Community Update

Next Tuesday is Election Day and there are important local
races and a few proposals on the Farmington Hills Ballot so do vote! A lot of
people feel “its only a local election and not important” but that is so
untrue. There is an old maxim the lower the level of the election the more
direct effect the results can have on your everyday life. So get out and vote
on Tuesday, if you haven’t voted absentee as I did.

Barry Brickner is running for re-election as Mayor and I can
predict with assurance he will win (he’s running unopposed). I have known Barry
a long time and he has done a commendable job and will continue to do so I am
sure. In the Council races I am recommending Samantha Steckloff. I have known
Sam for some time and know she was brought up “involved” in Farmington Hills
government. She will make a great addition to the Council. Eric Linquist and
Steve Schwartz also merit your consideration. There are also two rather hotly
debated school bond proposals and I recommend voting “yes” on both.  A great deal of money has been spent to
oppose the bond issues and what I believe is spurious negative implications
have been made. If you read the issues on the ballot, they are quite clear in
their intent and deserve consideration.

So much for 2013, now for 2014, all manner of changes are in
the works and it is shaping up to be a fascinating year. Will have plenty of
time to discuss individual races when there is more clarity on who the
candidates are but at this point kudos are due our former Mayor and current
State Rep. Vicky Barnett who has entered the race for State Senator. Vickie and
our current State Senator, Vince Gregory have made a great team representing us
in Lansing and I have little doubt Vickie will make a great State Senator and
work well with whoever runs for her seat – not going to mention names but there
is a little bit of a tradition here for the State House seat. Vince is running
for the 14th CD Congressional seat and Gary Peters is running for
the US Senate seat Carl Levin is retiring from.  Haven’t mentioned the Governor’s race and will
do that at a later date. I will say I’ve known Mark Schauer since he first was
elected to Congress and if he is the candidate against the incumbent it will
prove to be an extremely interesting campaign.  Mark’s strongest point is also his weakest.
Coming from the Grand Rapids area he is extremely well known and liked in the
western part of the state and almost unknown in Southeast Michigan. A lot of
people have asked me about him and I talk about what I can having worked with
him but he needs to work on building up his base here  

Which brings us to 2016 and while it is awfully early to say
anything definite, both Hillary and Bill Clinton have been crisscrossing the
country speaking at fund raisers and seemingly singing out of the same hymnal;
decrying the partisan gridlock in Washington and the need for mutual
compromise. Possible 2016 theme of a campaign? Hillary hasn’t said she is
running, but anyone that has doubt better have a prescription for whatever they
are smoking. Would I support her? Without question but I suspect there will a lot
of time to talk about 2016 a couple of years from now.