Traverse City Record-Eagle

Election 2009

July 21, 2009

Deadline nears for city candidates

Three spots on commission, mayor's seat are up for grabs Nov. 3

BY LINDSAY VANHULLE and BILL O'BRIEN

TRAVERSE CITY -- A retired local attorney is the first candidate to formally toss his hat in the ring for the upcoming city commission election.

Mike Gillman filed nominating petitions Monday with the city clerk's office for the Nov. 3 race for three open commissioner seats and the mayor's post on the city commission. Three-year seats now held by Commissioners Jody Bergman, Chris Bzdok and Deni Scrudato will expire in November, as will the two-year term of Mayor Michael Estes, who's not seeking re-election.

Gillman, 70, worked for former Michigan Gov. William Milliken as chairman of the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board from 1971-1983. He worked as an attorney in the region until he retired in 2007.

He also served on the Citizens Operational and Financial Analysis Committee, or COFAC, set up to advise city leaders on services and costs. The group gave a list of recommendations to the commission.

"There are some tougher issues that we want to see aren't ignored," said Gillman, who added that the COFAC ideas are among his priorities.

One of his goals, he said, is to draw more funding for services from outside Traverse City, especially for recreation and the senior center. His background as an attorney will help him make decisions, he said, but he values common sense more than a degree.

"Attorneys are trained to be problem-solvers," Gillman said. "My wife doesn't agree with me on everything, nor would I expect the public would."

The filing deadline for this year's city elections is three weeks from today -- petitions have to be filed at the city clerk's office by 4 p.m. Aug. 11 -- and a handful of would-be office holders are completing the legwork and paperwork necessary to get on the November ballot.

The city used to narrow its candidate field at a primary election in August, but eliminated that vote in 2007 largely as a cost-saving measure. As a result, the number of petition signatures candidates need from registered voters in the city increased to 70, deputy city Clerk Benjamin Marentette said.

"We've had quite a few people come in and get petitions," he said.

Scrudato, first elected to the commission in 2005, said she is "95 percent sure" she will seek re-election. Scrudato said she would continue to examine the region's solid waste policies to improve services. A study is ongoing.

"I like to follow the lead of the citizens," she said. "Not everyone agrees with that, but I certainly am not the kind of person that has a 'we know what's best' attitude because we don't always know what's best."

Bergman did not respond to telephone messages about her election plans.

Other commission members have already confirmed their intentions, including Estes, who won't run for a second two-year term.

Bzdok said he will seek the mayor's post, leaving one less incumbent to run for the three commission seats.

A local attorney, Bzdok was appointed to the commission in January 2007 and ran unopposed for the term that expires in November.

"I've got a folder full of signatures, an advisory board, willing campaign volunteers ... I'm running," Bzdok said. He's the only announced candidate for mayor so far.

Estes said Monday he hasn't changed his mind about not seeking re-election, after defeating incumbent Linda Smyka two years ago.

He said he has completed much of what he wanted to do within his two-year term, including eliminating the city's administrative fee on tax collections, beefing up city expenditures for streets and other infrastructure and getting new blood on city advisory boards.

"I can't say 'mission accomplished,' but I think we're moving in the right direction," Estes said.

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