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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