Commissioner Sherman not seeking reelection

Birmingham City Commissioner Stuart Sherman, first elected to the commission in 2005, has announced that he will not be seeking another four-year term in the November 2 election this year.

Sherman, who served as the city's mayor in both 2009 and 2015, said, “The City of Birmingham is like a family to me, and I have received such great satisfaction in watching it grow and succeed. I hope that the foundation that my fellow dedicated and capable commissioners and I built in the years past will help sustain and support this wonderful city now and well into the future.”

The city commission terms of Sherman, along with incumbents Rackeline Hoff and Mark Nickita, expire this year. Neither Hoff nor Nickita could be reached for comment on whether they will be seeking another term in the November balloting. The remaining four members of commission were elected to four-year terms in the fall of 2019.

Hoff was first elected to the city commission in 2001 while Nickita, the past chairman of the Birmingham Planning Board, was first elected to the city commission in 2009.

The incumbents have been part of the effort to create the city's bistro program designed to enliven the streets in Birmingham, the redevelopment of Shain Park and maintaining the city's AAA bond rating, among other accomplishments.

In making his announcement about not seeking another term, Sherman said, “As I prepare to leave office, I want to thank the city staff for their incredible work and unwavering dedication. They made my job and that of every commissioner so much easier and I am deeply grateful. Most of all, I want to thank the people of Birmingham – the residents and business owners who make this one of the greatest cities, not just in Michigan but in the country. You give Birmingham its heart and soul, and it is a joy to be a part of.”

The Birmingham City Clerk's office confirmed this week that a “few” people have asked for packets to collect signatures to run for election but no one has filed to run for city commission yet. Candidates have until 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, to submit either a petition with signed signatures or pay a fee in order to appear on the November ballot.

Meanwhile, in Bloomfield Hills, terms for all members of the five-member city commission expire this fall and the incumbents will all be seeking reelection, according to the city clerk's office.