Kim Capello for Oakland County Commissioner
July 17, 2008 by Kim Capello

My name is Kim Capello, and I am your Republican Party candidate for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, 9th District. That seat is being vacated by Hugh Crawford, who is running for State House of Representatives. Hugh Crawford has endorsed me to replace him when he leaves office this November.

Too often, people vote for candidates without knowing much about them, or what they plan to do once they are elected. In this case, a good many voters aren’t even aware of their County Commissioner’s duties.

The Oakland County Budget is approximately $800,000,000. That is over 25 times the budget of Novi. The County budget does not include road funding. County roads are managed by the Oakland County Road Commission, a separate entity with their own budget and their own appointed commissioners. The Road Commission is funded through a state-collected gas tax and vehicle registration fees.

The County Executive, currently L. Brooks Patterson, proposes a budget. The Board of Commissioners reviews the proposal , makes any necessary changes, and votes to approve the revised budget. Once the budget is approved, the Board, through its’ various committees, oversees the spending of budgeted dollars.

I plan on working closely with the Road Commission to maintain and improve Novi’s roads. As your commissioner, I hope to direct funds and resources from other parts of the County to Novi. For too long, Novi has been ignored. Geographically, Novi sits in the far southwest section of Oakland County. Historically, the bulk of the monies set aside for road improvements were focused on the central, eastern or northern parts of the County. This should stop and I am going to work hard to stop it!

As a practicing attorney, I am experienced in business law, property law, contract law, and municipal law. As a Planning Commissioner and Councilmember, I have public administration management experience. I am the most capable and experienced candidate to represent you in Pontiac working as your County Commissioner.

I will work with the County Executive, but not be his “yes man” if his agenda is opposed to our needs. Recently, one of the County Executive’s Leadership Team members said that Novi was “in the middle of nowhere”. I will work diligently as your County Commissioner to change that type of attitude that appears to permeate the County seat. I did not seek, nor do I want, the County Executive’s endorsement in my campaign. I do not want to be beholding to him. I only want to be beholding to you, the residents of the 9th District in Oakland County!

As your County Representative, I plan on working hard to make Oakland County more user-friendly. I will work with the clerk to make it easier to file paperwork, secure documents, and check records. I will work with the County Courts (did you know that the 52-1 District Court in Novi is a county court?) to make it easier to file claims and traverse through the justice system. Our local District Court has outgrown the facility it is located in. It is important to Novi’s local economy to keep the court in Novi. I will work with County officials to keep the 52-1 District Court, in Novi.

I am a local businessman. I own a home in Novi and a law office on Taft Road. My children go to Novi Schools and I have volunteered more time to better my community than most. I promise to be available to everyone who has problems concerning the County. Working together, we shall move Novi from “the middle of nowhere” to the center of the County’s energy system. Novi deserves to be there. So do you!

Kim Capello