Traverse City Record-Eagle

Election 2009

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    Deni Scrudato
October 14, 2009

Scrudato isn't afraid to speak out

By Sheri McWhirter

Editor's Note

This story is second in a series of profiles of Traverse City Commission candidates.

Read the entire series as it is published in our election section at record-eagle.com/election »

TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City Commissioner Deni Scrudato doesn't mind swimming against the political current.

She's drawn praise for her independence on issues and criticism for the occasional slipup, including an off-hand remark last year that insulted a finalist for the then-vacant city manager's post.

Scrudato said she'll continue to stand up and speak out, whether or not fellow commissioners agree with her on various issues.

"I come from a grassroots background and I believe in government from the bottom up, not the top down, and I think a lot of people in Traverse City agree," Scrudato said.

Voters elected Scrudato, 57, in November 2005; she's completing her first term as a city commissioner, including a one-year stint as mayor pro tem from 2007 to 2008. She seeks re-election to another four-year term in November.

Scrudato was the lone commission dissenter on a plan by Federated Properties to build a publicly funded parking deck on West Front Street. City voters overwhelmingly agreed with her when, in August 2006, they rejected a bond proposal of up to $16 million to fund Federated's project.

Fighting that battle "gave me a huge sense of satisfaction and hope," Scrudato said.

Today, she's "totally against" a proposal raised by a citizens advisory committee to sell city-owned bayfront property that's home to the Traverse City Senior Center. The advisory group wants to use sale proceeds to build a senior center elsewhere.

"One of the reasons the senior center is as popular as it is and is used as much as it is, is because of the location," Scrudato said.

She also said she intends to brainstorm other funding options and support a county-wide millage for the center.

Scrudato also remains a strong proponent of sidewalk improvements in Traverse City as officials work to improve and maintain infrastructure. And she wants to find ways to adopt cost-saving measures to avoid increased city taxes.

"I'm not afraid to stand up for the things I believe in. I want to continue fighting for city residents and neighborhoods," she said.

Scrudato has lived in Traverse City for 16 years and originally is from the Detroit and Farmington Hills areas, though her family for years vacationed on Elk Lake in Antrim County.

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