Six file to run for Troy mayor in May election

Troy ? Six residents, including the current mayor and a former legislator, have filed to run for mayor in a special May 7 election.

The deadline for filing was 4 p.m. Tuesday, although all of the candidates filed their paperwork with City Clerk Aileen Bittner in the weeks before.

The best known of the candidates are the city's current mayor, Dane Slater, and former state Rep. Marty Knollenberg.

Slater, a 35-year veteran of the Troy Police Department who retired as a captain in December 2008, filed to run on Feb. 5 and has more than the 400 valid signatures necessary, said Bittner. Slater, 61, was elected to the Troy City Council in 2009.

The mayor's position pays $175 per month and is more of a figurehead position on the city council.

"I guess I'm surprised because there's never been that much interest before," Slater said. "I think it's good. It shows maybe some of the apathy is gone and more people are interested. I think it's good that people can have choices."

Slater, who was chosen in November by city council to fill the vacancy left by recalled mayor Janice Daniels, was the only one of the six candidates to file petition signatures, Bittner said Tuesday. The rest paid a $100 filing fee.

Knollenberg, 49, filed to run Jan. 22. An insurance agency owner, he was a Republican representative from Troy and Clawson from 2006 to 2012. Before that, he was an Oakland County commissioner.

"People recognize there's been some frustration and they are ready for some change," he said. "I think it's pretty obvious people aren't happy with what happened in the city in regards to the mayor and what's happened in city council with all the division."

The other candidates that filed to run for mayor are David Elsas, Scott Welborn , Faris Alami and Jon Desjardins.

Elsas, a 49-year-old engineer, says he is running because he has enjoyed living in the city for the last 24 years and he wants to give back to the community.

"I've gotten to the point where I've got some time available to give back to the city that's been good for me," said Elsas, who has never held public office. "I wanted to get involved with city government to keep things going the way they have been for years and to try to get things back where maybe they have slipped a little bit because of the economic downturn."

Welborn, a 41-year-old Ferndale High School social studies teacher, says he has an interest in keeping the city safe by looking at boosting the police force. He also wants to improve services to residents and attract businesses.

He has lived in the city for nine years and he has never held public office.

"I think the people of Troy are looking for positive and intelligent leadership and I think I fit that bill," he said.

Alami, 40, works at Wayne State's TechTown business incubator and owns a Troy-based software development company.

"I always try to be part of the community where I live and work," said Alami who has also never held office. "Troy has many wonderful things to offer the world and it would be great to contribute to those things."

Jon Desjardins is a 32-year-old web editor and database manager at a Livonia-based company. He said he is concerned about keeping up city services and attracting small businesses.

"Being a young father supporting my family on a modest income, I feel that I represent a portion of Troy residents who have not had a loud voice in city government," he said in an e-mail.

The mayor's position was put into play after voters recalled Daniels a year into her four-year term. The City Council chose Slater to replace her.

Under a plan crafted by Bittner and City Attorney Lori Grigg-Bluhm, Slater was supposed to serve until the city's next general election in November 2013.

But the state attorney general intervened, saying Troy was legally required to hold a special election. Eventually, a judge determined an election would be held in May to elect a mayor to serve until November 2015.

Candidates have until Friday at 4 p.m. to withdraw from the race.

lrazzaq@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-2127

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130212/METRO02/302120440/1408/LOCAL

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