Millages pass, but few new faces
in quiet municipal elections

A municipal election short on contested races concluded with few surprises and much relief for educators, who face steep state funding cuts but were at least rewarded with a continuation of existing tax millages.

Two millage measures, one for operating funds and another for building and physical-plant maintenance and improvements, passed decisively by 3-1 margins. Their passage was welcomed by board members, who already have to reconcile $4 million in funding cuts delivered during the state's brutal budgeting process. The money generated by the two millages accounts for 25 percent of the Grosse Pointe Public School System's budget.

While the passing of the millages is a great success, board vice president Brendan Walsh said there will still be a substantial deficit position to overcome both this year and next.

“The Hold Harmless millage will yield the same $1,893 per pupil that it did when Proposal A was enacted in 1994,” Walsh said. “The renewal of the two millages accounts for $25 million of annual revenues.”

The board will welcome two new members in 2010, one of whom has served before. Woods residents Tom Jakubiec and Cindy Pangborn won terms on the board, the latter to fill a partial term that opened when Ahmed Ismail resigned for health reasons earlier in the year. Pangborn served on the board from 1996 to 2000.

Elsewhere in the Woods, newcomer Ted Metry won the part-time judge's position on the Woods/Shores Municipal Court. Metry campaigned hard to gain the seat and won 36 percent of the vote, beating better-known rival Lisa Pinkos Howle, who finished third. Greg Ulrich was second and William Rabaut and Robert Radnick fourth and fifth, respectively.

"My strength was to start early, go door to door and work as hard as I could," Metry said. "My goal was to walk the entire city, and I did that, and more."

In the Park, a last-minute mailing attempting to link challenger Laurie Arora to Detroit political figures apparently failed to sway voters; she was the top vote-getter in a four-person field. Incumbents Daniel Grano and James Robson were re-elected, and incumbent Shirley Kennedy was turned out.

Arora credited her message of "new energy, open and accessible government -- it resonated." She added she would not "waste time" trying to find the source of the mailing, which was anonymous: "I'm ready to move on. I have more important things to spend my time on, like rolling up my sleeves and getting to work."

Park Municipal Court Judge Carl Jarboe retained his office, fending off a third challenge from Dean Valente, beating him with 57 percent of the vote.

But this year was notable for its lack of contention. All the Woods municipal positions up for grab were unopposed. Mayor Robert Novitke was reelected mayor, as was councilwoman Vicki Granger. Gabriela Boddy and Todd McConaghy walked into seats vacated by Pete Waldmeir and Allen Dickinson, who both chose not to seek re-election.

Grosse Pointe City Mayor Dale Scrace was also unopposed for re-election, and council incumbents Chris D. Walsh and Jean MacDonald Weipert were returned to office without challenge. Christopher Boettcher walked unopposed into the seat vacated by Kris Pfaehler, who did not seek re-election. The same situation applied in the Farms, where Mayor James C. Farquhar, Jr. and council members Charles S. "Terry" Davis III, Louis Theros and Peter W. Waldmeir all were re-elected, as was Municipal Court Judge Robert Rumora. Shores voters only considered school measures.

By the numbers:

Unofficial results in the Park, the City, the Woods, the Farms and for school board and millages.

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