Suburban voters look for change, creative thinking

Mike Martindale and Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

Metro Detroit -- In Pontiac, retiree Reuben Evans was out early to cast his vote.

"I felt it was important to come out this morning and vote because we need change," said Evans, a Pontiac Motor Division retiree who has lived in Pontiac for more than 40 years. "People complain, but then they don't vote. The economy is bad, but there are certain things that the electorate can do."

Evans said he was sickened by the fighting between the Pontiac City Council and past mayors.

"The Silverdome is sitting empty all these years after the Lions left, at the cost of $1 million per year for upkeep despite the fact that nothing is going on in there," Evans said, while at the Woodward Heights Senior Living Center. "Let's get it back on the tax rolls."

Evans noted that voting was very light this morning.

"That's too bad," he said. "Hopefully, later on today, it will pick up when people get off from work."

For Livonia resident Kathy Hoen, the major issues were the school millage renewals and the race for City Council.

"We absolutely need funding for the schools and to keep the City Council thinking vibrantly," said Hoen, a 20-year resident of the city. "The status quo is not good for us; we need them to think more effectively and efficiently. Livonia is as good as it is because people are really invested in the city."

Hoen said she was encouraged by the candidates running for the four open council seats.

"They really have their eyes on the ball," Hoen said.

Westland residents Julie Evans and Jim Ward made sure they got out to vote this morning.

Evans, 51, is throwing her support to candidates who want to reduce wasteful spending.

"I want them to look at what we have and use it wisely," said Evans, a four year resident of Westland. "We want people to want to live here."

Ward, 75, is looking for new representation for the city he has lived in since 1957.

"I think they need some new blood," Ward said. "I also support the millage renewal; they need every nickel they can get."

In Southfield, Hyman Matlen and his wife, Esther, showed up at the Southfield City Complex to turn in their absentee ballots. The Matlens, both in their 80s, said that as far as they were concerned, there were no major issues on the ballot.

"But we like Mayor Barbara Lawrence so we're voting for her," Hyman Matlen said. "We vote all the time; we want to support our city."

Both Matlen and his wife noted the light turn out on this dry and sunny fall day.

"There were only two other people voting besides us," Matlen said. "People should remember that voting is a privilege."

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