How Royal Oakers Vote
 
2007 Election Results

Royal Oak voters chose experience over exuberance. They re-elected Mayor Jim Ellison and Commissioners Mike Andrzejak and Terry Drinkwine. And, by choosing former City Attorney Chuck Semchena over the younger newbies, they add almost an incumbent -- in the sense that Chuck's won't need to work through a learning curve re governmental procedure and protocol.

Below, the candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. Winners are highlighted.  Next week: Analysis & Comments

18 of Registered Voters showed up. See comparison with earlier years.

Mayor

Jim Ellison

5,104

  

Brian James

2,881

  

 

Commissioners

Andrew Androff

2,901

  

Mike Andrzejak

4,629

  

Terry Drinkwine

3,254

  

Clyde Esbri

1,911

  

Mitzi Hoffman

2,569

  

Arthur Makarewicz

2,390

  

Chuck Semchena

 Not

Supplied

3,615

  
 

Charter Amendments

Amendment

Yes

No

07-01: Transfer the power of appointing the City Treasurer and the City Assessor from the City Commission to the City Manager.

2,906

4,921
07-02: Empower the Finance Director to appoint the city's Purchasing Agent.

4,889

2,951
07-03: Empower the City Commission to specify the dollar amount which may be spent on purchases without prior Commission approval. Replaces outdated $1,000 limit.

4,095

3,528
07-04: Empower the City Commission to specify the dollar amount on bids which require prior Commission approval. Replaces outdated $1,000 limit.

4,259

3,303
07-05: Permit the City Clerk to use the Oakland County Board of Canvassers to certify elections.

6,310

1,109
Ordinance: Make permanent the current part of  the Barbara A. Hallman Memorial Plaza which contains the Veterans War Memorials.

6,676

790
 

 
Voter Turnout
(data rounded off)
Date Type Registered Turnout Pct
May 2001 Special

52,000

13,300

25.5%
Nov 2004 Presidential

49,600

35,200

71%
Nov 2005 General

47,100

16,600

35%
Nov 2006 General

46,000

27,700

60%
Nov 2007 General

46,100

8,222

18%
 

Rejected 2-to-1
Date Issue Yes No
May 2001 Human Rights Ordinance 4,296 8,864
Nov 2005 1.75 Millage Increase 5,115 10,900

Source: City of Royal Oak Website

 

Anti-tax people use as a mantra the fact that Royal Oak voters rejected a proposed tax increase "2-to-1" in 2005. Pro-tax advocates bemoan that only 35% of registered voters generated that result.

Advocates of the Human Rights Ordinance which was rejected 2-to-1 in 2001 suggested that the 25% voter turnout that year was "not representative of the population."

In the real world, of course, Royal Oak mayors and commissioners have been elected with just over 3,000 votes, and those low vote counts are accepted as representative of the population. And in the same 2001 special election in which voters rejected the Human Rights Ordinance they overwhelmingly approved the Fire Millage, 78%-22%.

The upper tabulation at left shows voter turnout as Royal Oak's population, and number of registered voters, dropped over the years.