MARCIA, MARCIA, MARCIA
Oakland County Commissioner Marcia Gershenson (D-Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield) may have picked a fight with the wrong person in power when she called out county board chair Mike Gingell and vice chair Mike Spiz, both Republicans, during board swearing-in ceremonies on January 11. “She seemed determined to create dissension,” said a fellow commissioner. “She wants to see more women, and younger women in the leadership, but Shelley (Goodman Taub) (R-Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham) is already a caucus chair.” Gershenson said she did vote against leadership, “Because the leadership of this county should look like this county. It’s time to give a more diverse message to this community.” She contends she has gotten strong support from both sides of the aisle – and while a Democratic colleague acknowledged it’s something Gershenson had wanted to do for a while, a Republican commissioner felt “it was extremely inappropriate to make it a statement. It was borderline mean-spirited, and it was disrespectful. I don’t get any sense of a ‘good old boys’ club.’ She’s going to have more of an uphill climb getting things done.” Gershenson acknowledges that, but says emphatically, “It was something I felt so strongly about. I am willing to put up with whatever repercussions.” Stay tuned.