There is No Such Thing as a Nonpartisan Election

Those readers who worry that this campaign is excessively partisan will benefit from, and enjoy, this flashback to 2003.

When Ellison, Andrzejak, Capello, and Drinkwine took their seats
Some impressions after the 2003 Royal Oak Election
It would be a mistake to make too big an issue out of the Republican-Democrat controversy which arose during the 2003 Royal Oak election. Actually, so-called "non-partisan" elections for mayor and commissioner aren't really non-partisan, anyway. Candidates come with a history known by most voters, but party affiliation has little influence on most local issues which a City Commission must address.

More important is the split in the Royal Oak Republican Party which was dramatically demonstrated when former Republican mayors endorsed Democrat Jim Ellison instead of Evoe, who was backed by the nominally Republican former mayor Dennis Cowan.

How much political clout has been lost by Cowan and former commissioner Tom Kuhn is what Royal Oak's chattering classes are speculating about after the 2003 election. After all, it was the Cowan/Kuhn influence which brought us Urich, Ginotti, Lyon, and Hallock in the 2001 election -- all except Hallock being relative unknowns. 

How, then, do we explain Pat Capello's victory, when she apparently was a part of the 2003 Cowan/Kuhn-backed slate and who, like Evoe, describes herself as strongly pro-neighborhood and pro-resident? My guess is that her business experience and background came through during candidate forums and one-on-one conversations and projected a more balanced persona than she claims for herself. Capello's political party affiliation didn't become an issue during the campaign.

Even though incumbent commissioners Ginotti and Hallock were part of the 2001 Cowan/Kuhn slate, neither acts Republican when doing city work; nor does Commissioner Marie Donigan act Democrat.

Royal Oak voters decided to recycle two politicians and to bring in a couple of newbies. On the face of it, voters have created a strong, well-balanced commission. It would be surprising if Republican-versus-Democrat becomes an issue as Ellison, Andrzejak, Capello, and Drinkwine take their seats. (FJV 07 Nov 03)

Today, we find Cowan and Ginotti among the supporters listed on a flier for one of the Dem3. I'll expand on this partisan/nonpartisan issue some time between now and Election Day.

Frank Versagi is the editor of Versagi Voice.