Flaisher Announces Bid for West Bloomfield Supervisor Position

Former West Bloomfield Township Supervisor David Flaisher announced his bid to run again for the top office in town as an independent in the Nov. 6 general election.

Flaisher was beaten soundly in the 2008 August primary by current Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste. As a result of that defeat, he said he's reconsidered the primary process in hopes of avoiding what he called "the mud-slinging campaign you're seeing now."

"People are sick of it," said Flaisher, who hasn't run for any office since the defeat. "The board pretty much ran as a slate of Democrats back then when they promised to end fighting and now they're tearing each other to pieces."

Now running as an independent after running for supervisor as a Democrat for two four-year terms beginning in 2000, Flaisher avoids the Aug. 7 primary. Flaisher is required to collect 300 signatures on a nominating petition by July 19.

"What happens in a primary is that you usually get a smaller turnout. I don't really think you represent the will of the people — it's more like turning out your supporters," Flaisher said. "I think it's a better representation of what people want to run in November."

Of the current board, Flaisher remains critical of Economou Ureste, particularly regarding a court with Trustee Steven Kaplan. In response to portions of the lawsuit that question decisions voted on by the board majority,Flaisher believes it was a mistake on Economou Ureste's part to litigate.

"When I was the supervisor, there would be a lot of times I lost the vote. I didn’t bring it back over and over. I didn’t sue people," he said.

Flaisher is critical of the entire current board, which he claims disrupted meetings during the 2008 campaign for political gain. However, if elected, he'd "work with everyone."

"I've got experience, ethics and maturity, and I think that's what we need right now," Flaisher said.