BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR

DEMOCRAT

DANI WALSH

Dani Walsh is the current Bloomfield Township Supervisor, following a term as a township trustee. She also served on the township's zoning board of appeals and Preservation Bloomfield. She is a member of SEMCOG's legislative policy, water infrastructure and broadband reliability task forces. Walsh earned her bachelor's degree from University of Michigan and master's in public policy and public administration from American University.

Supervisor responsibilities

Just as all elected officials are equal at the board table, the three full time officials are equally important to the success of the township based on their main statutory responsibility of taxes (treasurer), elections (clerk), and budget (supervisor). As supervisor, I oversee the operations and personnel for 11 of the 13 departments, with police, fire, and public works being 24-hour service providers. Additionally, the finance director and I develop the township budget with input from all departments and the board of trustees. I leveraged my personal partnerships with legislators, SEMCOG, MDOT, and RCOC to acquire over $1,000,000 in grants and services. The interaction with residents, employees, businesses, and service providers is truly rewarding. For eight years, I consistently put the needs of the community ahead of my own. One example is when I voted to support the community by protecting the Nature Center, even though it meant moving development only three doors down from my house. While bringing the township out of the 2019 budget crisis, global pandemic, and creating the Capital Reserves Fund to avoid a future crisis, I graduated with a Master’s in Public Administration and Public Policy from American University to continue to improve knowledge.

Financial knowledge

After eight years of being on the board of trustees, I have institutional knowledge of the finances of the township, and as supervisor, I led the strategy and improvements that brought our township out of the 2019 budget crisis. Some may have forgotten about 2019 and the drama in our community since this administration and board turned it around quickly. In 2019, I spoke against raising taxes above our 10 mill rate with an SAD, stating that we needed to reexamine our outdated business practices instead of simply shifting 100 percent of the burden to the residents. By updating and investing in technology, business practices, investments and creating the Capital Reserves Fund to avoid future crisis, we avoided a tax increase on residents, brought back services, filled employment vacancies, and are ahead of schedule paying down OPEB liabilities. My unique asset is that I have the proven success of steering the ship out of a crisis and balancing the needs of the residents, employees, business owners and extended community. Even with that success and my past experience in strategic planning and business consulting, I continued improving by earning a double Master’s in Public Administration and Public Policy from American University.

Upcoming issues

In my next term as Supervisor, I plan to focus on three main issues: 1. Implementing the five-year vision, mission, and goals created by the community in the Strategic Plan. During the process, there was a universal connection between the ideas of internal and external stakeholders which revealed five pillars of importance, and especially highlighted the desire for more green space and a deeper sense of community. 2. Negotiate new contracts with our eight unions to guarantee we provide the wages and benefits needed to retain and attract best-in-class employees who in turn provide best-in-class services to the community. There is a nationwide decline of people entering the public sector. I have built relationships with the unions over the last four years, and their input helped build the compensation and benefit study RFP. The new study will provide up to date data to help focus on the areas that encourage retention in a more competitive employment world. 3. Update the Master Plan, including input from the community, business owners and developers to review land uses and ordinances that may need to be updated to current standards, and rethink what is possible to bring exciting and vital businesses to our community.

Township master plan/ordinances

Although strategic plans and master plans have similar names and involve community input, they are actually very different studies, and both are important. The Strategic Plan is simply an overview of the vision, mission, and goals that create a sense of identity and purpose. It is a window to the heart and soul of a community and becomes a guide for elected officials to stay true to that mission. For a community like ours, it normally takes four-six months from initial plan development to plan completion. Although the implementation of the plan covers a five-year period of action, the creation of the plan is only six months. It was exciting to see residents, employees, businesses, educators, youth, faith and service leaders all engage in the process for the future of Bloomfield Township. The Master Plan is an in depth focus on land use, developments, and ordinances over a 20-year span. The development of a Master Plan takes 12-24 months to create since it involves creating very detailed plans and ordinances that provide rules of what, where, when, and how for both commercial and residential developments. The township master plan is a requirement and ours expires in my next term.

Business community

Another positive outcome from the strategic planning process was a chance to bring business leaders together for our stakeholder panels. Although I have had the benefit of working and knowing many of them as individuals these last four years, seeing the synergy when they connected was exciting and inspiring. I plan to continue these meetings quarterly to involve their input. As supervisor I work with our planning department, business owners, and developers to encourage new ideas and champion any business that improves the way we live, work, or play in Bloomfield. One example is the Olympic Training Center which seemed dead in the water years ago due to red tape between government entities. I leveraged my personal partnerships with RCOC, WRC, and the business owners as a catalyst to address vacated easements and develop maintenance agreements to allow the development. I’m excited to see it coming to fruition and it will be a gem for Bloomfield Township. We are also working to update ordinances to encourage entertainment businesses like Tee Times which offers indoor golf simulators, food and drink in a fun atmosphere. With the love of golf in our area, it would be a perfect fit for Bloomfield.

Validity of election results

Yes. I accept the presidential election results of 2020. The state of Michigan provided a safe and secure election. I

have faith that there will be a safe and secure presidential election in 2024 as well.

