| Author | Message | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi, Folks: Tuesday’s Election is critical to Highland Park’s future recovery. Based on need, knowledge, and experience, my choices are: For Mayor: Titus McClary For Council: Ameenah E.P. Omar Norma Jean Lewis Hubert Yopp Isabella Thompson Albert Bowman For Clerk: Mattie Carter For Treasurer: Janice Bibbs Why: Mr. McClary’s voting record on Council has consistently been against unbalanced budgets, but he was always outvoted. He has always responded to citizens’ requests, attended organizations meetings and held membership in many of our community organizations. He is knowledgeable of city affairs and, being a retired police officer, knowledgeable of public safety affairs. His contact with other communities’ leaders will greatly enhance Highland Park’s recovery. Dr. Omar has consistently and continuously demanded fiscal responsibility from the administration, been outvoted, but continued to press for change; has kept the citizens educated by always being prepared and thus able to answer citizens’ questions and point them to documentation which supported her responses. She is knowledgeable in most areas of city government and available to citizens, holds membership in community organizations, works with these organizations, and attends meetings where she dispenses additional information. Her leadership, experience and knowledge are crucial to our continued recovery. Mrs. Lewis has been quietly active in city affairs in her role as mother, guiding her children through our school system; wife, experiencing the problems of the water department where her husband, Curly, worked for many years; and student, herself attending our former college. She has managerial experience in her professional position with Karamanos Institute which gives her the necessary background to evaluate budgetary submissions from the administration and assess the matters which come before the council when it sits as a board of water review and board of assessors. Retired Lt. Yopp has demonstrated his ability to bring grant money into the city; is well-versed in public safety matters, union contracts, and community relations. During the brief time that the officers on bicycles served our city, many citizens interacted with Lt. Yopp and the officers of his patrol. Whenever invited, Lt. Yopp attended community meetings, brought officers from his community relations group, responded to citizens’ concerns, and left documents for distribution to the residents. Given his many years of service and the rank which he attained before retirement, his contribution to addressing the need for a city public safety department is invaluable. Ms. Thompson has the experience that only comes from doing. She handled the city council’s office for many years and acquired experience in city affairs through other city positions she held before becoming the council’s assistant. She is uniquely qualified to address concerns regarding the operation of the water department due to her role as the council’s water liaison person during the years of the most turbulent problems with the water department’s billings. When knowledge, experience and qualification count, Ms. Thompson must be included. Mr. Bowman, also a product of the Highland Park schools, has been quietly active for a number of years and within the last year, has been more visible through his role as co-chair of the Highland Park Northend Improvement Association and his role as steering committee member of the United Block Clubs of Highland Park, and his role as president of the Highland Park Phoenix Society. Though unexperienced in handling city affairs, his everyday-job responsibilities at Wayne State University involving contract affairs indicate his capabilities to handle the types of matters that come before council and his involvement in community organizations demonstrate his willingness to devote the time necessary to move the city forward. A fresh, new face representing the younger Highland Park homeowners, is also what Mr. Bowman brings to the Highland Park City Council. Mrs. Bibbs who ran her office alone during the financial crises which the city experienced, exhibited personal and political strength when she informed council and the citizens of financial irregularities being attempted by the administration before the financial manager was appointed, and has the understanding and the years of experience in the Treasurer’s office to give guidance to the restructuring of the financial accounting for the city during its current recovery period. The knowledge she brings to the recovery plan is irreplaceable. Mrs. Carter is running unopposed. | ||
| Stephen Goodfellow
|
Election Results Mayor: Four-year term, $11,500 annually Titus McClary 928 Eric Lamont Hollowell 786 City Clerk: Four-year term, $45,000 annually Mattie P. Carter (I) City Treasurer: Four-year term, $45,000 annually William Scott Phillips 333 Janice Taylor Bibbs (I) 1,296 City Council: Elect five, four-year term, $11,500 annually for council president, $11,000 annually for others Dwight Downes 413 Jimmie Dumas 657 Comer Heath III (I) 523 Norma J. Lewis 830 Ameenah E.P. Omar (I) 946 Frank Ross (I) 730 Isabella Thompson 935 Chris Woodard 707 Hubert Yopp 915 Albert Bowman 550 Source - Detroit News |
