l'vtaciion 1:Tora1i

Jewish Learning Network of Michigan

corbiall4 invites fold to join
us at our

Annual I3anquet

between $50,000 and $70,000
and have side businesses,"
Schlussel said. "Many practice
law on the days the legislature
isn't in session. Some are accoun-
tants, some have other profes-
sions."
She supports reducing or
abolishing the state personal
income tax, getting rid of the
single business tax and eliminat-
ing a monthly pension system
that rewards state legislators who
served in office for six years or
more.
Schlussel is a member of
Shomrey Emunah-Ohel Mohed
in West Bloomfield and recently
assumed the helm of a newly
formed young adult division of
Zionist Organization of
America.
As the only Democrat in the
race, Brickner, a social
worker with Kadima,
a Jewish agency that
serves the mentally ill,
won't need to run in
the August primary.
"As a social worker,
I'm attuned to social
problems. I work with
people and solve
problems, and I
believe that would be
a good skill," Brickner
said. She served on
the Oakland County
Community Mental
Health Board (1996-
97) and served as a
volunteer with the Maplegrove sub-
stance abuse center. She was also a
member of West-Bloomfield Families
in Action.
Some issues of importance to her
are roads, the environment, mental
health services, more affordable and
better health care for senior citizens,
and more regulation of the senior
housing industry.
Brickner got involved in the race
after some prodding from county
Democrats and her husband, West
Bloomfield Township Trustee Stuart
Brickner. He was the first Democratic
trustee ever elected in the township.
His candidacy, said Gary Kohut,
chairman of the Oakland County
Democratic Committee, "was kind of
a test case to see how the political
barometer is changing. I think it
shows clearly that Democrats can win
out there. Barry Brickner (Stuart's
brother) ran in the special Senate elec-
tion and carried West Bloomfield in

celebrating is %gears of
aciiievetnent

Vibe° Presentation

"Heroes of Survival
ant' Revival"
itaniaba International Hotel

17017 West Nine Mile Rb.

Cocktails 6:00 pm
Dinner 7:00 pm

Above: Debbie Schlussel
hopes people vote for a
person, not a political
party.

Left: West Bloomfield
Township Trustee Marc
Shulman is the only office
holder in the race.

I

his race against Willis Bullard. That
gave us an idea that this is an area we
have to pay more attention to.
"I think West Bloomfield and
Commerce are areas where we're find-
ing more and more Democrats. We
have been picking up more and more
precinct delegates, the [Democratic]
club out there is very active and
strong and we have a number of good
candidates who have won," Kohut
said.
But Cathy Longo, head of the
Republican Committee of Oakland
County, is confident that voting pat-
terns have not shifted dramatically in
the 39th District.
"Those communities are still vot-
ing for Republicans. There have been
races that have put [the 39th District]
on the radar as something we don't
want to neglect, but I'm confident in
the voting patterns of the district and
the kinds of candidates we have out
there. It always comes down to the
individual who is running." ❑

Martin Lowenbergi

Dr. Edward & Karen
Hurvitz

1111

Esther Posner

osh Opperer

An ad journal will be issued in honor of the Heroes of Survival and Revival.
Journal deadline is June 2, 1998 - For tickets, journal ads or information, call
Machon L 'Torah at (248) 967-0888 or e-mail us at machon@speedlinknet.

5/22

199

17