More Political Turmoil in West Bloomfield Township

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More political turmoil erupted in West Bloomfield Township Tuesday with the sudden departure of assessor Lisa Hobart, whose allies say she was harassed and forced out.

Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste told The Detroit News Hobart’s resignation is “the greatest crisis” the township “has ever faced,” but clerk Catherine Shaughnessy says the dustup is a “controversy that doesn’t exist.”

Shaughnessy said Ureste and Hobart orchestrated the assessor’s resignation for political gain in township politics, which have been marked in recent months by recall efforts and contentious township board meetings.

• Read the full story on The Detroit News.

Shaughnessy, who has been targeted in the recall efforts, says the resignation is “nothing more than politics.” The recall petitions were not approved by the Oakland County Elections Commission.

Ureste issued a press release this week titled “Township finances placed in peril by Cathy Shaughnessy” that accused the clerk and trustees of Howard Rosenberg and Diane Swimmer of “politically attacking the assessor leaving her no choice but to resign due to the horrific working conditions.”

Hobart, who has been the township assessor for 16 years, said in November that she planned to retire.