T is eek

State House Battle

Republican Marc Shulman seeks to retain West Bloomfield-Commerce seat
against Democrat challenger Stuart Brickner.

He charged that Shulman has "done nothing" for
residents, especially on the infrastructure needs of the
community, other than "trying to pass a couple of
pork-barrel projects for local interests. It would be
wo Jewish West Bloomfield politicians,
helpful for the community to have a partner in
both long active on opposite ends of the
Lansing to get something accomplished in these areas.
political spectrum, will square off against
I hope to be that partner."
each other in November for the 39th
Shulman dismissed Brickner's comments, saying:
District State House of Representatives seat.
"I've
worked hard in the past four years to improve
Both foresee no opposition in the August primary.
the
quality
of life of West
State Rep. Marc Shulman, the Republican incum-
Bloomfield
and
bent, surprised political observers this week by
Commerce
residents.
The
announcing he will seek re-election to a third, two-
people
in
my
district
are
year term — his last under the term-limit restric:
very independent voters.
tion. In doing so, he cast aside counsel from some
They can size up the situ-
advisers who thought he should run for a four-year
ation and be able to tell
15th District State Senate term.
who
can best serve them
West Bloomfield Trustee Stuart Brickner, a
as
state
representative."
Democrat, announced he will challenge Shulman for
He
cited
these efforts: a
the $79,650-a-year post. He now is serving his sec-
personally
funded
office
ond, four-year term as a West Bloomfield trustee, re-
on
Orchard
Lake
Road
to
elected in 2000. Shulman gave up a West Bloomfield
trustee position to first get elected to the State House hear constituent view-
points on Mondays and
in 1998 — defeating Brickner's wife, Maxine. He
Marc Shulman
Fridays; electronic town
beat Ruth Fuller for his second term in 2000.
hall-type meetings where-
The 39th House seat, re-districted since the last
by residents can contact
election, covers all of Commerce Township and
him and discuss matters
almost all of West Bloomfield, plus the tiny village of
over the Internet; helping
Wolverine Lake. Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake and
to get sidewalk snow
Orchard Lake Village were deleted from the district.
removal by granting slip-
About 25,000 Jewish people are counted among West
and-fall lawsuit immunity
Bloomfield's 65,000 population. Commerce has
for municipalities; achiev-
about 30,000 residents, with a smaller Jewish popula-
ing a state tax deduction
tion, mostly near West Bloomfield's western border.
for Holocaust survivors
on their financial com-
pensation; adding an odd
Where They Stand
number of members to •
Shulman, 49, has sponsored 13 public acts in the
past two years, and is chairman of the highly influen- local parks and recreation
boards, thus creating a
tial House Appropriations Committee, which is
seventh position on the
Stuart Brickner
responsible for _allocating nearly a $37 billion budget.
West
Bloomfield
board
to
"I'm putting aside any further political ambitions
break ties; and acquiring
in order to stay in the State House and continue to
serve my constituents," he said. "I place a great value $200,000 for an interactive traveling exhibit for the
Holocaust Memorial Center.
on their welfare and I want to focus on laws and
"Also, I want to make sure we hold on to the $26
policies that are best for them."
million
earmarked long ago for road improvements
Brickner, 58, said he's been out meeting people,
in
the
Northwestern
Highway-14 Mile Road area
learning about their needs and concerns and dis-
(part
of
the
old
Northwestern
Connector project),
cussing their problems and solutions. He feels he's
which
has
been
delayed
by
a
legal
impasse involving
ready to move from local service to the state level.
the
state
and
county,"
he
said.
"And
we're working
"I can now best serve the people of West
on
grants
to
connect
our
walking
trail
network into
Bloomfield and Commerce by continuing to work
communities
north
of
us."
on all of the developmental issues they face, such as
Brickner said he is pressing the township board to
roads, traffic patterns, drains and environmental
pass
a "big-foot home" ordinance, preventing huge
issues," he said. "Flooded basements still plague
homes
from being built on small lots, and restricting
every neighborhood, and nothing was done about
the size of swimming pools, tennis courts and drive-
this situation in previous years."

BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News

T

ways. He is chairinan of the board's Water and
Sewer, Transportation and Better Roads committees
and is on the Lakes Advisory Council.
"I have strong grass-roots support in the commu-
nity because I'm out inspecting sites and talking to
homeowners all of the time, and they've noticed
many improvements in the past year," he added.

State Issues

Both candidates peg education reform and the envi-
ronment as major state issues; Shulman adds health
care as a priority and Brickner cites urban problems,
mainly the urban sprawl permeating through
Oakland County
"Inadequacies have resulted in many problems in
state education plans and I want to help remedy that
... while maintaining fiscal responsibility," Brickner
said. "And I'm against privatization of schools."
Shulman points out the House passed a K-12
budget that adds $540 million for schools this year,
despite a $500 million decrease in revenues last year
due to a stagnant economy. "We had to make tough
decisions requiring fiscal discipline," he asserted. Also,
higher education received a budget increase, and $60
million was appropriated for the low-income energy •
assistance fund to help seniors pay utility bills.
He also personally finances the Shulman
Educational Opportunity Fund, so far awarding col-
lege tuition and book scholarships to six local high
school seniors.
Both Shulman and Brickner are lawyers; Brickner
also is a financial adviser.
Shulman attended Oak Park High School,
Michigan State University and Thomas Cooley Law
School — and worked one summer on an Israeli
kibbutz. He also taught middle school in Okemos,
counseled youngsters at the Ingham County Juvenile
Home, clerked for a judge, and served as a special
assistant attorney general under Democrat Attorney
General Frank Kelly.
He and his wife, Lois, also a lawyer, have four
daughters. The family belongs to Congregation
Shaarey Zedek.
Brickner attended Detroit's Mumford High
School, Wayne State University and the Detroit
College of Law. He's involved in many community
activities, including Kadima, the Martin Luther
King Jr. United We Walk West Bloomfield, Families
in Action. He is an 11th Congressional. District rep-
resentative to the State Central Committee of the
Michigan Democratic Party.
He and his. wife, Maxine, have a son and a daugh-
ter. Maxine is a social worker employed by the
Henry Ford Health Systems as a therapist. The fami-
ly belongs to Temple Israel.0

AEV

1/18

2002

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