Absentee Ballots ready to be mailed in three weeks. September 25th.

Time to take a look at our two candidates running for Mayor. Laura Toy and Maureen Brosnan.

Maureen with her three children

I'm running to be your mayor because I'm a tested leader prepared to work with you to assure our city reaches its unbelievable potential.  I will roll up my sleeves and work hard to continue to cultivate Livonia as a highly respected community where people take pride in raising their families and growing their businesses. 

Earlier this year residents collected signatures on a printed and online petition encouraging me to lead Michigan's ninth largest city as its first female mayor.  In addition to collecting over 800 signatures they collected the thoughts and priorities of Livonia residents.  I am excited about the opportunity to use my 30 years of experience leading non-profit organizations and boards to tackle the tough problems identified by residents like fixing our roads and nurturing a healthier city, to protecting our environment and parks, and building a more vibrant economy.  There's work to do to secure our community's future, and I'm prepared to do it.

As a candidate here's what I bring to the table. I'll be a:

Visionary and strategic leader.  In my former role as the Executive Director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association I put Michigan's $3.5 billion industry on the map and travelled throughout the country and around the world to encourage investment in Michigan's bright and talented entrepreneurs.  During my time at the helm of the association Michigan's investors boasted a record-breaking year of funding entrepreneurs.  I know how to get things done and I look forward getting them done with you.

Dedicated collaborator.  Connecting the dots, creating opportunities and looking for innovative solutions to complex problems are at the heart of the work I am currently doing as the Interim CEO of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan (CCSEM).  CCSEM is a $10 million organization providing services to more than 20,000 people throughout six counties in southeast Michigan.  I'm there now working with them to create a sustainable funding model and strategic plan for the organization as it continues to grow.

Fierce advocate and compassionate champion. You won't find a more tenacious advocate or a more compassionate champion for Livonia.  At the heart of my work is passion.  It's been there for 17 years when I served Livonia residents as your voice on the Livonia City Council advocating for advanced life support, a community recreation center, a bike path connectivity program, a new master plan, and so many other things that make Livonia a great place to live and work.

In a statement issued by Mayor Dennis Wright he indicated his support for my campaign should I enter the race.  I'm honored to have the Mayor's support.  Mayor Wright has done a lot for this city in his four years as mayor, but perhaps the most important of his contributions is his willingness to get out in the community, roll up his sleeves and tackle problems head on.  He didn't lead from behind a desk and neither will I.

I'm a life-long resident of Livonia.  I met my late husband Sean here at St. Michael Catholic School in the fifth grade.  We bought a house in Livonia's historic Old Rosedale Gardens neighborhood and that's where we raised our children, sending them to St. Michael Catholic School as well.  They are grown and nearly gone, but it's my hope that the Livonia we are strengthening will one day call them back. 

I believe deeply in this community and its people.  I enter this race clearly recognizing the challenges before us and am prepared to lead the city to its next level of success. We've got a great future to work for, and I hope you will join me in the months ahead as we work to win this election and bring Livonia the proven leadership it deserves.

Endorsements: Councilman Jim Jolly, Former Councilmen Mike McGee, Joe Taylor, Dale Jurcisin, Livonia Police Officers Association, Livonia Police

Lieutenants  & Sargents Associaton, UAW, Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2, Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, Teamsters Local 299, Schoolcraft College Trustees Gretchen Alaniz, Brian Broderick, Zoning Board of Appeals Tim Klisz and Janice Centers.

	Laura with her pet dog Eva

MEET LAURA TOY:

Livonia is a special place to call home.  I know, because Livonia is my home.  And I am running for mayor because I want Livonia to be the best possible home for every person who chooses to live here.

From my days as a student at Lincoln Elementary school - where a stray turkey from Roperti's farm would sometimes make its way onto the playground - to my senior year of high school when I graduated as president of my class at Bentley, Livonia has always been a part of me.  A lot has changed over the years, but a lot has stayed the same.  Neighbors helping neighbors, a sense of community, great schools, walkable neighborhoods with ample parks and green space, a vibrant business community, and top notch public safety.

My father Glen Toy was officer number six on the Livonia Police department and my mother Eileen was a schoolteacher.  I learned early on the value of hard work and of serving others.  My brother Glen Jr. was disabled from birth and throughout my career in public service I have drawn so much inspiration from his life. 

As a young woman, I opened a small business in Livonia with my friend and business partner Colleen Siembor.  More than one person told us "two girls in a flower shop will never make it".  But we did.  Today, Cardwell Florist is still a thriving business on Plymouth Road, just outside of the Rosedale Gardens neighborhood.  It has been such an honor and privilege to share in the lives of our customers, on some of their happiest days - and on some of their saddest. 

