Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Livonianeighbors.com. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. To ensure your privacy, never use personal information in your screen name or email address ("janedoe@hotmail.com" or "Billysmom" for example).

Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Our City Council picks have experience, offer fresh ideas; Observer, September 13, 2009
Topic Started: Sep 16 2009, 12:28 PM (205 Views)
Administrator
Administrator
Our City Council picks have experience, offer fresh ideas


Livonia residents will narrow the field of City Council candidates during Tuesday's primary election to eight.


They each can vote for only four candidates, but the top eight vote-getters of the 11 candidates running will advance to the November general election.
We hope those eight include Joe Laura, James McCann, John R. Pastor, Maureen Miller Brosnan, Lynda Scheel, Conrad Schwartz and Lucas McGrail.
Laura, McCann and Pastor are incumbents. (City Councilman Thomas Robinson is term-limited and cannot run this year.)
Laura has been on the council for 12 years, including two as president. He asks tough questions and thoroughly researches issues before making decisions, which don't always align with the mayor's recommendations. Laura's involvement on the council contributes to healthy debate.
McCann, who's been on the council since 2004, was president from 2006-08. His experience and knowledge of the issues will be critical as the city cuts expenses and increases revenue for next year and beyond. McCann also works closely with the mayor to bring new business to Livonia.
Pastor was appointed to council in March. A former state representative, he has already shown he can be a good problem solver and a good mediator who can bring two sides together on an issue.
Brosnan and Scheel have long histories of community service in the Livonia community.
Brosnan served on council from 1995-2003 so there would be no learning curve for her. She has great ideas for revitalizing older business districts and for getting youth involved in assisting seniors with maintaining their homes.
Scheel is president of the Livonia school board. A dedicated community leader, she wants to do more for the city. She currently serves on the Livonia Planning Commission and the Livonia Brownfield Authority.
Schwartz and McGrail are newcomers with fresh perspectives.
Schwartz is a GM retiree with a background in revitalizing vacant buildings and unused properties. We think his expertise would help the city bring in new businesses and tax revenue. He has experience working with other cities through his job so he knows how local government works.
McGrail is an architect with experience bringing business people, elected officials and department heads together on projects. He has valuable expertise that could help the city find new uses for its shuttered buildings. He understands zoning, land use, infrastructure impacts and building codes.
We think Laura, McCann, Pastor, Brosnan, Scheel, Schwartz and McGrail will make the best choices for voters when they return to the polls in November to elect the final four.




http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20090913/NEWS10/909130452/1027/Our+City+Council+picks+have+experience++offer+fresh+ideas
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Livonia Neighbors Forum · Next Topic »
Add Reply