4460 Orchard Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48323

Phone: 248.683.1010

gent oired

A ssis. ted livincj,

Judicial Race

Top Circuit Court vote getters O'Brien and Kaplan
will face off in November.

JULIE WIENER

Staff Writer

his performance as a "close second."
"All elections are difficult in terms
of time and effort, but what is inter-
esting about the primary is the very
low voter turnout," he said. "For every
13 people you meet, only one will
vote. In the general elections, you find
a more receptive audience."
Kaplan narrowly lost to David Gor-
cyca in the Oakland County prosecu-
tor's race two years ago. He said he
raised about $60,000 in the judicial
race and spent about $50,000, but
stressed that while fund-raising will be
important in the upcoming election,
the key to victory will be in getting

olleen O'Brien of Rochester
Hills and Steven Kaplan of
West Bloomfield were the
two top vote-getters in Tues-
day's primary election for a non-parti-
san seat on the Oakland County Cir-
cuit Court bench.
O'Brien, who won 49,199 votes, and
Kaplan, who garnered 46,283 votes, will
face off in the Nov. 3 general election
for the $109,257 job vacated by retired
Judge Robert Anderson.
With only 42,875 votes, Richard
Kuhn, Jr., of Water-
ford Township, will
not be a candidate in
Colleen
November.
O'Brien
"I'm very happy,"
and
aid O'Brien, a mem-
Steven
.ber of the Cummings,
Kaplan
McClorey, Davis and
Acho law firm in
Pontiac. "It was a lot
of hard work and my
family, friends and
VOTES PERCENTAGE
CANDIDAI
committee did a great
OF VOTES
job. I'm planning to
35.5
49,199
Colleen O'Brien
do more of the same
33.5
46,283
Steven Kaplan
for the November
31.0
42,875
Richard Kuhn, Jr.
election: going out,
meeting voters and
out and campaigning. "Mainly, it's a
educating them about the job duties
matter of meeting as many people as
of circuit court judge and why I'm
possible,"
he said.
most qualified."
Kuhn's
defeat
perhaps best illustrates
The Oakland County Circuit
that
fund-raising
isn't everything. A
Court handles general civil cases
member
of
the
Adkison
Need law firm
involving claims greater than $10,000
in
Bloomfield
Hills,
Kuhn
spent the
and felony criminal cases as well as
most money — $65,000 by his esti-
hearing appeals from lower courts.
mates — of the candidates for circuit
Judges serve six-year terms.
court, but still came in last. "We ran a
According to O'Brien, who said she
good clean campaign and worked hard,
spent approximately $25,000 on the
but we came up a little short," he said,
primary campaign, the most challeng-
noting that it was "an extremely close
ing aspect of the campaign was
race." He said he wishes O'Brien and
trekking all over Oakland County.
Kaplan
"the best of luck" but will not' be
"Running for circuit court judge in
endorsing either in the November elec-
Oakland County is almost like run-
tion: "I'll probably stand on the sidelines
ning for governor in a small state," she
and observe." Kuhn said he would "not
said. "It's a large area, there's so much
rule out" running for office in the
ground to cover."
future.
Kaplan, a former Southfield school
Only 16 percent of Oakland Coun-
board member who has served as
ty's
858,576 registered voters voted in
Macomb County's assistant prosecutor
the
circuit
court race. Vote counts are
for 12 years, said he was "elated" by
unofficial. El
the primary election results, describing

Woo4eld

in

Studios and suites with private baths
Three well planned daily meals
Emergency call systems
with catered services Housekeeping and linen services
Round the clock staffing
Nurse
beautiful surroundinois Personal c are
assistance
manager
Medical supervision
Spa with pool and exercise room
created especially
Scheduled activities
Game room
Library
for older adults.
Hair salon
Sundries shop
Transportation
Valet parking for residents

Includes all utilities with the exception of telephone and cable television
Call Renee Mahler at 248.683.1010 for additional information

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Detroit Jewish News

8/7
1998

9