Off And Running

Three contenders emerge so far to represent new state Senate district.

JENNIFER LOVY
Special to the Jewish News

T

wo Jewish Democrats are announced can-
didates for the newly created 14th state
Senate seat.

State Rep. Gilda Jacobs, of Huntington Woods,
announced her candidacy last Friday. Farmington
Hills City Councilwoman Vicki Barnett declared her
intent to run on Monday. They join Republican
John Akouri of Farmington Hills in the race for the
four-year term, to be filled in the Nov. 5, 2002, elec-
tion. State senators are paid $56,981 annually.
With the election more than a year away, more
candidates could join the list. The deadline to file
nominating petitions is May 14, 2002; the primary
election will be Aug. 8.
Jacobs and Barnett say they
encouraged to
run by friends, family and constituents. The seat is
particularly attractive because term limits preclude
incumbent senators from running for it.
Akouri, a Farmington Hills native and press secre-
tary and communications director for U.S. Rep. Joe
Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills, announced his
candidacy during the summer.
The newly created 14th Senate District includes
Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Farmington,
Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Franklin, Hazel Park,
Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park,
Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Southfield.

Gilda Jacobs

Jacobs began her political career in 1981, when she
was elected to the Huntington Woods City
Commission. In 1993, she served as mayor pro
tempore. In 1995, she was elected to the Oakland
County Board of Commissioners; two years later,
she was elected to the Michigan House of
Representatives.
She is in her second term as state representative,
serving as minority vice-chair of the House corn-
mittees on House Oversight and Operations and
Legislative Council.
She was recently selected by her peers to serve as
Democratic floor leader. "My colleagues elected me
as floor leader because of my reputation as an effec-
tive lawmaker who can work with all sides to get
things done," said Jacobs, who believes her reputa-
tion makes her a logical choice for the Michigan
Senate.
"Like many of my constituents, I started in pub-
lic service as a neighborhood volunteer," she said.
Prior to becoming involved in politics, Jacobs

Vicki Barnett

Gilda Jacobs

worked as a special education teacher in the
Madison School District. She was also an adminis-
trative aide to former State Senator Doug Ross and
the development director for the Farmington
Hills-based Jewish Association for Residential Care
(JARC). She and her husband John have two
daughters. The family is affiliated with Temple
Emanu-El.

John Akouri

tremendous pressure on their ability to continue to
encourage redevelopment, provide quality public
safety and other services, and maintain excellent
schools," Barnett said.
Barnett serves on the Michigan Municipal
League Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee and the National League of Cities
Information Technology and Communications
Steering Committee.

Vicki Barnett

Barnett, an investment consultant and financial
planner, has 20 years of political involvement and
civic activism.
She is serving her second term on the
Farmington Hills City Council. She also chairs the
11th Congressional District Democratic
Committee and serves as vice-chair of the
Community and Economic Development Advisory
Council of the Southeast Michigan Council of
Governments. She helped stop a bill she says
would have limited the rights of local municipali-
ties to govern.
Barnett, an Oak Park native, lives in Farmington
Hills with her husband, Mark Steckloff, and two
children. They are members of Temple Shir
Shalom. Barnett is a lifetime member of Hadassah
and a former religious school teacher.
"The communities in the new 14th District face
serious challenges," said Barnett, who received an
early endorsement from State Rep. Nancy Quarles,
D-Southfield. "Declining state revenue sharing
and educational foundation grants are putting

John Akouri

Akouri, the only Republican in the race so far, is
running because he believes he has an obligation
to the children of Michigan "to provide an educa-
tion that is first rate; schools that are safe, with an
environment of learning and the resources by
which to attain these goals."
Akouri is a Lebanese American who grew up in
Farmington Hills. He previously worked as a
media consultant for Gov. John Engler and U.S.
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. He was an
official photographer for Robert Dole's presidential
campaign in 1996.
Akouri also serves on the Farmington Zoning
Board of Appeals and has a cable television show
with Knollenberg called "Window to
Washington."
Akouri's first major fund-raiser is scheduled on
Oct. 16 and, he says, his host committee includes
a number of members of the Jewish community.
He says his involvement in politics and public
affairs dates back to the late 1980s.

❑

10/5
2001

17

