But using the weight of city government to shut down a voluntary, privately run solution to a real humanitarian issue is not conservative. It’s coercive. Punishing the whole, while making excuses isn’t the definition of Liberty or Freedom.
True Conservatism means defending the rule of law, not bending it to suit personal preferences. It means standing for all property rights, even when it’s politically inconvenient. Infringing on them with laws, ordinances and zoning is not the Conservative way, it’s using government as a weapon against everyone.
Socha’s record shows he doesn’t trust the people of Hillsdale to govern their own property—or solve problems without government approval. That’s not leadership. That’s bureaucracy wrapped in the language of virtue.
On Transparency: A Closed-Door Culture
Socha says he prefers to handle “sensitive business” before public meetings. That might make things smoother for city staff, but it betrays the principle of open government. Hillsdale belongs to its citizens—not its insiders.
The Founders didn’t spill blood so that government could work behind the scenes to protect egos and avoid public scrutiny. They believed in accountability through sunlight. If Socha wants to improve staff morale, he should start by restoring trust through honesty and transparency—not concealing disagreement from public view.
On Taxes and Cronyism: Accepting the Broken System
Socha calls property taxes and special assessments a “necessary evil.” But Hillsdale families struggling under record inflation and rising costs need leaders who will challenge unnecessary burdens—not passively accept them.
Worse, Socha supports tax programs designed to “encourage growth”—a nice-sounding phrase for government welfare. These deals often reward well-connected developers and shift the tax burden onto ordinary homeowners. That’s not fiscal conservatism nor Capitalistic —it’s local-level cronyism.
We don’t need another politician who plays the system. We need someone who will reform it.
On Appointments: Vague Promises, No Vision
When asked about his most powerful role—the appointment of board and committee members—Socha responded with ambiguity: “I’ll make the decision I have with the information I have at the time.”
That’s not leadership. That’s political evasion.
Our city boards set policy, shape zoning, and influence development for years. We need a mayor who will appoint principled, constitutionally minded citizens—not just reward insiders or hedge every decision.
The Heart of the Matter: Pick a Lane, Rob
It’s not the government’s job to cater to any specific class of people. But it also shouldn’t be working against them. Unfortunately, that’s a line Rob dances back and forth over. He often errs on the side of government involvement and expansion. The role of city government should be simple—maintain infrastructure, keep the peace, and protect liberty. It shouldn’t be about expanding programs, spending more taxpayer dollars, and maxing out the tax base.
Yet Rob has voted for practically all of that—and shown he’s willing to use government authority to pick winners and losers. That’s not constitutional governance. That’s managerial overreach. And raising the city manager’s salary at a time when many believe he should be removed is frankly absurd.
The sad part is: Rob could be a great leader—if he’d stop wavering on principle, learn the proper role of government, and start listening to taxpayers instead of city staff. Maybe this next year is his chance to show he can pick a lane—and stick to it.
Final Word: Hillsdale Deserves Better
Socha wants to run Hillsdale like a machine—quiet, closed, and obedient to government convenience. But Hillsdale isn’t a machine. It’s a community built on liberty, faith, and responsibility.
As Conservatives, we believe in limited government, not selective authoritarianism. We believe in transparency, not backroom dealings. And we believe in protecting all rights—not just the ones that are politically easy.
If Socha won’t stand up for private property rights now, what will he compromise on next?
This August 5th, let’s not settle for talk. Let’s demand truth, principle, and courage.
In Liberty,
The Hillsdale Conservatives.
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