Campaign for City Commission Warming Up

Not so much among the politically active but at the margins, there have been rumblings that the 2011 campaign for commissioner is going to turn ugly. The apparent lining up of sides by Party is worrisome, yet need not generate more than partisan vigor.

'Tis sad, however, to encounter those who are unwilling or unable to respect the accomplishments of someone they dislike or to accept criticism of someone they admire.

►One ripple-effect from the bad feelings generated by the recent battle of the supermarkets has been the formation of an informal "anyone but Ellison" group, who were unsuccessful in drafting a candidate willing to challenge the incumbent mayor and who likely will be endorsing candidates for commissioner. The membership of the group seems to be fluid and only partially predictable.
►Not one individual who has suggested to me that there is improper Democratic literature circulating in the nonpartisan race for commissioner has shown me the alleged literature. It has been, "I know a guy who knows a guy who knows another guy who says he has seen the literature."

I've reached out to several Democratic leaders, all of whom have responded and a couple of whom I will me meeting. For now, this reply by Tom Regan, Chair of the Royal Oak Area Democratic Club, is helpful.

Yes, the city club (Royal Oak Area Democratic Club) will make an endorsement in the city commission race.  City commission and school board races are the only races where we make an endorsement; we never endorse in the Democratic primary in partisan races, and we support as a matter of course whoever wins the primary in the general election.  We won't endorse in the school board race this year since there are 2 people running for 2 slots.

We'll vote on endorsements at our September meeting.  We picked an endorsement committee a few months ago that is interviewing the candidates, I think you know Dave Richards, he's one of the endorsement committee members.

Other than that I don't know of any Democratic party participation in the race.  My experience has been that endorsements mean very little in city commission races.  By far the most important factors are how hard the candidate works, how well-known the candidate is in the community, and how much money the candidate raises.

JUST IN:

After the above was written, I received a 1-sheet, 2-page flyer, written by a Democrat but not delivered to me by that Democrat, which contains: " . . . join me in supporting not only our great Democratic Mayor Jim Ellison, but also the following three Democrats for Royal Oak City Commission."

Because the city election is officially nonpartisan, some consider such an endorsement Improper. Even those who recognize that it is not an attack ad -- as was the late postcard mailing against Semchena four years ago -- use terms like" unethical" and "schlocky. " The most polite term used is "ungentlemanly."
I'll be chatting soon with the creator of that document -- "on-the-record" -- at his invitation.

►Peggy Goodwin has begun work on her page for Versagi Voice. I chatted with Peggy shortly before she hit the streets. A source tells me Kyle DuBoc has hit the streets. Let me know if you see other candidates going door-to-door. Or is that no longer a major requirement of campaigning?