DIPPING HIS TOE IN
It was 10 years ago that former state Rep. Mike McCready (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) was first elected to the state House after serving as a Bloomfield Hills City Commissioner and Mayor. After being term-limited in the House and losing a hard-fought campaign against Democratic state Senator Rosemary Bayer in 2018, McCready served as economic development director for Oakland County, and is now economic development director for the city of Novi. “I’ve enjoyed it. It’s fun to work for the people here,” he said. He said he’s been meeting a lot of people from other states competing to bring in industry. As much as McCready enjoys his work in Novi, he is intrigued by the idea of leading Bloomfield Township, and is considering a run for supervisor in 2022. There is word in township offices that current supervisor Dani Walsh (D) could be vulnerable – she is allegedly often absent as she works on obtaining her master’s degree, and it is difficult to get return messages – with Olivia Olsztyn-Budry, who had been director of engineering and environmental services in the township, recently leaving her position to go to Great Lakes Water Authority. (GLWA). According to a knowledgeable source, “she just couldn’t take it anymore,” and left a lot on the table to head to GLWA – including the ability to collect 90 percent of her salary in pension in just a few years. Other department heads are grumbling, but may not leave yet – unless former treasurer and perennially losing candidate Dan Devine (R) runs again – then watch for a mass exodus to the doors. Devine, along with his sycophants, is talking about running for supervisor again (for the third time), sending out missives to supporters, including Chaldean Community Foundation President Martin Manna, seeking Chaldean backing. Of course, November 2024 is a long ways off.