13151 W. 10 Mile Rd.
Oak Park, MI 48237
PH (248) 546-4400

Neophyte Wins Election

Newcomer McClellan topples
10-term mayor in Oak Park.

Julie Edgar
Special to the Jewish News

A

fter winning the Nov. 8 elec-
tion for Oak Park mayor,
Marian Meisner McClellan
hasn't wasted any time getting famil-
iar with her new turf. She's been busy
meeting with the
city's finance direc-
tor, city planner and
public safety direc-
tor. On Monday, she
was sworn in at a
special City Council
meeting.
Marian
In winning
McClellan
the mayor's post,
McClellan, mother
of Oakland County
Treasurer Andy
Meisner, ended the
long tenure of Mayor
Gerald Naftaly, who
was seeking an 11th
term.
a&
The political nov-
Gerald Naftaly
ice attributes it to
hard work — 5,000 doors knocked
on (three times), 4,000 personal calls,
countless hands shaken since she
launched her candidacy in May. Her
staff included a campaign manager
and some 50 volunteers.
"We were successful in getting my
message to the voters," McClellan said.
"There's no newspaper that covers Oak
Park, and the only way of talking to
people is face to face."
Money was a factor, too. McClellan's
bill for ousting Naftaly: Upwards of
$35,000 — a higher-than-average
sum for a city of Oak Park's size
(about 30,000 residents) — according
to Chris Jensen, McClellan's campaign
manager. More than 140 individuals,
along with the United Auto Workers
and Andy Meisner's political action
committee, among others, offered con-
tributions to the campaign.
"We had tremendous financial sup-
port',' McClellan said. "I knew I would
need it — as an unknown person run-
ning against an incumbent — because
I'd been involved in my son's cam-
paign. I knew I needed an organizer
and for that I'd need to raise money."
Naftaly lost the post he's occupied
for 20 years by less than 5 percent, or
206 votes, with about 4,400 votes cast.
He trounced the last upstart who took
him on in 2007; this time, he captured

less than half the city's neighbor-
hoods.
Naftaly would not comment on the
loss; instead he issued a brief state-
ment thanking the citizens of Oak
Park for their support over the years
and expressing gratitude for the pro-
fessionalism of city staff.
Brian Belian, a Naftaly supporter in
the Nov. 8 election, expressed regret
that the mayor lost and is sorry to see
him go. The 26-year resident voted for
Naftaly, he said, because he's happy
with city services and the "fluid" way
the outgoing mayor handled meetings.
"I think the city of Oak Park has done
a good job staying ahead of the curve,'
said Belian, 47. "There was a sewer
lining project that was done before the
recession hit, which gives Oak Park a leg
up when it comes to property values."
McClellan, 67, won in 10 of the city's
19 precincts, many of them in the
heavily Orthodox areas in the north
end of town, where a concerted effort
to oust Naftaly over issues ranging
from security to a perceived indiffer-
ence to the community worked.
McClellan has promised to make
it easier for citizens to be heard, and
said she'll make sure every neighbor-
hood has adequate police protection.
A supporter who described herself
as apolitical got the message — and
got herself to the polls.
"In the past, [Naftaly's] always been
receptive to our concerns:' said Shari
Klein, who lives south of 10 Mile. "Of
late, I don't think that's the case."
Klein said she's irked that the
Orthodox community picks up the tab
for private security patrols, and said
she doesn't like that Naftaly pushed a
bond proposal to build a new city hall,
public safety building and renovate
the library — while reportedly reduc-
ing the pay of public safety officers.
Klein, 57, went on to cite some
of McClellan's campaign promises,
including finding more funding for
public safety officers and ways to
increase the city's tax base including
attracting new businesses.
"I think, if nothing else, she's new
blood in there. After 20 years, Jerry
Naftaly has done his thing:' she said.
"I listened to her speak, and spoke to
other people involved in the election
process, and there is hope she'll turn
out to be a wonderful mayor." r1

For a report on the Farmington school
board elections, see page 38.

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November 17 • 2011

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