Races
In Oakland

County politics are unknown
to many, yet a myriad of candidates
are vying for each slot.

The late Dennis Aaron and
colleagues Larry Pernick and
Shelley Goodman Taub.

onathan Aaron was only 1
year old when his father,
Dennis Aaron, was first
elected to his post as an
Oakland County Commissioner
in 1968.
Now at the age of 27, he hopes
to continue his father's legacy in
county government.
Shortly after his father's sud-
den death, Mr. Aaron decided to
honor his memory by running for
the seat as a write-in candidate.
Gilda Jacobs, a Huntington
Woods city commissioner and de-
velopment coordinator with
JARC, has also declared herself
• a Democratic write-in candidate.
Jim Doyan, a University of De-
troit High School teacher and for-
mer county commissioner, is also
running as a
Democratic
write-in.
Mr. Aaron,
a Southfield
attorney, said
he has always
been interested in politics and
running for the 23rd District seat
is another way to remember his
father.
"Running for my father's seat
was not how I expected to em-
bark on my political career," Mr.
Aaron said. "My mom asked me
if I wanted to run. Now it's a mat-
ter of putting together a cam-
paign and telling voters how to
vote for a write-in. There will not
be a name on the Democratic side
of the ballot, so voters either have
to put a sticker with my name on
it or write it on the ballot."
Republican Kurt Kramer is
also running in this district which
consists of parts of Southfield,
Royal Oak, Huntington Woods
and Pleasant Ridge.
Lawrence Pernick, a longtime
friend of Dennis Aaron and com-
missioner for 25 years, is hoping
to add at least two more years to
his political resume. •
"Government is an ever-chang-
ing area," Mr. Pernick said. "I

j

JOSH TOBIAS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

want to stay in office so I can con- County include unclearly docu- panies that are in the recycling regional tax to finance public ser-
tinue to learn and serve the peo- mented landfills, solid-waste dis- business to work with the com- vices.
ple."
posal and recycling.
munities to reduce, reuse and re-
In other county races, Demo-
Unlike the other districts,
"Incinerators must be built to cycle everything."
crat David Fernquist of Farm-
where the ultimate winner is de- burn disposables to then gener-
Mr. Hardin also sees solid- ington Hills is unopposed in the
termined in the November gen- ate electricity," Mr. Dzodin said. waste disposal as a crucial issue primary for the 18th District.
eral election, 12th District 'We also have to find private com- in the county. He is advocating a
RACES page 16
incumbent Shelley Good-
man Taub's race will be de-
termined in August. Ms.
Taub has no Democratic
opposition. Republicans
Donald F. Eby and Thomas
R. Fortino are vying for this
seat.
These public servants of-
ten find themselves -an-
swering the question: What
exactly does the County
Commission do?
uring meetings, Oakland County Commis-
The Commission estab-
sioner Dennis Aaron always sat next to his
lishes the
colleague and cousin Lillian Jaffe Oaks.
budget and
"We had discussions about who was go-
oversees the
ing to bring the wastebasket to our meetings so we could
spending of
recycle," Mrs. Jaffe Oaks recalled.
that money
The commissioners would compromise bytaking turns
for Oakland
bringing the garbage can.
County. In
Mr. Aaron died last week at his Oak Park home, ap-
addition, it disperses mon-
parently of a heart attack. He was 63.
ey to the health depart-
"He was the kind of elected official respected by many,"
ment, the sheriff's
said Larry Pernick, a Detroit Central High School classmate
department and the cou-
of Mr. Aaron's and a longtime commissioner. Not only
nty courts.
was he my best friend in terms of a colleague on the board,
Mr. Pernick said he has
he was an individual whose opinion I most respected. There
stayed in politics because
was no doubt about where he stood on issues.
there are always new chal-
"He was a true champion of economy in government
lenges in the county, in-
and he could make new legislation understandable to the Marilyn Aaron; Jonathan Aaron, who is running for his father's
cluding the lack of
board. He was one of the few people who early on saw seat; and the late Dennis Aaron.
sufficient funds the county
the
value of the 911 system, and he was deeply concerned :*******44V*0**4 ,
has to improve the roads.
He was full of funny anecdotes and his integrity was
about community mental health."
Presently, his main fo-
Mr.
Aaron
was
elected
to
the
commission
in
1968
and
impeccable,"
Mrs. Jaffe Oaks said. "He always had a corn-
cus is the work he is doing
served all but one term since, losing in 1972. He was active parison to make, but with all his fun he could be very serious
on the Task Force on HIV.
with the National Association of Counties, where he served and always worked for the betterment of people."
Mr. Pernick is running
Outside county government, Mr. Aaron practiced law. He
on its criminal justice committee.
against Milton Dzodin in
Shortly before his death, Mr. Aaron talked to The Jewish recently moved his practice from Detroit to Southfield.
the primary for the 20th
He was born in Detroit and received a bachelor's degree
News about his love for county government and how much
District, which consists of
in business administration in 1953 and a law degree in 1956,
he enjoyed meeting people and implementing new ideas.
Lathrup Village and the
One of a minority of Democrats on a highly Republican both from the University of Michigan.
northern half of Southfield.
Mr. Aaron, a member of Congregation Beth Shalom, was ac-
board, Mr. Aaron was respected by his colleagues.
The winner will face-off
"Dennis did a good job serving his district," said Repub- tive in B'nai B'rith, JARC, Berkley Council for Better Schools and
against Republican James
lican Commissioner Shelley Goodman Taub. "He had a great the Burton School PTA.
M. Hardin in November.
Mr. Aaron is survived by his wife, Marilyn; sons, Charles,
sense
of humor and was never afraid to speak out. He had
In a questionnaire sent
Jonathan and Brian, all of Oak Park; sister and brother-in-law,
a
very
quick
mind."
to the candidates, Mr.
Fellow commissioners said they will remember his wit and Linda and Dr. Herbert Bez of Southfield; and a brother, Richard
Dzodin indicated that cru-
of Madison Heights. CYO
integrity.
cial issues in Oakland

Co eagues xpress
Respect For Dennis Aaron

994

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