May 20, 2022 When we are not limited, we all thrive
Mac & Cheese drive a huge success
1550 boxes collected in 2 weeks for Blessings in a Backpack
The Livonia Democratic Club has been busy working with a number of charities this summer. It is as if they are saying that there is a time for politics and a time for the community.

Earlier this summer they collected over 3,000 pairs of shoes and donated the $1,500 raised to three community charities.

This week they dropped off 75 cases of Kraft Mac & Cheese, or 1,350 boxes, to Blessings in a Backpack! Mitsy Morris says that "All told, we have collected a total of 1,550 boxes to date with two weeks remaining in our campaign (our last collection day is Tuesday, May 31).

From left to right, Mitsy Morris, Mike Ladwig, Kate Shishkovsky, Chris Hench, and Pat O'Neill hand over the Mac & Cheese to BIAB.

"There are still nearly two weeks to drop your donation at the Livonia Senior Center! Our new goal is to reach 2,000 boxes in total, and with your help, Livonia, we can do this!"
Vote Yes on term limits and financial disclosure

The Michigan Legislature voted Tuesday to put before voters a constitutional amendment to revise the state's legislative term limits law and require state elected officials to disclose their personal financial information.

A constitutional provision approved by voters in 1992 allows legislators to serve no more than 14 years, including three two-year House terms and two four-year Senate terms. The amendment — which the House and Senate passed 76-28 and 26-6, respectively, without debate — would allow them to serve up to 12 years: six two-year House terms, three four-year Senate terms or a combination.


Since the state implemented term limits, there has been substantial turnover within the Michigan legislature on a regular basis. Having some stability with these terms might allow for more thoughtful conversations and bridge-building across political aisles.

The initiative also would require lawmakers, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state and the attorney general to file annual financial disclosure reports starting in 2024.

Attempts to mandate such reports have stalled for years in the Legislature, even though Michigan is among just two states where legislators pass and reject laws without the public knowing about their personal finances.

The officials would have to disclose their assets; income; liabilities; involvement in businesses, unions, nonprofit groups or educational institutions; agreements related to future employment; gifts; travel payments and reimbursements that must be reported by lobbyists; and charitable donations made by others in lieu of honoraria.

FridayMusings says it is time to revise our term limit and financial disclosure laws and this is the first step in doing exactly that. Musings endorses this Michigan Constitutional Amendment placed on the ballot by the Michigan Legislature.
Vickie Barnett for Michigan State Senate

After the Livonia November elections Livonia will have two members of the Michigan State Senate. Dayna Polehanki, already endorsed by FridayMusings, is running for re-election in District 5 with Vickie Barnett running in District 6.

Other candidates in District 5 include Mary Cavanaugh (D)
Betty Jean Alexander (D) and Darryl D. Brown (D). The lone Republican is Ken Crider (R). 

Vicki Barnett was first elected to City Council in 1995, served as Mayor Pro Tem in 1998, and was elected Mayor in 2003, 2005, 2019, and 2021. Vicki was State Representative from 2009 to 2014.

Her past accomplishments listed on the Farmington Hills website include creating model after-school programs; expanding the park system to include a nature preserve, world-class soccer fields, an 18-hole golf course, splash pad, and cultural arts programs;
She worked to form the Citizen Corps Council for Emergency Preparedness to teach residents how to care for themselves during crises; received a Homeland Security grant to install a low power emergency radio station; hosted innovative environmental workshops; championed environmentally sustainable natural landscaping and our Gold LEED Certified City Hall.

She supported requiring new developments be compatible with surrounding neighborhoods; preventing oil and gas drilling in residential neighborhoods and assisting county officials in building a countywide public safety communications network.

A resident of Farmington Hills since 1981, Vicki and her husband Mark Steckloff have two grown children. She received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from U of M (Dearborn), was President of the Michigan Municipal League, Board Member of the National League of Cities, Vice-Chair of the National Task Force on Interoperability (for Homeland Security), and is involved in many community organizations.

Barnett's breadth and depth of knowledge on how local government works sets priorities and establishes programs gives her a background that few can match.

Add to that her 6 years in Lansing as State Representative, including in leadership positions, indicates that she can move right in, and start right up, not having to go through an orientation or be handed a folder with talking points. She is her own person, understands government, and will represent this district in a way that we will be proud of.

FridayMusings believes that Livonia would be well-served with the election of Vickie Barnett as State Senator, District 5. Combining her skillset with that of Senator Polehanki and Livonia will have a strong 1-2 punch and will make a difference in Lansing for Livonia.
Community Endorsement
Brandon Lorimer writing in Art Critic lays out the predicate for summer productions on Shakespeare in the park. “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date”, to quote the Bard, and all the shorter when you start to plan what to do with that too fleeting flick of time. Get out to the beach as much as possible, go for a road trip, have a few barbecues, and maybe finally get out to see one of those Shakespeare in the Park shows. And there’s certainly no shortage of opportunities for them in the summer months. In most major cities with any semblance of green space, you’re likely to have Shakespearian companies putting on performances outdoors almost every day of the week."

Livonia is set this year to host what is hoped to be our own version of Shakespeare in the Park, Stymelski Park, July 29-31.
This is a production of the Livonia Parks & Recreation with assistance from the Livonia Community Theatre and financial support provided by the Hardies Family Trust and Community Financial Credit Union.

FridayMusings supports this creative hometown cultural event and encourages you to put on your calendar for July 29-31 and plan to attend and say that you were at Livonia's first of what we hope is an annual project.
Mayor Brosnan promotes the Livonia street improvement projects
The Livonia Chamber of Commerce and FridayMusings have endorsed the Livonia August vote to renew our hometown streets millage.

