Township Leadership West Bloomfield voters to choose from among 14 candidates. BILL CARROLL Special to the Jewish News Ec otly contested races for clerk and treasurer are enlivening the Nov. 2 election cam- paign in West Bloomfield Township. Fourteen candidates — eight of them Jewish — are competing in the major races: clerk, treasurer, supervi- sor and for four seats on the Board of Trustees; all are four-year terms. The township's population is 65,000. There will be at least two new faces on the board as the contest pits four Democrats against four Republicans. Incumbents Allen Adelberg and Steven Kaplan are not seeking re-election. Adelberg made an unsuccessful run for supervisor in the August primary, being upset by Michael Madigan. Kaplan is running for judge of the 48th District Court, which includes West Bloomfield. Township voters also will have one local millage issue to decide — whether to add 18 more miles to the existing 64 miles of safety paths for walkers and bicycle riders in the 31- square-mile township. The proposal asks authorization to levy up to two- tenths of a mill for 15 years ($775,000 the first year) "for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving and maintaining safety paths." If approved, it would mean a tax increase of 20 cents per $1,000 on property; a home valued at $100,000 would be taxed an addi- tional $20 the first year. SUPERVISOR Two candidates, one position. Annual salary: $96, 000 'TN 10/15 2004 32 David Flaisher, incum- bent Democrat Completing his first four-year term, Flaisher stressed the biggest issue facing the town- ship is the negative bal- ance in the general fund, and where to cut costs. "We've spent close to $1 million in excess of revenues," he explained, "and I proposed $2 million to $3 million in budget cuts recently — mainly for employees to pay more for health care — but the majority of the board opposed this. Maybe the two new people on the board will bring fresh ideas and help change the board inaction." Flaisher cites progress in comple- tion of a police station addition and hiring more officers, a new fire sta- tion on Maple Road, resuming haz- ardous waste collections and the township's master plan to ease traffic congestion. This includes planned intersection traffic roundabouts and the eventual widening of Orchard Lake, Maple and 14 Mile roads. He pointed out he has saved money on bond interest — and pushed for a $200,000 federal grant to provide police and firefighter training by the U.S. Homeland Security Department as well as addi- tional local specialized hazardous- materials training. He wants to ensure Henry Ford Hospital on Maple Road wins its legal battle for a 300-bed expansion. David Flaisher profile Having worked as a CPA for 18 years, Flaisher, 53, is Jewish and graduated from Detroit's Cass Tech High School and earned a business degree from Wayne State University. He and his wife, Enid, have a daughter and have lived in West Bloomfield for 16 years. He and his daughter volunteer in the West Bloomfield Community Fame Games each year, and he's a member of the Orchard Lake Middle School PTA. The family belongs to Adat Shalom Synagogue. Flaisher is vice president of the Michigan Townships Association, Oakland County Chapter, and treas- urer of the county's Association of Township Supervisors. Michael Madigan, Republican Winning the Republican primary by 104 votes, Madigan now seeks to upset Flaisher — just as the latter did four years ago over longtime incumbent supervisor Jeddy Hood. "I'm getting a very positive reac- tion from the people I meet around the township, and I plan to deal with the public better and have an `open door policy'," Madigan said. He wants to take a "hard look" at the budget, get each department to develop a five-year plan, freeze hir- ing and implement "day-to-day con- trols." Retired after 34 years with the West Bloomfield Police Department, Madigan was a detective lieutenant, supervising 16 people and handling budgets. He says public safety is his strong suit. He wants to maintain well-trained and well-equipped police and firefighters. Traffic congestion continues to be a major township problem, he adds, and he agrees to move forward with intersection roundabouts and major road widenings, plus improved traf- fic-light timing on all thoroughfares, especially northbound Orchard Lake Road. He wants to preserve wetlands and wildlife, while "keeping the aura of a bedroom community." Michael Madigan profile Making his first bid for public office, Madigan, 58, and his wife, Sally, have five children and five grandchildren and have lived in West Bloomfield for 30 years. He attended Dearborn High School, then Northwestern (Mich.) College and Oakland Community College. He was vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police #128 and still is affiliated with other law- enforcement organizations. The fam- ily belongs to Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Orchard Lake. TRUSTEE Eight candidates, four posi- tions. $100 per meeting, including committee meetings Stuart Brickner, incumbent Democrat Brickner, running for his third term, declares the main issue facing the township is "finan- cial stability — or even survival; we may be on the brink of insolven- cy. He said, "We're spending almost a $1 million more than we're taking in, and one of the reasons for this nega- tive balance is that we're paying far more than our share to the Tri-Cities Fire and EMS services merger arrangement (which provides safety support to Keego Harbor and Sylvan Lake). We must make cuts and not take on new financial obligations." He urges the new board to be har- monious and "behave in a fiscally responsible manner." He's especially critical of the current township treas- urer and clerk, alleging the former has "lost about a million in under- performing interest revenue through poor investments," and the latter "is always absent from her job." Brickner is deeply involved in the township's infrastructure, serving as chairman of the board's Water and Sewer Committee and Transportation and Roads Committee and as a Planning Commission member. "I want to continue working to relieve road congestion, drainage problems and lake pollution, keep builders from damaging wetlands, prevent base- ment flooding and improve water quality, " he said. . Stuart Brickner profile A West Bloomfield resident for 27 years, Brickner, 61, is a financial adviser-attorney in Southfield. He graduated from Detroit's Mumford High School, Wayne State and Detroit College of Law, and has practiced law for 35 years. He has participated in many community activities, including the Metro Crusade of the American Cancer Society and the United Way Walk. He and his wife, Maxine, have been married for 38 years and have two children. She is running for town- ship clerk. Brickner belongs to the Temple Israel Brotherhood.