2 More Candidates Turn in Signatures for Nov. 8 Ballot

With the deadline to file petitions for Royal Oak City Commission and mayor approaching Tuesday, two more candidates have submitted the necessary 500 valid signatures and been notified of their eligibility by the city clerk.

The candidates are Scott Warheit and Bill Shaw.

There are three open seats on the City Commission. Michael Andrzejak announced he would not run again; Terry Drinkwine and Charles Semchena have not pulled petitions to run for re-election.

Warheit, 28, turned in his signatures Monday and was told by the city clerk’s office that he qualified Wednesday.

“I have been going to City Commission meetings for a while now,” said Warheit, an attorney who lives in the North Main Lofts on Main Street and 11 Mile Road. “The meetings sometimes end at midnight. They are too busy bickering to get anything accomplished for the citizens they represent.”

Warheit is concerned with vacant storefronts, saying the city can make it difficult for new businesses, even when a project fits the character of the city.

The other candidate to qualify is Bill Shaw. He has served on several committees including the Citizens Advisory Committee and Brownfield Committee.

Shaw couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.

A total of 11 candidates have pulled petitions for commission seats. George Gomez and Kyle DuBuc have been certified. The other potential candidates are Calvin Kattola, Michael Fournier, Nick Britsky, Rick Karlowski, Richard Pawlowski, Peggy Goodwin and Stephen Miller, who pulled petitions to run for mayor and commissioner.

"It should be an interesting race with so many candidates," Warheit said. "The same thing happened in 2009 — there were three open seats, but there were only four people running back then."

Jim Ellison, who is running for mayor, has successfully submitted the necessary 500 valid signatures.

If you want to run

To be a candidate for Royal Oak City Commission, the hopeful must be at least 25 years old, a registered voter of Royal Oak and a resident at least two years prior to the date of election.

The mayor is paid $40 per meeting, up to a maximum of $2,000 per year. Commissioners are paid $20 per meeting, up to a maximum of  $1,200 per year.

Candidates pay a $35 filing fee.

Voter registration

Oct. 11 is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 8 general election. Residents can register to vote at the City Clerk's office or any Secretary of State office.