I POLITICS
Anything But Lackluster
In West Bloomfield, trustee candidates strive to end
political bickering.
JENNIFER FINER
Jewish News Intern
HOT RACE
*******
local script is just wait-
ing to be written. The
topic: West Bloomfield
politics.
The West Bloomfield Board
of Trustees election has an
unprecedented 16 candidates
vying for four positions. Three
names appear on the Democ-
ratic ticket, for which no pri-
mary is necessary. The slate
of 13 Republicans will be nar-
rowed to 4
candidates
in the Aug. 4
primary.
The race,
which has
proven to be
anything but
dull, at times
looks more like a made-for-TV
movie than a political cam-
Paign.
Historically, Democrats
have not won races in West
Bloomfield Township. This is
the first time a slate of De-
mocrats will appear on the
ballot. And they are Jewish:
Richard Barr, Al Holtz and
Anthony Spokojny.
hi November, they will face
the four Republicans who se-
cure the most votes in the
Aug. 4 primary.
Meanwhile, candidates on
both sides eyeing the town-
ship board say the trustees
need a change. Board mem-
bers, they say, are known for
constant bickering over issues
and an inability to effectively
S'92
reach a decision. Many can-
didates say they decided to
run to put a stop to the
board's alleged ineffective-
ness.
The Republican candidates
see eye-to-eye on some issues
but their differences offer a
choice to voters in the prima-
ry.
Raymond Holland is run-
ning for reelection. He says in
his 23 1/2 years on the board
there has never been a unan-
imous board decision.
Mr. Holland does not think
the board is ineffective. He
feels things get accomplished
but he does agree the board
has never had so many prob-
lems.
"I think we have been ef-
fective but we are leaderless,"
says Mr. Holland.
"The inability of the board
to deal with the issues has
fostered a desire in a lot of
people to run," candidate
Marvin Lee says.
"The way the board con-
ducts business is embarrass-
ing. Calling people liars and
engaging in shouting match-
es shows a lack of profession-
alism," says Arthur Goyeau,
another candidate for trustee.
Ms. Draur, the township
supervisor, is running for re-
election and has done a little
campaigning of her own — for
others. In addition to running
her own campaign, she en-
dorsed a slate of of trustee
candidates.
Ms. Draur's endorsement
of Marvin Lee, Royanne
MacKellar, Michael Schwartz
and Larry Wasserman has
stirred heated debate among
the candidates. Those who did
not get her endorsement have
been quick to criticize Ms.
Draur and those running on
her slate.
It's virtually impossible to
drive through West Bloom-
field without noticing vast
numbers of candidates' signs.
This has caused controversy
with the current board.
Mr. Holland told the board
during its July 7 meeting
about an intersection with an
estimated 30 candidate signs.
Board members have pub-
licly recognized the need to
adopt and enforce a new sign
ordinance so that the signs do
not become a threat to safety.
Yet they have not yet passed
such an ordinance.
Beyond the political in-
fighting, candidates believe
the major issues facing the
township are road conditions,
growth and taxes.
They hold differing views
on other issues such as recy-
cling and taking care of senior
citizens.
Anyone who has driven
down Orchard Lake Road
during rush hour knows that
traffic in the township is a
problem. Candidates agree,
but their remedies are di-
verse.
Jewish candidate Allen
Adelberg speaks extensively
about alleviating traffic. As
an alternative, he suggests a
two-tiered road to be used as
a mini-expressway under an
existing road (like the Lodge
Freeway under Cobo Hall).
He would like to see the coun-
ty help fund this project be-
cause he believes the county
has done very little to im-
prove traffic flow.
"The population of West
Bloomfield is expected to grow
to about 80,000. How are all
these people going to get
home?" Mr. Adelberg asks.
Candidate Richard Andich
offers another perspective: He
would like to see roads like 14
Mile and 15 Mile widened and
he would like to see police of-
ficers directing traffic during
rush hour to keep traffic flow-
ing.
Marc Shulman, who is Jew-
ish, favors building the Hag-
gerty connector and joining
Haggerty and the 1-96 ex-
pressway to help traffic flow
smoothly.
The connector would build
an expressway parallel to
Haggerty Road from 1-96
northward.
Larry Wasserman, who is
also Jewish, is advocating
adding a center turn lane to
busy roads within the com-
munity, hoping to make the
roads safer and less con-
gested.
Mr. Lee says West Bloom-
field is at the zenith of its traf-
fic problem. Paving dirt roads,
widening 14 and 15 Mile
roads and keeping super-
highways out of the township
will offer some remedy to the
situation, he says.
Growth has always been a
heated issue in the township.
In recent years, a local group
CAMPAIGN WATCH
This is the fourth part of a
series on races to watch
before the Aug. 4 primary
election. Next week we will
take a close look at the
Oakland County Commis-
sion, the race for Oakland
County Prosecutor and a
Wayne County race for
Court of Appeals.
Allen Adelberg
Michael Schwartz
Marc Shulman
Larry Wasserman
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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