Maureen Miller Brosnan is out letting people know about the current neighborhood street improvement projects.

"Fighting for our fair share of road dollars means it’s officially hard hat season in Livonia! Road and local street improvement projects are everywhere."

To find out about projects in your neighborhood check out our road rehab page at www.livonia.gov.
Honorary and Distinguished recognition at 2022 Schoolcraft College Graduation
Marina Shoemaker, Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategies DEI External Partnerships for General Motors, Michigan Senator Dayna Polehanki, and Chuck Dardas, President and CEO of AlphaUSA received honorary degrees at the 2022 graduation ceremony at Schoolcraft College.

Distinguished Alumni Recognition was bestowed upon Michael Siegrist, Clerk for Canton Township.
Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church invites you to join them for their annual Memorial Day Service
What do you know
about Livonia?

The Livonia Historical Society is hosting their regular meeting at Greenmead on Monday, May 23, at 2 p.m.

Check out the Livonia Historical Society’s new website:


Founded in 1956, the Livonia Historical Society helped establish the City of Livonia Historical Commission and Greenmead Historical Park. Its mission is to help preserve our community’s history and to offer learning experiences to fulfill their mission.

Join the Society today and beat the increase in membership dues that will take effect on September 2, 2022. A membership application is posted at https://livoniahistoricalsocietymi.org/? page_id=24
Mail Address
19514 Livonia 48152
E-mail address
Cell address
734-674-5871
FridayMusings will print information received from the candidates without editing except perhaps for space requirements. But we are committed to providing fair coverage of all the candidates even those we are not endorsing. Primarily the statements will be in the Friday edition, trying to keep campaigning to a single issue each week. If candidates do not send information then we will look through their social media and web presence and seek out positions and endorsements. As always your input is appreciated. the typewriter
2022 ELECTIONS
A regular Friday posting.

Primary election Tuesday, Aug. 2
General election Tuesday, Nov. 8

Ballot Proposals to date

Livonia road millage renewal

Endorsed by
FridayMusings
Livonia Chamber of Commerce

Proposition J 
JAIL MILLAGE RENEWAL

Endorsed by
FridayMusings

Livonia Board of Education-November

Colleen Burton incumbent
Liz Jarvis incumbent
Mark Johnson incumbent

Clarenceville Board of Education-November

Cindy Immonen incumbent
Dennis Myers incumbent
Michael Liss incumbent

Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees-November

Brett Gierak incumbent
Carol Strom incumbent
William Erwin incumbent

Wayne County Executive 

Monica Conyers (D)
Warren C. Evans (D) incumbent
Beverly Kindle-Walker (D)
 
Mark Ashley Price (R)

Wayne County Sheriff

Raphael Washington (D) incum.

Endorsed by:
FridayMusings

Walter Epps (D)
Joan Merriewether (D) 

Congress--12th District

Rashida Tlaib (D) incumbent

Endorsed by:
League of Conservation Voters
SEIU
Michigan Teamsters #43
Planned Parenthood
Hospitality Workers #24
Jewish Voice for Peace
Friends of the Earth
UFCW Local 876

Janice M. Winfrey (D)
Kelly Garrett (D)
Shanelle Jackson (D)

James Hooper (R)
Steven Elliott (R)
Hassan Nehme (R)


State Senate--5th District

Dayna Polehanki (D) incumbent

Endorsed by:
FridayMusings
Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan
Mayor Bill Wild
Commissioner Glenn Anderson
SEIU-Michigan
Bricklayers #2
Mi Nurses Association
Sierra Club
Mi Bldg Construction Trades
Mi Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights

Velma Jean Overman (D)

Emily Bauman (R)
Leonard Scott Jr. (R)
Jody M. Rice-White (R)


State Senate--6th District 

Vickie Barnett (D

Endorsed by:
FridayMusings

Mary Cavanaugh (D)
Betty Jean Alexander (D)
Darryl D. Brown (D) 

Ken Crider (R) 

State Representative
16th District

Ismail Terry (D)
Stephanie Young (D)

Gabriel Rees (R) 
Keith Jones (R) 

State Representative
17th district

Laurie Pohutsky (D) incumbent

Endorsed by:
Mi Nurses Association
SEIU-Michigan
Sierra Club
Emily's List
Clean Water Actioon
AFSCME Council 25
AFL-CIO
MEA

Penny L. Crider (R)

State Representative
22 District: 

Matt Koleszar (D) incumbent

Endorsed by:
Michigan Education Association
SEIU- Michigan
Police Officers Association of MI
Sierra Club
League of Conservation Voters
Mi Regional Council of
Carpenters and Millwrights
Mi Nurses Association
Small Business Assoc of Mi.
Mi Professional Firefighters
AFL-CIO
Teamsters


Cathryn Neracher (R)
Rob Donovic (R) Disqualified, appeal of removal from ballot is pending

County Commissioner
12th District

Glenn Anderson (D) incumbent

Endorsed by:
FridayMusings

William J. Collop (R)

County Commissioner
District 9

Terry Marecki (R) incumbent
Unopposed- no Democrat and no Republican filed in opposition
State Representative 22nd District
Matt Koleszar (D-incumbent)
State Representative 22nd District
Rob Donovic (R)
(as of this morning Donovic has been disqualified by the Wayne County Clerk and will not appear on the ballot unless his legal challenge to the disqualification is upheld)
State Representative 17th District
State Senate 5th District
Dayna Polehanki, (D-incumbent)
State Senate 5th District
Emily Bauman (R)
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib calls for the cancelation of student debt
Tlaib explains that "The U.S. Department of Education currently holds so much student loan debt that it's now the nation’s largest consumer bank. Halting payments until August is not enough. We must #CancelStudentDebtNow."
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