Macomb: Charter, full-time executive win big

Government to be restructured for the first time since 1818

Charles E. Ramirez / The Detroit News

Macomb County voters made history Tuesday adopting a charter that restructures the county's government under a full-time executive.

Meanwhile, municipal voters re-elected mayors in Sterling Heights, Utica and Mount Clemens and ousted incumbents in Center Line and New Baltimore.

The biggest development, however, was the dominant performance of the proposed charter, designed to make government more efficient and provide a single elected leader empowered to make decisions and focus on Macomb's top issues. The charter proposal passed overwhelmingly, with more than 60 percent voting in support.

The measure will cut the county's Board of Commissioners from 26 members to 13 and take out of the board's hands the daily running of county government; it marked the first time Macomb voters overhauled their government since the county was established in 1818.

Macomb County officials hailed the voters decision to usher in a new era of government.

"I see this transitioning the county to having a more effective government," said Paul Gieleghem, D-Clinton Township, chairman of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners. "(The county) will be able to respond to problems faster and make decisions quicker.

"It's historic," said Gieleghem, who as among the board's members who supported the proposal. "This is the first time a citizens group has pulled together to change the government structure of a county in the state."

Tedd Keffen, 74, of Warren said he voted for the proposal because the current form of the county's government is inadequate.

"The county commissioners hem and haw and talk everything to death," he said. "(They) never move on anything. It's an ineffective grouping."

Also Tuesday, the county's electorate approved a plan to turn the Road Commission of Macomb County into a county department.

Macomb County Road Commissioner Dan Dirks said he supports voters' wish to fold the agency into the rest of the county's government.

"I think it'll be good for the citizens of the county," he said. "It'll have a direct impact on the transportation system of the county. Having a county executive and putting the road commission under his supervision is the way to go."

In addition to the charter and the Road Commission measure, 11 other communities in the county held elections for municipal officials.

In municipal votes, not all mayoral incumbents were safe. In Center Line, residents chose new mayor David Hanselman, who beat Mary Ann Zielinski for the post. In New Baltimore, citizens elected Larry Smith over Tom Goldenbogen.

But voters in Mount Clemens re-elected Barb Dempsey and Sterling Heights re-elected Richard Notte. Utica Mayor Jackie Noonan ran unopposed.

Among the votes on city proposals:

• Eastpointe voters passed a public safety services millage, 3,180-1,190.

• The electorate in St. Clair Shores supported a $1.8 millage renewal for street repairs and construction.

• Harrison Township voters approved a millage renewal for police, fire and township operations. They also endorsed hiring a single waste hauler.

• Balloters in the Village of New Haven passed a $10 million bond to upgrade its water supply system. The vote was 381-135.

Also, several public school districts elected trustees to their Boards of Education and two school districts had proposals on the ballots in their communities.

Voters in the Fraser Public Schools district passed a $6.4 million millage renewal.

And residents in the Warren Consolidated Schools supported a $65 million improvement bond.

Warren resident Patti Leja, 45, said she voted in support of Warren Con's bond proposal. She feared failure would mean the district will have to make cuts elsewhere to pay for the much-needed repairs to its buildings.

"I think the bond will improve our schools," said Leja, whose children -- Kelsey, 11, and Jonathan, 9 -- attend the district's Harwood Elementary.

cramirez@detnews.com (586) 468-2905