Over the years, I have had the great fortune to serve my neighbors in Livonia as both a volunteer and elected leader.  I started as an intern for former Mayor Ed McNamara, who helped me to open the first recycling center in the city.  Our motto was "to wait is too late". 

Today, I stand ready to help shape the future of Livonia: to put our city at the forefront of the new economy, to embrace technology, to look at creative solutions to our problems, empower our young people to be the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, and to continue serving the city I love and the people who call it home.  In everything we do, we must remember our city's motto which proclaims "Families First". 

      

We must keep Livonia affordable - for our seniors on fixed incomes, and for new families who have stretched their budgets to buy a home in our great city.  We must be innovative and work with our schools and universities and partner with our businesses to move forward together as a city.  New development in Livonia must consider the input of neighbors and must help to support the property values of homeowners. 

To do this, we must set the right priorities in our budget, like public safety, roads, and maintaining strong services for our seniors and the disabled.  We must also support our small businesses and job providers to keep Livonia's economy strong and our business tax base robust to avoid tax increases for residents. 

    

Most importantly, as we embrace the future, we must never forget the things we do not want to change: our strong sense of community, our great programs for seniors and many recreation opportunities for youth, family-friendly  events like the parade and Spree, and excellent city services for our residents.  We need to continue to build on our strengths and make this a welcoming place to live and work for all people.

I am running for mayor because m y heart is in this city and I will work hard every day to see that it continues to be a special place to call home.  Please join me. 

Endorsements: Mayor Dennis Wright,  Former Mayors Jack Kirksey and Jack Engebretson Councilwomen Kathleen McIntyre and Cathy White, Councilman Brian Meakin, Right to Life of Michigan.

On Friday we will introduce you to the candidates running for Livonia City Council.

Corn Roast plans continue to be unrolled. See you on the 15th of September.  1:00 - 4:00

Two more Honorary Corn Roasters all set to join in at the Good Old Fashioned Corn Roast

Lynda Scheel, Treasurer of our great hometown, State Senator Dayna Polehanki are all set for for serving as one of our honorary corn roasters. She will be joining Scheel is serving up corn for her third picnic and Dayna will be at her first as she was just elected last year.  Make a point to grab some corn and chat up two of our honorary corn roasters. We will publish our full schedule of honorary rosters this Friday.

Robb Dzewicki, Knight of the Bald Table, volunteers to help and then Brandon McCullough joined in to offer his lounge chair skillset and then we found a hidden picture of his skillset with Greg Coppola.    Robb Dzewicki, Knight of the Bald Table, stopped by the Blue Plate to volunteer for the Corn Roast. Seems he saw that Rob Donovic was handling the pick up of corn and that the typewriter would be setting up a lounge chair to watch. Dzewicki volunteered to handle the lounge chair duties. When informed of this generous offer Brandon McCullough offered to be Dzewicki's assistant and help with the lounge chair. Having watched McCullough practice his watching skills at the Spree pancake breakfast along with Greg Coppola we may get this corn roast off the ground yet. It remains to be seen if the typewriter will require assistance to watch the volunteers.

25 community organizations are on board for the Corn Roast making for a great way to meet some great organizations.

Greenleaf Commission,  Livonia Arts Commission, Kiwanis Early Risers, Rotary Noon Club, Costco, Livonia Democratic Club,  Methodist Home for Children, Clarenceville Education Foundation,  Livonia Save our Youth Coalition. Author Lonna Baum

Livonia Community Good Old Fashioned Corn Roast thanks the community sponsors for joining the Livonia YMCA, 

Livonia Parks and Recreation and FridayMusings in bringing Livonia another fun event

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Two good reasons to bring the film industry back to Michigan

At the end of 2017 Bryce and Devin Cameron brought out their first feature film Kid Brother with help from  Cory Jacobson who this December

	7 days a week. Livonia Art in the Park.

in Michigan.  Now they are back and in pre-production for their second film aiming for an early 2020 filming date. In the past month or so, this film has gone from a hopeful dream to a fairly concrete reality, which is most exciting. 

They asked the typewriter to sit down with others to chat about Kid Brother. Watch it all the way through, 6 minutes in all, as the last 20 seconds made me smile.   Check out this 6 minute clip. Click here.   Then click on the black screen.

By way of introducing the Cameron brothers it is important to know that they kept the film focused on Michigan as it was a part of the plan when they started writing the script in early 2016. In keeping with that thought they cast the film from right here in metro Detroit with Tonya Hawkins, Peter Herold and Alan Longstreet.