Captaining The Cou

Commission attracts 5 Jewish candidates for Aug. 3 primary.

m

embers of the Oakland
County Board of
Commissioners form the
governing arm for the county's 1.2
million residents. The 25 commis-
sioners oversee a county budget, set
the tax rate, determine policy, enact
laws, and adopt capital improvement
and development plans. So far, five
Jews have contacted the Jewish News
to identify themselves as county com-
mission candidates.
According to the board's Web site,
the powers and responsibilities of the
commissioners also include adopting
and enforcing rules establishing the
authority, duties and responsibilities
of county departments and offices.
Commissioners serve two-year
terms and are paid $30,618 plus ben-
efits annually. The county is about
900 square miles and was incorporat-
ed in 1820. Current county expendi-
tures are about $630 million.
Polls will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. for
the Aug. 3 Primary.
For more information about county
government, log on to
www.co.oakland.mi.us/about/

,

District 14

Richard Corey of Farmington Hills is
one of two Republican candidates in
the 14th district, encompassing west-
erly Farmington Hills and the city of
Farmington. He's
opposing incum-
bent Mike
Rogers of
Farmington
Hills. There is
no Democratic
candidate.
Corey has
been a longtime
civic volunteer
and an appointee Corey
to numerous
boards and commissions. He has held
appointments under eight mayors of
Farmington Hills. He is a 17-year
member of the zoning board of
appeals.
His other service includes:
• Four years on the Farmington
Hills Economic Development
Committee
• The Say Yes to Farmington Hills

7/16
2004

16

committee
• The Say Yes to Better Roads
program
• The Michigan Society of
Planning Officials
• Past president and director of the
Rolling Oaks-Heritage Hills
Homeowners Association
• Successfully campaigning for
Farmington Community Library
funding
• Working for voter approval of
taxes earmarked for police and
fire improvements
• The ice arena advisory committee
Corey is the only non-elected offi-
cial to serve on the 47th District
Court Facility Planning Committee
as a citizen representative. He earned
a certificate of appreciation for out-
standing service and contributions to
Farmington Hills.
The candidate, if elected, would
work to streamline county expendi-
tures and save taxpayers' money by
tapping his business experience. He is
semi-retired from Medical/Dental
Management, his professional con-
sulting group.
He wants televised commission
meetings and envisions commission
term limits to curtail pension costs.
He would like meetings to be held at
times more attractive for public par-
ticipation.
Corey and his wife, Lainie
Bobaroff, have five adult children.
The Coreys belong to Temple Israel.

District 15

Republican Larry Leib has kicked off
his campaign in the 15th district,
which encompasses the eastern half of
Farmington Hills. GOP incumbent
David Moffitt is stepping down after
20 years on the board. Leib's primary
election opponent is Farmington
Hills Councilman John Akouri. The
winner will face Democrat Jim Nash
in the fall.
Leib, a Farmington Hills resident,
is a third-generation lawyer and
member of the law firm of Leib, Leib
& Kramer PC. His father is attorney
Jeffrey M. Leib. His grandfather was
Samuel W. Leib, who practiced law in
Michigan for 55 years.
Leib maintains a general practice in
the area of business, labor, probate

and criminal law.
He handled the
landmark lottery
case of Daniels
vs. Ware, decided
by the Michigan
Supreme Court,
changing
Michigan law.
The Detroit-
Leib
based U.S.
District Court
for the Eastern District of Michigan
gave Leib its pro bono award for pro-
viding legal service to the poor. Other
attorneys often choose Leib for dis-
pute resolution mediation.
As general counsel for the 7,000-
member Detroit Shriners, Leib was
instrumental in the Shriners' recent
purchase and redevelopment of the
former Southfield Center for the
Performing Arts building, now the
Shriners' Auditorium and Conference
Center. Leib is also the attorney for
the 98-year-old Shrine Circus. He is
also active with the Shriners at the
national level.
Leib is a Rotarian and Jaycee. He
has served as an adviser to the North
American Federation of Temple
Youth.
His goals are:
• Keep Farmington Hills, the
county's most populous city, safe.
"In this challenging time in our
nation's history, it is more impor-
tant than ever that we communi-
cate effectively with our federal,
state and local law enforcement
agencies to protect our people
from any and all dangers."
• Ease the taxpayer burden. In
order to keep our business climate
growing, there should be no new
taxes. Moreover, we owe our
neighbors the responsibility to cut
all waste in the county budget
and reduce all unnecessary spend-
ing."
• Address road needs. "I will see to
it that federal and state appropria-
tions designated for our roads are
spent wisely to fix problems and
reduce traffic congestion."
• Protect senior retirement income.
"We must encourage all who are
eligible to enroll and use

Oakland County's discount pre-
scription drug program."
• Control service fees. "We must
work hard with the Oakland
County drain commissioner and
the city of Detroit Water Board
to keep water and sewer fees
down."
Before practicing law, Leib worked
in Washington on tax and education
policy at the Heritage Foundation
and in Lansing as an aide to former
state House Speaker Paul Hilligonds.
Leib and his wife, Dori, have a 2-
year-old daughter, Caitlin, and expect
their second child in October. They
belong to Temple Israel, where Leib's
mother, Bryna, heads the nursery
school and kindergarten.

District 17

Democrats Marcia Gershenson of
Beverly Hills and Ruth Fischel Fuller
of West Bloomfield are among five
candidates in the 17th district, which
encompasses southern West
Bloomfield, Beverly Hills, Southfield
Township and part of Bloomfield
Township. Republican candidates are
James A. Akouri of West Bloomfield,
Donald Marengere of Bloomfield
Hills and John Richards of
Bloomfield Hills.
If elected, Gershenson vows to use
her background with nonprofit
groups to help
the county main-
tain fiscal
responsibility
and leadership.
She promises
to work to safe-
guard natural
resources as well.
"Having lived
most of my life
Gershenson
in southeast
Michigan and
enjoyed its won-
derful lakes and open spaces," she
said, "I am strongly committed to
keeping Michigan's natural resources
clean and available for current resi-
dents and future generations."
Another priority would be to help
residents obtain affordably priced
health care.
"I understand the pressures illness
can bring to a family and am corn-