Candidates For Bloomfield Township Supervisor's Seat Emerge

When he announced his retirement late last month, Bloomfield Township Supervisor Dave Payne pledged to help the board make a smooth transition to new leadership. But that may be easier said than done.

Both Township Treasurer Dan Devine and Trustee Leo Savoie have declared their interest in replacing the three-term incumbent, but have drastically different ideas of how to get there. Their notions and management styles could come to a head this morning when the board discusses the process to replace Payne at a special 8 a.m. work session at township hall. 

No decision on who will lead the board after Payne officially steps down Aug. 1 is expected, but how the board handles the process should be resolved by the end of the session, which is scheduled to last two hours.

Devine, treasurer since 1999, is calling for a special election for the remainder of Payne’s term that expires in 2012.

“Voters want a say in their government and they want their government to be run in the open, not behind closed doors,” Devine said in a press release circulated Wednesday by Mitchell Research and Communications, an East Lansing-based political consulting firm. “In the spirit of complete transparency, assuring that every voter in the township has a say in who the new supervisor will be, I urge Clerk Jan Roncelli and the elected trustees to join me in voting to call for a special election.”

Savoie, first elected to the board in 2004, wants to appoint a successor to finish the term and possibly run on the 2012 ticket. He said he has the majority of the board’s support and the experience and vision to do the job, according to an e-mail sent to supporters Wednesday afternoon in response to Devine’s press release.

Savoie suggested a special election would be too costly (potentially $80,000) and that state law already provides the board the authority to act quickly so that township business isn’t delayed. He said the difference of opinion with Devine is not personal, but noted the support he’s received from other board members thus far should not go unnoticed.

“The current board is cognizant of both mine and Dan's skill sets and leadership abilities,” he wrote. “By all rights he should be the person as Treasurer to get the nod from the rest of the Board. You need to ask yourself why he can't get the votes or support.”

Devine said the cost of a special election was closer to $50,000, and would be worth it in order to give every resident of age the opportunity to vote for such an important position.

According to the agenda for today’s meeting, Payne will give a brief overview of the study session goals, followed by a presentation on Michigan election law from Township Attorney William Hampton.

Members of the public will each have three minutes to address the board.