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Meet the Candidates Seeking the Mayoral Seat in Grosse Pointe Shores
The November election is unique in Grosse Pointe Shores in that every council seat is up for election as determined in the municipality's city charter established in December 2008 when it transitioned from a village to a city.
The two mayoral candidates for Grosse Pointe Shores James Cooper and Ted Kedzierski. Cooper is the current mayor and Kedzierski is a current councilman.
Courtesy of James Cooper and Ted Kedzierski
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Of 11 candidates seeking office in Grosse Pointe Shores, two are seeking the mayoral seat in a bit of a historical election.
The remaining nine residents are seeking a seat on the city council, for which there are six seats.
The election is a bit historical in nature because it is the only time all of the positions are up for a vote—a unique situation from the municipality's transition from a village to a city.
According to the city charter that took effect in 2009, the top three vote-getters of this election will serve four-year terms and the next three top vote-getters will serve two-year terms to begin the process of election rotation. Whomever wins the mayoral seat will serve a four-year term.
The mayoral candidates are listed below in alphabetical order:
James Cooper
Cooper has been a resident of the Shores for 19 years and is a practicing dentist who operates a private practice on Mack Avenue.
He highlights his 12 years of public service as a trustee, president and currently the mayor of the Shores, recognizing "a new mix of residents" will be on council after the election. He believes his experience and familiarity with the operations of the Shores will ease the transition for the new council. Cooper also notes his strong relationship with other Grosse Pointe mayors, state legislators and city employees.
Cooper is using a 20-point plan as an outline for his plans for office should he be re-elected, all of which he classifies as continuation of current work and projects. The plan is available on his campaign website.
Something he wants voters to know:
He has been a voluntary mediator with the Detroit District Dental Society's Peer Review for 11 years. "I help resolve disputes between dentists, patients and third parties. I have experience training Detroit Component dentists in the art of mediation." He developed a mediation template, which is now used as part of standard training for all Michigan Peer Review Dentists.
Ted Kedzierski
Kedzierski has lived in the Shores for 17 years and is a certified public accountant and attorney. He has operated his own practice for nearly 30 years.
He highlights his financial background, noting the city is in need of "strong fiscal leadership." He is the current mayor pro tem, on the Grosse Pointe Shores Improvement Foundation and Chair of the Shores Finance Committee. He also highlights his operation of his own business—a skill he believes would benefit the Shores because he knows about maximizing efficiency and meeting the needs of others. "My mission is to preserve our premier services, especially public safety..."
Issues Kedzierski wants to address are the legacy costs, declining property values and an action plan to attract new families to the Shores. More of his plan is outlined in his campaign website, which emphasizes: "We Can Do Better."
Something he wants voters to know:
"I used to be a marathon runner and tri-athlete who competed in several competitive events."
Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.
Robert Lee
12:19 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Don't believe what politicians say in a controlled media interview, take an objective look at how they really behave in life:
http://www.shoresrecall.com/page7/files/page7-1003-pop.html
Is Mayor Cooper practicing "the art of mediation" in this video clip? His 20 point plan say he conducts open and transparent meetings . Is it openess and transparency when our leader proclaims to another council member: "I let other people answer when I deem fit for them?"
Or how about this one:
http://www.shoresrecall.com/page7/files/page7-1000-pop.html
As the attorneys say: "Res ipsa loquitor". Things speak for themselves!
When you see this type of objective behavior on the part of Mayor Cooper, no wonder the mayoral and the council challengers in the current electoral campaign have all raised civility as an issue.
Harry Kurtz
11:02 am on Monday, October 17, 2011
The issue of civility was actually raised as a question from the audience during the debate and various candidates then responded. The issue of civility does occasionally arise as a result of rude behavior emanating from the same small handful of residents who think nothing of interrupting, talking out loud and deliberately attempting to undermine council meetings.
As far as the candidates themselves were concerned with the issue of civility, GP Patch said it best in the following quote from their report on the debate: "Although they each said it a bit differently, the candidates agreed upon one answer. They do not believe the election is contentious and are happy there are so many engaged residents who want to help the community"
Susan Walton
4:10 pm on Monday, November 7, 2011
Jim Cooper has done a tremendous job of leading in Grosse Pointe Shores. He is a good, kind man and has given of his time and talents tirelessly to our City and its' residents. He will get my vote tomorrow.