I want to strengthen our health and safety systems, work on infrastructure and prevent the sale of county park land to developers. Nancy Darga The candidates have a different view of the county's recent sale of three historic mills, including the Phoenix Mill. Photo by Fred Shadko
Darga vs. Marecki
Sale of county park land front and center in commission race By Alex Lundberg
T
he candidates running for the District 9 Wayne County Commission seat have similar long histories in their communities and in the county, but very different ideas about how to best guide its resources. Current District 9 Commissioner Terry Marecki, a Republican, was elected to the post in 2015. She is a former Livonia city councilwoman, council vice president, Livonia
city clerk and member of the Livonia board of education. She currently chairs the county’s public services commission. She is also on the Health and Human Services and Ways and Means committees. Marecki said she worked to straighten out the county budget, improve parks and roads and other county assets when COVID-19 struck in March. As with a lot of other
I am very helpful. If I can get answers for people or remove obstacles, I’m available. I’m easy to work with. I’m the only Republican surrounded by 14 Democrats.
Terry Marecki
42 The ‘Ville
things of late, the next budget is up in the air. “We’re in the budget process now,” she said. “We’re working to keep services like public health and the sheriff’s department funded, those are set, but I don’t know what’s going to happen with the budget. Depending on the tax collection, I think next year will be the harder hit.” Since the state went into
lockdown, she said she’s been working with the commission and in her capacity as a member of the Back to Work Task Force to lend assistance where she can. So far, she said the county has given out $50 million in small business grants to businesses that are fighting to stay afloat. Former City of Northville Mayor Pro-Tem Nancy Darga is the Democrat running for the seat. She has already worked for the county as the chief of design for the Wayne Country Parks system for more than 25 years, during which time she helped found Friends of the Rouge. She was the first executive director of the Ford Piquette Plant, a founding member and managing director of the Motor Cities National Heritage Area and currently works with the National Park Service on the
