Absentee Ballots are being mailed.
FridayMusings Endorsements.
Endorsing candidates for Livonia City Council is not always easy for this typewriter. This election is no different.
I talk with dozens of people, neighbors, city hall observers, candidates, and people I do not know but just stop them and ask their opinions. Their thoughts on this election.
The first two endorsements, already decisively made, were for incumbent Jim Jolly who is a candidate that doesn't just talk Livonia he lives Livonia, and challenger Dan Centers who has a history of bridge-building through all levels of government, an attribute that will benefit Livonia as he works with all individuals to move Livonia forward.
There are three more worthy of consideration for our vote for Livonia City Council. In addition to Jolly and Centers FridayMusings endorses three others who would make Livonia proud.
Carrie Budzinski, Ken Overwater, and Laura Toy. Any combination of two of these three candidates, along with Jolly and Centers will create a City Council that would be forward-looking, willing to continue building on the Vision 21 blueprint while working with our Mayor to mold a progressive agenda restoring our hometown as the envy of neighboring communities.
Ken Overwater is an advocate for people when they need it most. On City Council, he will be committed to expanding access to the things that make Livonia a great place to live while continuing to listen to the concerns of Livonia residents. In talking to Ken you can hear the compassion for others. He has heart and it comes through as he engages in active listening. A needed skill set on our council.
Carrie Budzinski will bring transparency, accountability, and an active engagement with citizens. This is what we can expect from her service. What is impressive with her is her willingness to follow through on ideas. She is more than just talk, she is a person with action. Follow-through is another skill set we will look forward to on council.
Laura Toy understands that the history of Livonia goes beyond the date that someone was elected to the council. This historic perspective is something we need. It propels us into the future by understanding what came before and why we need progressive change if we are to continue attracting younger families. It would have been easy after her defeat for Mayor just two years ago to be bitter while turning her back on Mayor Brosnan. Instead, she has worked to develop a relationship that benefits the entire community. This comes with maturity, experience, and wisdom. Skillsets that will benefit our Council and city.
These endorsements do not take away from the two candidates not receiving consideration. Both Rob Donovic, incumbent, and Scott Morgan, challenger, are good, likable candidates. They are however aligned with a faction of the city council that is holding the city back, that tends to support only their way without listening to their neighbors for the change necessary to move Livonia forward.
It may be considered a cop-out to endorse five, not four but Livonia is fortunate to have five solid candidates who put Livonia first and if elected will help position our hometown as the place to live, the community to work, and the hometown to raise our families.
Jolly, Centers, Budzinski, Overwater, Toy. Five outstanding candidates. FridayMusings encourages you to consider your four votes from among these five.
