august 4 primary election voter guide
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP TREASURER/REPUBLICAN MARK ANTAKLI
Antakli received both his undergraduate mechanical engineering degree and his MBA from University of Michigan. He is a selfemployed insurance agent. TREASURER RESPONSIBILITIES As one of three full-time elected positions in the township offices, along with the supervisor and the clerk, the treasurer has a variety of
DAVID THOMAS from page 27B
affidavit saying they will be out of town on Election Day. Reinstates the option of a straight-ticket vote for all candidates of a particular political party by marking one spot on the ballot. The Republican-controlled legislature passed a law ending that practice, and this November election will be the first time that option is not allowed.Proposal 3 also allows voters to seek an audit of statewide elections. In addition, it will add the current legal requirements for secret ballots and military and overseas voting to the Michigan constitution. Currently, the right to a secret ballot and the military/oversees voting timetables are part of Michigan election law but are not in the constitution. The most recent changes are in the same day voter registration and the attempts to expand the absentee voter rolls. Talking with the present clerk, actions have been put into place to address the same day registration. Those processes have been tested through several recent elections. The absentee ballots process will add many hours to the election night duties for the clerk. The ballots cannot be counted until the polls close so with an increase in the number of ballots and the cross 28B
responsibilities. Can you tell us the statutory responsibilities of the treasurer? What qualifications do you have to be township treasurer? Be specific. Treasurer is a member of the Board of Trustees which has the following statutory requirements, from the Michigan Compiled Laws for the Township Board: MCL 41.70-41.75b. Regarding education qualifications: graduate degree, University of Michigan – Dearborn – master degree in business administration, concentrating in finance. I graduated with distinction and was accepted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Honor Society for Business Schools. Undergraduate degree is in mechanical engineering, from University of Michigan, College of Engineering – Ann Arbor. I have an extensive business background, utilizing my finance background to support board and management activities such as: forecasts, budgets, cost savings initiatives, financial analysis, and stakeholder relationships. TOWNSHIP FINANCES For a number of years there has references needed to ensure the integrity of those ballots, the workload on election night will increase significantly. The reinstatement of straight ticket issue will affect the ballots but will not add to the workload. MICHIGAN FOIA There can never be too much information in the public’s hands. If elected, I would put everything online. The key item that will be online is the township checkbook that is tied directly the approved budgets. All accounts would show their approval authority, what was budgeted, and the present variance to budget. If any overruns occur, they would not be authorized until the board of trustees approves it. This will drive accountability and will create trust and transparency with the residents. MASTER PLAN/ORDINANCES The entire master plan needs to be revisited and redone. The present master plan is over 10 years old and has been ether been ignored or amended ad hoc. Each time the supervisor has said that he was going to reissue the plan but has failed to do so. The entire plan needs to be redone and presented to the citizens for their input and approval. It should
been concern about the township's finances and whether the township had invested its money correctly. In the last several years there have been changes in how investments have been handled which have produced improvements. Can you tell us the changes that have been made in the investments of the township? Be specific. As a township, what investment vehicles can a township use? Can you tell us how the township's portfolio has performed in the last two years? Investments the township can utilize are identified in Michigan’s Compiled Laws and are referenced in the year end March 31, 2019 audited financials. Township utilizes laddered maturities of CD’s to cover the cash needs of daily operations. Recently, the township utilizes Oakland County’s government investment pool and has increased the holdings in that account. A few years ago, the majority of these investments were in short-term bond mutual funds, with other investments being in certificates of deposit. Per fiscal year end audited financials, investment fees have increased from $86,208 in 2016 to $267,851 in 2019. Per the 2019 audit, investment returns on the address the future needs in infrastructure and how the upgrades will be funded. It must include a threeyear review because of the rapidly changing technology and its potential impact to the plan. As clerk, I do not write the ordinances, I publish them. I think they should all be reviewed for relevance and technology impacts. Government is the one cost that really impacts citizens. The ordinances should be reviewed for their effectiveness and their economic impact to businesses and citizens. TOWNSHIP SUPERINTENDENT I would fully endorse a superintendent type of governance of the township. It needs to be reviewed and studied, and it must have the resident’s input and support. But, yes, I am in favor of it. REUNIFYING THE COMMUNITY Treat everyone equally with respect and fairness. That includes the residents, employees, and vendors. Our Constitution First Amendment allows for a redress of grievances by the citizens. It goes for all levels of government. Elected officials may not like what some of the electorate is telling them. It is symptomatic of an issue or a different perspective. If you are leading, you want the best
VOTER GUIDE/DOWNTOWN
pension trust net investment expenses were: 2019, 2.3 percents and 2018, 4.7 percent. AAA BOND RATING Bloomfield Township received its first AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor's in April 2011, prior to a $3 million bond sale to finance improvements in its sanitary sewer system. The township has maintained its AAA bond rating since, which has been attributed to a well run township at every level. If you are elected, how will you work to maintain that AAA bond rating? Bloomfield Township is also rated by Moody’s. Moody’s downgraded Bloomfield Township to Aa1 on August 8, 2019. Credit challenges highlighted in Moody’s report on December 12, 2018 were: tax caps; high leverage and fixed costs from bonded debt and unfunded postemployment liabilities; a weakened economic profile. A new threat was added this spring. Six-year employment contracts were approved, increasing salaries and postemployment benefits by over 15 percent. A long-term balanced budget was not provided to residents, supporting the increase. I will work to solutions so you must consider all the views around the issues before taking a decision. WHY VOTE FOR YOU I have been at the forefront of many recent township issues. The sewer and water overcharges, organizing the opposition the proposed Special Assessment District proposal that was put to a vote last August. None of my opponents have been that involved in the community. None of the others have had that level of impact to the community. My desire to serve coupled with my work experience and academic achievements are far beyond any of my challengers. None of my competitors have the experience in managing employees, processes, and budgets that I have. Why me? Courage to do the right thing, putting my community first. I will not take a township vehicle for compensation. I was the first candidate to make that pledge. My experience: No competitors have the experience in managing employees, processes, and budgets that I have. My integrity – I do not have a real or perceived conflict of interest as does one of my competitors. AUGUST 2020 PRIMARY
