What Is The State of West Bloomfield?

West Bloomfield Patch wants to know what residents expect, and what they want to hear from Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste tonight.

  West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste will deliver the 2013 State of the Township address tonight at 5:30 p.m. at West Bloomfield Town Hall. Last year, she focused on how West Bloomfield Township employees  lead the way in several service areas to residents despite steady declines in residential property values. Re-elected to another term in November, Economou Ureste and the board have several of the same challenges as last year. But we want to know: what do you think she will talk about? And what do you think she should talk about? Can't be there in person? the speech will be broadcast live on Channel 15 and then be available On Demand on www.civiccentertv.com.

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Local Governmental Results: Economou Ureste Remains West Bloomfield Supervisor

Incumbent defeats independent candidate David Flaisher by about a 2-to-1 margin.

Greater West Bloomfield area voters have spoken and through their Tuesday ballots, have indicated that current leadership is doing a good job.  Incumbent Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste topped challenger and former Supervisor David Flaisher by a wide margin, with 19,576 total votes (67.43 percent) to Flaisher's 9,310 total (32.07 percent). In August 2008, Economou Ureste defeated then-incumbent Flaisher by similar numbers in the Democratic primary, 64.5-35.5 percent. This time, Flaisher ran as an independent candidate, to no avail. Neither Economou Ureste nor Flaisher could be reached for comment Tuesday night. Incumbent Clerk Cathy Shaughnessy and Treasurer Teri Weingarden ran unopposed, collecting 98 percent and 97.94 percent of the …

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Meet the Candidates for the West Bloomfield Township Board

Five candidates for Trustee seek four spots on the Board of Trustees, while two candidates vie for the Supervisor position.

As we look ahead to November's elections, West Bloomfield Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about the big races in town. Incumbent Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste will seek a second consecutive term in office after defeating fellow Democrat Jonathan Warshay in the Aug. 7 primary. Independent candidate David Flaisher challenges Economou Ureste after serving two terms as supervisor between 2000-08, when Flaisher ran as a Democrat. Economou Ureste defeated Flaisher in the 2008 August Democratic primary, 64.5-35.5 percent. Flaisher recently filled out a survey from Patch, while Economou Ureste filled out the same survey prior to the Aug. 7 primary. Clerk Catherine Shaughnessy runs unopposed after defeating …

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Letter to the Editor: Flaisher the Choice to Lead Divisive Board

Former Township Supervisor's experience will help guide collaborative governance, according to writer.

This letter was received by West Bloomfield Patch local editor Tim Rath. “Fill in Flaisher”, the independent candidate for West Bloomfield Township Supervisor by absentee ballot or in person on November 6, 2012. David was our Township’s Supervisor from 2000–08. He is running again because the township is not being governed in the most effective and respectful way possible. He has had four years of self reflection and personal growth so he comes back to us as a more mature and humble leader. “Fill in Flaisher” because the current board cannot and will not put their differences behind them, no matter what they tell us during the campaign. Too much personal pain and vastly different governing styles and depth of knowledge divide them. …

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Meet the Candidates: Michele Economou Ureste

During the countdown to the Aug. 7 primary, Patch is bringing you profiles of the candidates running for office in West Bloomfield.

Education I have a master's degree in public administration from Oakland University and a bachelor's degree in science from Central Michigan University, where I double majored in journalism and political science. Professional background I am currently serving a four-year elected term as West Bloomfield Township Supervisor. I worked as Vice President of statistical quality consulting company in West Bloomfield, worked as the quality system expert for the automotive industry to the OEM Supplier Quality Requirements Task Force, served two terms as Vice Chair of Publications for the American Society for Quality, worked for seven years at Ford Motor company and served a congressional internship for Senator Carl Levin in Washington, D.C. …

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Mute Swans Safe for Now, Township Board Rules

Complaints by West Bloomfield residents and activists on population control resolution leads to reversed decision.

The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees unanimously voted this week to reverse its decision on a resolution to control the population of mute swans.  The board voted June 18 to allow township attorneys to write a resolution allowing subdivisions to participate in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources mute swan removal program at the behest of the subdivisions. There would have reportedly been no cost to residents. Prompted by complaints of residents and activists that the birds have negatively affected life for residents and wildlife, the resolution was to mirror another recently passed by Bloomfield Township.  "We have had problems for quite some time from different swans ... we had multiple attacks," said Mandi Mankvitz, a …

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Renee Judkins

6:18 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012

I also live on Middle Straits Lakes. The mute swans on this lake are very aggressive, very territorial, and attack jet skiers! Recently a jet ski stalled in the water in front of my house and was attacked by a swan. A boat had to get right up to the jet ski to get in between the jet ski and the swan before the swan would stop! That has to be a terrifying experience for anyone! The swans come …   more ›

West Bloomfield Board Questions Aug. 7 Primary After Theft

Theft from Township Clerk's office last week called 'inexcusable' while investigation continues.

West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste and Treasurer Teri Weingarden questioned the integrity of the Aug. 7 primary after a theft of election materials last week from the Township Clerk’s office. West Bloomfield Police Department detectives are still investigating a theft of computer cards used to tabulate votes from a locked area in Clerk Cathy Shaughnessy’s office overnight between July 10-11. Shaughnessy herself questioned the capacity for elected officials to mar the election.  “The programming memory cards were kept in a locked room. The only access is with a township swipe badge and a master key,” Shaughnessy said. Weingarden and Economou Ureste said that they arranged for a meeting with county elections division…

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Board to Reconsider Mute Swan Cull Resolution

Complaints of West Bloomfield residents and activists second-guess Michigan Department of Natural Resources program.

A unanimous vote last month resolving to allow the state of Michigan to cull the population of mute swans in West Bloomfield will be reconsidered tonight at the township board of trustees meeting. The board voted June 18 to allow township attorneys to write a resolution allowing subdivisions to participate in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources mute swan removal program at the behest of the subdivisions. There would have reportedly been no cost to residents. Prompted by complaints of residents and activists that the birds have negatively affected life for residents and wildlife, the resolution was to mirror another recently passed by Bloomfield Township.  "We have had problems for quite some time from different swans ... we had …

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Township Residents Speak Out Against 'Robo-Call'

Town Hall was packed Monday night with angry and frustrated residents concerned with politics in West Bloomfield.

Updated: 8:58 a.m., May 15, 2012 Residents angered and frustrated by a lawsuit brought in September 2010 by Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste and Trustee Steven Kaplan against West Bloomfield Township packed Town Hall Monday night after allegedly receiving a "robo-call" Sunday morning in support of the two government officials. Residents at the meeting said it made mention of Trustee Larry Brown’s election to defer income earned at township board meetings ($125 per meeting) to a benevolent fund he established in 2009 in order to help township residents struggling with their water and sewer bills to keep their water on. As part of the lawsuit, Economou Ureste and Kaplan claim that Brown should pay taxes on the income. The item had been …

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Feature Photo: West Bloomfield Supervisor Visits Senior Center

Township Supervisor Michelle Economou Ureste shares a story with American House resident Mayse Long.