Big Week in Bloomfield Area, Politically Speaking

Whether it was deliberate or just a coincidence, the run-up to Independence Day was eventful and included some surprises in Bloomfield area politics.

On Monday

Bloomfield Township Supervisor Dave Payne ended the township board's regular meeting by reading his letter of resignation, effective Aug. 1.

The three-term incumbent steps down after shoring up township finances, and with a little over a year left before the 2012 election. The board scheduled a study session for Thursday to discuss filling the supervisor's position for the remainder of Payne's term.

On Tuesday

U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, hosted a budget work session with constituents at Berkley High School. Joined by Sara Imhof, of The Concord Coalition, a Virginia-based nonpartisan watchdog group, Peters asked attendees to break into groups and troubleshoot the nation's $1.4 trillion deficit.

Also Tuesday

The state released the second batch of annual Michigan Merit Exam results. Legislators battled over how to raise the "cut" scores for the statewide standardized test earlier this year after data showed Michigan students lagged behind other states, in general.

The good news? Students in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district showed proficiency in writing, math, science and social studies that on average was roughly 30 percentage points or higher than others in Michigan.

On Wednesday

The Oakland County Election Commission reviewed and approved language for recall petitions against four members of the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education. The other three members face a similar hearing on July 14.

On Friday

 The congressman who could represent the entire the city of Bloomfield Hills under a recent Republican redistricting plan surprised many with his declaration to seek the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia, announced his intentions while strumming his American flag-themed guitar to bluesy rock music at the Whitmore Lake Freedom Festival. After leaving the stage, he said he's running because of the "situation in our country" and "in response to a lot of the events that happened in '08 and '09," referring to the $787 billion federal stimulus program and government bailouts.