Ed Hauser: investigator MC

Ed Hauser was a marathon master of ceremonies who composed his strategies and tactics like a popular big band leader. He used stanzas of law: our rights, motivating us to attend his Citizen’s Vision preservation and improvement events. These “concerts” were held at government public hearings and protest rallies. Like a music fan, I dug his approachable literature and documentary video cameras, the line of thoughtful speakers with him, and his pointed legality at an Ohio Department of Transportation hearing.

The hearing featured ODOT’s shabby treatment of a potential complete revamp (and improvement) of the Innerbelt’s big bad bridge.

After opening up public records with the digging he’d done—the powers that be, (and there were many for Citizen Hauser)—took notice of the multiplicity of people he gathered behind him. Ed built tunnels into the power elite, found soft spots then probed vigorously. That was his music. You could say he used tunnel echo to raise thoughtful concern and action among the rest of us.

Orchestrating our liberties to work for the public good was Ed’s tune. I will miss him.

Lee Batdorff