SOUTHFIELD Maintaining Quality Southfield candidates address diversity, taxes and crime. JENNIFER FINER JEWISH NEWS INTERN S outhfield's diverse popu- lation sets it apart from most other cities in Michi- gan — except when it comes to state funding. Since the governor and the state legislature voted to cut property taxes, the major source of funding for public schools, Southfield, like other munici- Myron Frasier In the open race for four seats, voters can select four of the following six: Peter Cris- tiano, Suzanne Goldstein, Steve Hurite, Eli Robinson, Vincent Gregory and Milton Dzodin. The top three vote-getters will serve for four years, and the fourth-place candidate will serve two years. Council mem- bers Vicki Goldbaum and Sidney Lantz are not up for reelection. Jean Cristy Osborn is the only candidate attempting to unseat Mayor Donald Fra- cassi. Candidates fear that once the dust settles, the city council could be faced with difficult budget allocation de- cisions. "One of my greatest con- cerns is the changes taking place in government and what it will mean for the city," said Suzanne Gold- stein, a 12-year city council veteran."Right now, funding is up in the air and we're con- cerned about whether we will be able to provide city ser- vices in the same way." Steve Hurite, a sales and engineering manager and 22- year council member, said there are a handful of important is- sues in Southfield but the city needs to know what type of bud- palities, is wondering just how much state aid the city will lose in the process. With the elections just a few days away, candidates for the city council and may- or's office have expressed some concern about what Southfield stands to lose. On Tuesday, Southfield residents will be asked to se- lect five people to serve on its seven-seat city council. Six will battle it out for four open seats, and two candidates are in the running to fill a seat vacated by former City Coun- cil member Denise Alexan- der, who resigned in 1992 to accept a political appoint- ment with the Bush admin- istration. Myron Frasier was ap- pointed to serve out the bal- ance of Ms. Alexander's term. He is running against Joan Seymour for a special two- Vincent Gregory year term. Milton Dzodin, owner of the Michigan Silver Ex- change, said he would like to implement a program in which fire fighters are cross trained as police of- ficers. Vincent Gregory, a po- lice detective with the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, said he would be tough on crime. He advocates curbing the crime rate before it gets to be a problem for the city. Maintaining the diver- sity and viability of the city was also high on the list of the candidates' po- litical agendas. Eli Robinson, a CPA and eight-year council vet- eran, said because devel- opment in the city has Donald Fracas& slowed, it is important to Milton Dzodin start an outreach program to by visiting different religious in- get it will be working with in or- find out what it takes to attract stitutions and finding out what der to finance city operations and keep businesses in South- their needs are. and services. field. "That's where you get the Donald Fracassi, Southfield's "We need to know how to pulse of the city," Mr. Dzodin mayor since 1972, agrees. keep this community from mov- said. "When revenues are cut, you ing and leaving institutional de- Like Ms. Goldstein, candi- have to look at services and pri- bris behind," Mr. Robinson said. dates believe the best way for oritize," Mr. Fracassi said. "The The quality of life for South- the city to survive-is by main- city has set some funds aside so field residents is important for taining a diverse population we could withstand some ac- candidate Joan Seymour. She `and keeping the lines of com- tion, but we'd have to start cut- wants to encourage people to munication open. ting back on things like parks move to the city and keep cur- Ms. Osborn praised the and recreation programs. Ser- Southfield/Lathrup Multicul- vices important to citizens tural Coalition for its efforts in like fire, police, sewer and bringing various groups to- rubbish would be the last to gether. The coalition is a grass- be cut." roots organization aimed at facilitating community in- volvement and promoting the diversity of the community. She said she is encouraged by the fact groups want to talk but thinks the city has to reach out to various groups and main- tain an open-door policy. "I think if you put all the res- idents of Southfield in a dark Suzanne Goldstein room, you'd probably find we all love our kids, value our proper- ty and are concerned about our Candidate Myron Frasier jobs and income," Mr. Robinson is convinced that once the said. school funding issue is re- The race for Southfield city solved, Southfield will lose clerk has incumbent Mary Bon- much-needed state dollars. ner pitted against Barbara Tal- If that happens, the city will ley. Roman Gronkowski is have to set priorities, he said. running for reelection as trea- "Money can't be taken Jean Cristy Osbom surer unopposed. ❑ away from important ser- vices like police, fire and EMS. rent residents from leaving. Those are the things that make Candidates offered different a difference between a good opinions on what role the coun- community and an average cil should play in building rela- community," Mr. Frasier said. tionships among Southfield Like many of the other can- residents. didates, Ms. Osborn believes the Mr. Gregory believes the way city needs to tackle crime in to get different groups to com- Southfield. She would like to see municate is to have the city ad- every sector of the community ministration set an example for have a liaison to the mayor's of- the rest of the community. fice to help solve the problem. Mr. Dzodin said the best way She also wants to see the city for city council members to help employ more police officers. strengthen community ties is "One of my greatest concerns is the changes taking place in government."