Brian James
Many thanks from me to the folks who worked so hard on
this campaign. It is important for people to have choices and the efforts
of the volunteers were an integral part of that. Throughout the election
process the residents have demonstrated time and again by their concerns
and questions that they want Royal Oak to thrive. Everyday by keeping
their homes and neighborhoods in excellent condition the residents express
a continuing vote of confidence in each other and in their community.
My
fervent wish is that city government will reflect the values of the
majority of Royal Oak residents to the benefit of all as opposed to
reflecting only the special interests of the few. If the new City
Commission can meet that challenge, then the residents will benefit
greatly.
Andrew Androff
Thank
You Royal Oak
It was a privilege and honor coming to know so many of you during this
campaign. I did my best to express our vision and our hopes for Royal Oak.
Together, we worked hard and we fought hard, and although I wish that
things had turned out a little differently, I can confidently say the
future of our community is in great hands. We have an immensely talented
City Commission and Mayor that will serve our community with great
leadership and vision. The next few years will be a challenging and
exciting time for our community. Now more than ever it is time that we
must remain involved and committed to helping our city any way we can. I
urge and ask residents to continue to volunteer and share your ideas.
There's so much that goes into a campaign and there's so much that
residents never get to see. I will be the first to tell you that I owe so
much to my family. They were with me every single step of the way. No one
has been more selfless and supportive and demonstrated more grace, courage
and candor, than my wife Katie. She has made our home a happy one and
managed to help run my business, plan our wedding, and put up with the
highs and lows that one experiences during a run for any political office.
My brother Don, a now seasoned campaign manager, who committed a full year
of his life to helping me hurdle the challenges of an unknown world. You
taught me so much about being committed. We left nothing on the table and
we did everything we humanly could so that win or lose we would never have
regrets or the thought that we could of tried harder.
I want to thank my family, friends, and neighbors who stood outside each
precinct to help distribute our campaign message. You withstood freezing
weather and you represented me with such vigor and unwavering support.
I would like to thank the residents of Royal Oak. In our journey, you have
given me the gift to listen and learn from you. I've heard your stories. I
know your struggles, I know your hopes. They are part of me now. And I
will never forget you and I'll never stop fighting for you.
I thank Frank Versagi and Ryan Shelby who have provided our community with
fair and non-biased mediums for all candidates to present ideas.
I would like to thank the Royal Oak Police Officers Association who gave
me their endorsement and took a chance on a new kid. It made for an ironic
and funny headline when one of my moving trucks was stolen on Election Day
from behind my home. You guys are true heroes to our community and I am
happy to report to everyone that the truck was recovered later that night.
So, from me and my insurance carrier, thank you very much for a job well
done.
Finally, I would like to thank every candidate. I have enjoyed getting to
know each of you. Jim, Art, Brian, Mitzi, Terry, Clyde, Chuck, and Mike,
you all brought important ideas and issues forward that will make Royal
Oak a better place.
In this election, there were no losers, because whether your candidates
were successful or not, the next morning we all woke up as one community.
Royal Oak is and will continue to be the greatest community that anyone
could ever call home. Hold on tight to your dreams.
Clyde Esbri
I wanted to take a moment and congratulate winners Chuck, Mike and
Terry. I mean it sincerely when I say, I know our city will be well
served by the three of you. I look forward to hearing lively discussions
at the table as they pertain to our budget. In the light of ever
decreasing state revenue sharing, block grant money going away, and the
reality of homeowners lining up like they never have in the past looking
for property tax relief, the economic challenges our city faces are
certainly considerable.
Unlike the candidates who said they flat out will not discuss any tax
increase, I stated it publicly more than once, and I'm sure it may have
contributed to my unsuccessful bid for office, but I would have put a
Headlee over-ride on the ballot before voting at the table to
fundamentally change how we offer public safety services to the citizens
of Royal Oak. I still feel strongly that removing local control of our
fire, police and emergency services and going to a regionally based
service changes the very core of what Royal Oak is.I listened closely at
a debate held by my neighborhood association, where one of the
successful candidates stated, he ably oversaw the regionalization of our
solid waste disposal services and therefore saw no reason why a similar
approach couldn’t be applied to police and fire services.
I would suggest that trash disposal and recycling services are not
parallel to police, fire and emergency response services, therefore
parallel logic ought not be applied. I’m not suggesting that our
emergency services can’t be regionalized, they can be. I’m suggesting, I
want to live in a city where those vital services are controlled
locally. Royal Oak is a large enough city where local control is
economically viable well into the future. The citizens should be given
the opportunity to decide how they want those services delivered and to
tell the city commission if they are willing to pay them.
To Art, Mitzi and Andrew, thank you for making this a great experience
for me. You guys are great and it was my pleasure getting to know you
all.
Mitzi Hoffman
There is life after "The Campaign."
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my
friends, family and other supporters for assisting me with my campaign
for the Royal Oak City Commissioner position. Although the numbers
showed that I was not successful in my stated goal, the rewards were
many. I met many wonderful people, heard encouraging words from
individuals and groups from all "walks of life" here in the city. And
for all of that I am grateful. It ended up that the best day of the
campaign was Election Day, as I had my son to hang out with, hold my
signs, make phone calls, and offer encouraging words, even when the
results were available. That helped me get my priorities in order.
I am going to take some time to focus back on taking
care of myself, which is difficult to do when you are in the beginning,
middle and end of a campaign. I will remain active in city affairs.
There is unfinished business.
Thanks to you Frank. I'm glad we had a chance to meet and
get to know each other a little better. I appreciate the opportunity to
use Versagi Voice to distribute my message.
Chuck Semchena
All seven
candidates who ran in last week’s city commission election conducted
clean and positive campaigns that focused on issues. This provided
Royal Oak voters with plenty of information from which to make
informed choices. I congratulate my peers for adhering to substance
and not launching petty personal attacks. They can all hold their
heads high.
Sadly, the
same can’t be said for Oakland County Commissioner Dave Woodward
(D-Royal Oak), who as chairman of the Oakland County Democratic Party
authored a letter sent to hundreds of voters that attempted to smear
my record as the former Royal Oak City Attorney.
I’ve
followed Royal Oak politics for more than 20 years, and this is the
first time a political party has played such an active and negative
role in a non-partisan race. But voters ignored Woodward’s slimy
tactic, and it’s ironic that the only city commission candidate who
was attacked actually won a seat. The city commission candidates whom
Woodward supported lost the election.
Constituents deserve – and should expect – better behavior from their
Oakland County Commissioner.
Because the
letter didn’t achieve its objective, I hope Woodward gets the message
that Royal Oakers reject negative and
partisan tactics. Thus far, he’s refused to apologize for his actions.
Perhaps, as Woodward reflects on the election results, it will
eventually sink in. But I’m not holding my breath.
|
Chuck
Semchena Mitzi Hoffman
Clyde Esbri
Andrew
Androff Brian James |
