Editor's Note: Newsmakers '09 explores the stories that made headlines in northwestern Michigan in 2009. Past articles in this series can be read online at record-eagle.com/newsmakers.
TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City voters elected a new City Commission this year, bringing two new faces onboard and removing a familiar one.
City Commissioners Michael Gillman and MaryAnn Moore received the most votes in November's election, and incumbent Commissioner Jody Bergman took third place to keep her seat. Former Commissioner Deni Scrudato was ousted from office, losing to Bergman by more than 600 votes in the four-candidate race for three open seats.
Gillman and Moore received 1,803 and 1,757 votes, respectively, while Bergman received 1,729 votes and Scrudato received 1,065.
Gillman and Moore were members on a city advisory board -- the Citizens Operational and Financial Analysis Committee -- that recently investigated ways the city can save money. Both were spurred to seek election as a result, they said.
"It was an outgrowth of the COFAC experience. The members wanted a couple people to run," Gillman said. "We were pressed into doing it, so we did."
Both said being city commissioners has been a positive experience, although they are not yet two months into their first terms.
"I have been very happy as a commissioner. We are in the honeymoon period, though," Moore said. "What I like most about it is the ability to make decisions that count. I'm excited about it because I think we're going to accomplish a lot."
Gillman and Moore are intent on tackling various issues that arose during the COFAC study, such as budget issues at Hickory Hills and obtaining equity for city taxpayers who support the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Department road patrol budget but don't receive any of those services, Moore said.
Gillman said he wants to address police and fire equity issues and would prefer no new city employees receive "legacy pension benefits" and instead adopt a "pay-as-you-go retirement system," like a 401(k) program.
"We shouldn't have liabilities stretching into the future. If we don't know what will happen in the future, I don't want liability for the future," Gillman said.
Gillman also would like to reduce city expenses to a degree that taxes could be lowered during his tenure, he said.
Mayor Chris Bzdok expects the commission to have a big year in 2010, in part because the two new commissioners already offer strong voices because of their COFAC involvement, he said.
"Usually it takes about a year to get up to speed. In many ways, they came on already up to speed," Bzdok said. "We'll agree on things. We'll disagree on things, but I have a great deal of respect for both of them."
The commission must prioritize issues within the city, whether that be infrastructure spending, waterfront and parks projects or other cost-saving issues raised by COFAC, Bzdok said.
"We can be stronger if we can be more active in taking control of what the city is working on," he said.
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