This Week

Election Aftermath

Most Jews claim victory in city election battles; Southfield chooses a new mayor.

JENNIFER LOVY

Special to the Jewish News

T

and a number of other factors.
Prior to the election, Kramer was
concerned that because the ordi-
nance received so much attention
residents would either forget to vote
in the city commission race or they
would not be as aware of the candi-
dates. However, voters proved her
wrong, casting well over 1,000 votes
in favor of her re-election and 1,982
votes in favor of the ordinance.
In Birmingham, Julie Plotnik was
not as successful as other Jewish
candidates. In a heated commission

Farmington

Council incumbents Mary Bush, Arnold
Campbell and James Mitchell ran unop-
posed. Bush and Mitchell were the top
two candidates and will each serve a four-
year term. Campbell will serve two years.

council and will serve four-year terms.
Rob Flannery will serve a two-year term.

he proverbial winds of
Novi
change blew through the
Mayor Richard Clark was unopposed.
city of Southfield on elec-
In the council race, victors were David
tion day, bringing in a
Landry, Laura Lorenzo and Kim
brand new mayor.
Capello. Each will serve four-year terms.
Farmington
Hills
On Wednesday morning, Brenda
Nancy Bates was re-elected mayor for
Lawrence slept in, knowing she had
two years. Council members Jerry
made history. Lawrence will be
Oak Park
Ellis, Jon Grant and Cheryl Oliverio
Southfield's first African American
In
uncontested races, Gerald Naftaly
were re-elected to four-year terms.
mayor and the city's first female
was
re-elected mayor for two years,
mayor. She beat Donald Fracassi,
and Arthur Frohlich and Willie
who held Southfield's top job
Horton will serve four years on
for 29 years.
council.
The winds of change were
not strong enough to oust
any of the other Southfield
Rochester
incumbents. All won their
In the city council race, William
bids for re-election, including
Gray, David Katulic and incum-
council member Sidney
bent Thomas Werth will each
Lantz. Lantz is the only
serve a four-year term.
Jewish elected official in
Incumbent Stuart Bikson
Southfield.
received the fourth-highest vote
AL
"This was the toughest elec-
total and will serve a two-year
Gerald
Naftaly
Oak
Phyllis B. C. Kramer,
tion I've had in 18 years,"
Sidney Lantz,
Brenda Lawrence,
term.
Park
mayor
Huntington Woods
said Lantz, who received the
Southfield councilman
Southfield mayor-elect
commissioner
fourth highest vote total,
earning him a two-year term
Royal Oak
instead of a four-year term.
In
the
mayor's
race, Bill Urich won the
Ferndale
race that essentially pitted pro-
"Still, I made it on my own, despite
two-year
term.
In the commissioner
development
candidates
against
Robert Porter was elected mayor. He
the endorsements everyone else got.
race,
Tom
Hallock,
Carlo Ginotti and
those
in
favor
of
slower
growth,
will
serve
a
two-year
term.
T.
Scott
I made it on my record."
incumbent Marie Donigan were elected
Plotnik,
a
political
newcomer
and
Galloway
and
incumbent
Helen
Marie
For the first time, census figures
to four-year terms. Chris Lyon won the
on the pro-development side, lost.
Webber were elected to four-year
show that African Americans make
partial term that ends Dec. 1, 2003.
Other Oakland County winners,
terms on council. David Lennon won
up the majority of Southfield resi-
based on unofficial results, were:
a two-year seat on council. In the race
dents, but Lantz does not think race
for constable, Kevin Rogers and
was a factor in his campaign. The
Southfield
incumbent James Rentz each won
city still has a sizable Jewish popula-
In the mayoral race, Brenda Lawrence
Berkley
four-year terms.
tion, although the exact count is
won
the four-year seat. Clerk Nancy
All
candidates
ran
unopposed.
unknown; in 1990, the Jewish
Banks
and Treasurer Roman
Mayor
John
Mark
Mooney
will
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's
Gronkowski
were re-elected to four-
Huntington
Woods
serve
another
two-year
term.
Jewish population study cited more
year
terms.
In
the race for council,
Council members Fred Collins,
Incumbents Robert Paul and Phyllis
than 26,000 Jews in Southfield.
incumbents
Nida
Samona, Paul
Holly Martin and Eileen Steadman
B.C. Kramer were re-elected to coun-
For the most part, other Jewish
Condino
and
Sidney
Lantz were re-
will serve an additional four-year
cil. Each will serve a four-year term.
candidates also fared well on elec-
elected
and
Kenson
Siver
won a first
term.
tion night. In a relatively quiet race,
term.
All
but
Lantz
will
serve
four-year
Farmington Hills council incum-
terms;
Lantz
will
serve
two
years.
bents Jon Grant and Jerry Ellis were
Keego Harbor
Birmingham
the top votegetters.
Barbara Kline ousted incumbent Jeff
Incumbent Don Carney was re-
Phyllis B.C. Kramer also had a suc-
Parker in the council race. She will
Walled Lake
elected to the city commission.
cessful night on Tuesday as she was eas-
serve a three-year term.
Mayor
William Roberts was re-elected
Other winners were Gordon
ily reelected in the Huntington Woods
to
a
four-year
term. In the council
Thorsby and Rackeline Hoff. They
City Commission race. She was also
race,
Diane
Cartter
was re-elected.
will
all
serve
four-year
terms.
In
the
elated that the civil rights ordinance
Lathrup Village
Rebecca
Gulyas
and
Monica Lesnau
library
board
race,
Jan
Bird
was
re-
was adopted, extending equal opportu-
Allen Weaks and incumbent Frank
will
serve
four-year
All
also
won.
elected.
Other
winners
were
Paul
nities to all Huntington Woods citi-
Brock received the highest vote totals for
terms.
❑
Vandermeer
and
Ileane
Thal.
zens, regardless of sexual orientation

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2001

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