Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published October 11, 2023
In the Eagle’s coverage area, voters will decide a library board race and a senior millage proposal Nov. 7. Below are profiles for the candidates and the exact language of the proposal as it will appear on the ballot. Candidates who were asked, in 75 words or fewer, to state their top goal(s) if elected. If a candidate went over the word limit, (…) replaces the rest of the answer. (I) indicated an incumbent. The answers are printed verbatim.
Birmingham Library Board
Four candidates are running for three, four-year terms.
Wendy Friedman
Age: No answer given.
Occupation: Independent College Counselor
Municipality of residence: Birmingham
For how long: 3+ years
Online campaign information: Instagram/Facebook @wendyforlibraryboard
Education: New York University, BA Journalism, NYIT, MA, Communications
Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: I will further BPL’s mission by ensuring our library staff has the support needed to navigate challenges to intellectual freedom, uphold diverse collections, and maintain inclusive programs for all patrons. I will continue the excellent board work of developing the new strategic plan by contributing innovative ideas to support the library’s future growth. As an active leader, I would use my talent and experience to ensure we have the money to fund our goals.
Curtis Trimble
Age: 49
Occupation: Investment manager
Municipality of residence: Birmingham
For how long: 8 Years
Online campaign information: None
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Swarthmore College and Masters in Business Administration from Rice University
Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: Providing positive support and objective advice define my primary goals as a Baldwin Public Library Board Member. I anticipate doing so will enable Baldwin’s excellent professional staff to continue enhancing access to the facility and its resources at levels Birmingham deserves. Maintaining fiscal discipline while concurrently replenishing Baldwin’s trust funds and magnifying its fundraising rank of paramount importance for supporting Baldwin. I believe my finance, accounting, and fundraising abilities will serve these efforts very well.
Karen Gilbert Rock (I)
Age: No answer given.
Occupation: Retired from Birmingham Public Schools
Municipality of residence: Birmingham, MI
For how long: I have lived in Birmingham, MI for 32 years. I lived in Bloomfield Township & Beverly Hills prior to living in Birmingham.
Online campaign information: None
Education: BA in Economics from The University of Michigan. MBA from the University of Detroit.
Previously and currently held elected offices: I have been a member of the Board of Trustees at Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham, MI for 2.5 years, since March 2021.
Top goals: I would like to continue to work as a team with other board members, the director, and library staff to develop policies and to maintain and enhance services to meet the needs of and attract community members, organizations, and businesses. Creating a welcoming library that engages a wide variety of the community and expanding the library’s role as a user-friendly community center are essential features of a successful library in Birmingham.
Jennifer Wheeler (I)
Age: 43
Occupation: Travel Advisor
Municipality of residence: Birmingham
For how long: 12 years
Online campaign information: None
Education: Western Michigan
Previously and currently held elected offices: Baldwin Public Library Board and Trustee in Birmingham, MI
Top goals:
-Innovation: Baldwin is ever changing to meet the needs of the community. By supporting that staff to attend training, they bring back new ideas.
-Accessibility: It is important that community members feel welcome and well served. This can be achieved by supporting a diversified collection, amazing customer service and through building improvements to make it easier to use and access the library.
-Personnel- By retaining staff, it helps the community feel welcomed when they return.
Birmingham Senior Millage Proposal
Do you approve of the addition of a new 0.33 mill levy to collect approximately $1,053,750 per year in revenue to be disbursed to the City of Birmingham for the purpose of making interim improvements and establishing a sinking fund for a senior center that will provide an array of services for older citizens for a three year term, ending on July 1, 2027?
Ordinance Amending Prohibition of Marihuana Sales
Shall the Birmingham City Code ordinance, Chapter 26 – Businesses, Article XII, which currently prohibits the sale of marihuana in the City of Birmingham, be amended to authorize and allow one (1) medical marihuana facility and one (1) marihuana recreational establishment to operate in the City of Birmingham?
Bloomfield Hills Schools Building and Site Sinking Fund Millage Renewal Proposal
This proposal, if approved by the electors, will continue the authority last approved by the electors in 2018 and which expires with the 2023 levy for the Bloomfield Hills Schools to levy a building and site sinking fund millage, the proceeds of which will be used to make improvements and repairs to the School District’s facilities. Pursuant to State law, the expenditure of the building and site sinking fund millage proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for teacher, administrator or employee salaries, maintenance, or other operating expenses. Shall the Bloomfield Hills Schools, County of Oakland, Michigan, be authorized to continue to levy 0.6976 mills ($0.70 per $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of three (3) years, being the years 2024 to 2026, inclusive, to create a building and site sinking fund to be used for the construction or repair of school buildings, school security improvements, the acquisition or upgrading of technology, the acquisition of student transportation vehicles, trucks and vans registered under the Michigan vehicle code, parts, supplies, and equipment used for the maintenance of these vehicles or for other purposes permitted by law? This millage would provide estimated revenues to the School District of approximately $3,380,000 during the 2024 calendar year, if approved and levied.