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Jukowski is our choice for Pontiac on Sept. 13

Web-posted Sep 4, 2005

EDITORIALS

Editor's note: Endorsements are the result of candidate interviews by Oakland Press editors. The spouse of one of our editors is a volunteer for the Jukowski campaign.

Four years ago, we thought LEON JUKOWSKI should be elected mayor of Pontiac. We still think so. Although he did not survive the primary in 2001, Willie Payne's willingness to name Jukowski as his deputy, if elected, persuaded us to enthusiastically support Payne for mayor. While he didn't have the background for the job, Jukowski did.

We went on to support Payne against a recall attempt by people who clearly resented his defeat of incumbent Walter Moore.

Now, Pontiac needs Jukowski as mayor even more than it did then. In the two years he served Payne, there were major accomplishments, such as turning trash pickup from a troublesome money-loser into a profi table enterprise.

And he immediately rescued a key downtown grant proposal that had languished in City Hall and personally took it to Washington, D.C., to meet a deadline.

Jukowski also was in the process of reorganizing key city departments that had been in shambles when Payne used a trumped-up conflict charge to fi re him.

That, for all practical purposes, was the end of progress under Payne ‹ a nice man who seems to enjoy the title more than the challenge.

The City Council had to step up and provide the leadership, as in demanding financial accountability. What a mess that turned out to be, as Pontiac now faces a $34 million budget deficit ‹ most of it coming on Payne's watch.

Through it all, efforts in Payne's offi ce to communicate with the residents ranged from nonexistent to pathetic. How many City Hall newsletters have Pontiac residents received in the last four years? Jukowski is successful both in business and the practice of law. He represented the Pontiac police for years. He vows to install what's called a 311 phone system, something Payne dropped after Jukowski left. It would track resident calls to make sure there is a satisfactory response in each case ‹ the least the community is entitled to for its tax dollars. Then there are the "little things." Jukowski would not be driving a cityleased Cadillac or any other city vehicle. As he did when he was a city official, Jukowski would drive his own. And he wouldn't be filling his tank from the city's pumps, an especially galling perk of Pontiac offi cialdom in this era of $3-a-gallon gasoline.

With his city on the fi nancial ropes, Payne could set an example by paying his own way. A man whose salary is $107,000 a year should be embarrassed to be getting these benefi ts.

With Jukowski as mayor, Pontiac would put the endless embarrassments and dithering regarding decision-making behind it. Among his goals: Ending the city income tax during the next 10 years, improving relations with the business community and starting over on the Silverdome sale.

Since Jukowski left, Pontiac has had a "strong council, weak mayor" form of government, something residents emphatically said they didn't want when they approved the City Charter a generation ago. Jukowski would be the fi rst mayor with the background and true self-confidence to be a real strong mayor.

During our interviews with the mayoral candidates we were impressed with the ideas and energy some would bring to the job ‹ most notably, former Police Chief Larry Miracle and Councilman Charlie Harrison III. But Jukowski is best for Pontiac. Seay has earned re-election

Only Pontiac's District One has a City Council primary contest on Sept. 13. There, three candidates ‹ Betty Lewis-Rand, Malkia Maisha and Kermit Williams ‹ are trying to unseat EVERETT SEAY. District residents would be best served by re-electing Seay, a 20-year council veteran who's seeking his sixth, four-year term. Seay has a track record of listening to his constituents and looking out for their best interests. As the most recent council president, he helped provide leadership when Mayor Willie Payne didn't during the mounting city deficit crisis. With the decision by John Bueno not to seek reelection after 20 years on council, Seay's experience becomes even more valuable. Our picks in Rochester Hills

There are primary contests in three council districts in Rochester Hills. In each case, there is no incumbent running.

Our choice in District One is THERESA MUNGIOLI. Her experience on the Rochester Board of Education, where she had to make tough decisions in the public spotlight, would serve residents well at City Hall. Mungioli wants to bring some civility to the council meetings, something that's lacking these days. She does her homework thoroughly and welcomes resident involvement. She believes the roads should be repaired, but the proposal on the November ballot is too costly.

In District Four, we believe two of the candidates are so equally qualifi ed it simply would be arbitrary to choose one. They are SUZANNE WHITE and LORRAINE McGOLDRICK. White has a background in finance and is well known in the community for her efforts with the Holiday Helpers charitable organization. McGoldrick has been active behind the scenes in political campaigns, social work and volunteerism. She wants residents to take ownership in their community.

LINDA DAVIS-KIRKSEY is our choice for the at-large district. She is incredibly well qualified, and her concern for her community has been demonstrated by service on various city boards. She supports the three tax issues on the ballot and wants residents to become more responsible for the city's future. THE OAKLAND PRESS

GOOD MORNING It's not too early to start thinking about how you're voting on Sept. 13