Why vote for you

I have a proven track record of success as supervisor by bringing us out of a budget crisis, a pandemic, and to the other side with sustainability and innovation. As a lifelong resident of 52 years, I truly understand the community that I have served for eight years on the township board, four years as township supervisor. In addition to my experience as a business consultant, management leader, and strategic planner, I also have the educational pedigree with a Bachelors from U of M Ann Arbor and a double Master’s in Public Administration and Public Policy from American University which is directly related to running a municipality. A township and a city are run by very different laws, known as public acts, and I am the only candidate that has experience with township public acts. Continuing in the role allows me to hit the ground running on day one since I already know the day-to-day operations, employees, department initiatives, and have spent many years establishing relationships with RCOC, MDOT, WRC, SEMCOG, MTA, and legislators which helped us get millions in grants and services. I am also honored to represent the township as Vice President of MTA Oakland County Chapter representing 21 townships.

REPUBLICAN

MIKE MCCREADY

Mike McCready is a retired businessman who is a former Bloomfield Hills city commissioner and mayor, who then served as a state representative for the former 40th District from 2013-2018. He then worked in economic development for Oakland County and the city of Novi. McCready received his bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University.

Supervisor responsibilities

The supervisor position is unique. Most of the day-to-day operations fall under the supervisor job responsibilities. The supervisor is responsible for the development and implementation of the annual budget. Ultimately all personnel issues fall under the supervisor’s job description. The clerk and the treasurer have their job responsibilities, but they are at the township in a full-time capacity. It is important the three individuals in those positions to work in a collaborative manner. Personal views are important, but more important are developing policies that best represent the community. This means working together with all the elected officials. Bloomfield Township’s department heads are some of the best professionals in the municipal world. This means working together to implement best practices and policies for the benefit of the residents. As a former mayor, a former state representative, a former economic development member of Oakland County, and as the Economic Development Director for the City of Novi, I have experience in working together for the benefit of communities. Additionally, Bloomfield Township is a significant part of the area, and it is important for the supervisor to be able to work with the counterparts from adjacent municipalities, as well as with the counterparts at the county and state levels.

Financial knowledge

The treasurer manages much of the day-to-day investments in conjunction with the Financial Sustainability Committee, as well as with the finance director. That is why it is imperative to work collaboratively together. The reason Bloomfield Township has had the AAA bond rating for almost 25 years is because of prudent fiscal spending. Going back almost 20 years, Bloomfield Township has developed a plan to address legacy costs. It is important to stay on course until all pension obligations have been paid for. Another important aspect is infrastructure. The residents rely on Bloomfield Township to supply quality water and sewer system. Other municipalities that have failed to address their infrastructure needs have been plagued by ongoing problems and costs. It is important for Bloomfield Township to be cognizant of potential infrastructure issues and important to keep up with the latest technological changes to ensure Bloomfield Township has the highest level of services for the residents. This cannot be accomplished without quality employees. Bloomfield Township must be competitive with their wage and benefit structure to make sure we can attract the best candidates for employment. This goes for all departments from police, fire, DPW and all other departments. Owning a private business for over 25 years, I understand the importance of delivering quality customer service in all aspects of our business.

Upcoming issues

The key issue I see in Bloomfield Township is finding and retaining the highest caliber of employees. Bloomfield Township has lost more employees in the last three years than in the previous twelve years. This is because of the micromanaging by the current supervisor. The talented department heads at Bloomfield Township have numerous opportunities in their respective fields in both the public and private sectors. Several employees have left because of the lack of leadership from the current supervisor, as well as the lack of competitive wages and benefits.

Strategic plan

A solid and structured strategic plan normally takes 12 to 24 months to complete. The strategic plan underway has been rushed through a four-month process. Why this plan has been rushed is the question I keep hearing and asking that no one seems to answer. These plans are expensive, they need input, participation, and time to develop. To rush through only gives a short glimpse of a specific time, limiting participants as many people travel during the summer months and are unavailable. As Bloomfield Hills city commissioner and working with the City of Novi, I have worked through Strategic and Master Plans which require time. These plans can provide valuable information to lay out a road map for the community. This work cannot be rushed, but rather needs to be a well thought out and a deliberate road map that we may eventually follow.

Business community

I have worked with county and local businesses, both large and small businesses, to find funding and support services that were needed for growth and to keep their doors open. I have established collaborative relationships with businesses leaders in Oakland County and Novi working directly as an Economic Development Director and forming relationships with the MEDC, Oakland County, Detroit Regional Partnership, and local economic development developers from our neighboring communities. It is especially important to have relationships with our local businesses. If our companies are growing, how can we help them in our community and expand, keeping those jobs here. Recruiting new businesses will create new jobs, we need to work with these groups to bring companies to our Township.

Validity of election results

Yes, I accept the results of the 2020 and 2024 elections. We have a safe and transparent voting system in Bloomfield Township.

Why vote for you

My job is to address residents’ concerns and make sure there is an open line of communication. This has been missing for the last three years at Bloomfield Township. Phone calls and emails must be addressed. This has not been the case over the last three years. Having met with many residents since I made the decision to run for office, the number one complaint I have heard is the lack of return phone calls and responses to communication from the supervisor’s office. As leaders we lead by example. Another concern is a lack of attention to details within the community. There have been numerous areas that have not been addressed in a timely manner. How many broken falling down fences have we seen on the safety paths? How many miles of overgrown trees and weeds do we have on the safety paths? How can we expect our residents to adhere to our property maintenance ordinances when we don’t? Bloomfield Township has had many issues with the community regarding road maintenance, as well as snow and ice removal. I have heard numerous times, “this is not our responsibility.” Regardless of the operational jurisdictional responsibility, it is our obligation to protect all people within our community.