Intriguing and profound aspects of elections requiring an absolute majority.

Before John Fitzgerald Kennedy ran for President he ran for Vice President and his father was furious. The year was 1956 and Adlai Stevenson was the again the Democratic Nominee for President.  In 1952 Stevenson ran with John Sparkman of Alabama as his running mate but lost to the Eisenhower-Nixon ticket. In 1956 instead of picking a Vice President, Stevenson in a surprise move  opened  the vice presidential nomination  to the convention.

Kennedy wanted that nomination but father Joe who could sniff the wind as well anyone knew that Stevenson would  lose to Eisenhower and Kennedy's Catholicism  would be blamed. Just  like Al Smith in 1928. There were however many reasons why Smith lost in 1928. He was a "wet" when prohibition was still popular. Smith also was an old style  politician with ties to Tammany Hall. Last but not least in 1928 the country was still prosperous. The crash of  29 was a year away. Regardless Al Smith's religion was always the first factor cited in his defeat. Joe was afraid the same thing would happen to son Jack.
The Nomination for Vice President went three ballots. Deals were made in hotel suites and on the convention floor. State Delegations switched their votes and forgot about favorite sons. On the second ballot Kennedy came with in 15 votes of the required number for victory. On the third vote the momentum shifted to winner Estes Kefauver.
 In the 56 years since neither a Democratic or Republican convention has had more than one ballot. There is a reason for this. Kennedy knew the old guard in the Democratic Party weren't going to  nominate him.In 1960 he hit the primary trail to prove his support. He beat Minnesota  Senator  Hubert Humphrey in Wisconsin and later in West Virginia where he addressed the religious issue. Ever since candidates have  used an expanded primary process to come to the convention with enough delegates to win. Gone are 100 ballot elections that were decided in smoke filled rooms. The last of those was before Roosevelt, (Television, and air conditioning. Somewhere in 1920's would be a good guess.

The Ballots after every Vatican Papal election are burned. Black
smoke means no decision. White smoke means a new Pope.

The same political process working the 1956 Democratic National Convention works for the Vatican and the selection of a Pope by the College  of Cardinals. In fact their saying "He who enters the Conclave a Pope comes out a Cardinal " is a favorite of politicians everywhere.

Angelo Roncalli was the fourth child of 13 born into an Italian Village of sharecroppers. His election as Pope in the fall of 1958 surprised everyone.  He was  a so-called "stop gap " Pope, a compromise whose best attribute was his age. Meaning he wouldn't live very long and probably wouldn't do any harm.He lived almost five years but his vigor and energy changed the face of Roman Catholicism. Today many consider Pope John XXIII to be the greatest Pope's of the Twentieth Century.

Crowd in St Peter's Square awaiting the 

smoke then cheering the outcome

Seven residents apply for vacant City Commission seat. Decision possibly as early as Tonight's Commission meeting ?

Seven residents have submitted applications for the City Commission seat to be vacated by State Representative elect Michael McCready. They are Michael Hamblin, Ruth Holmes,Mary Juras, Mark Kapel, David Kellet, Ron Marks, and Stuart Sherr.

It is expected that McCready will vacate the seat he has held  since 2007 on December 14th. His swearing date as the representative of the 40th District is January 1.

City Commission then has thirty days or until January 14th to appoint a successor. In an unusual move for the sometimes reticent commission, resumes and applications were sought from city residents who were registered voters. The Commission did not have to do this. The  Charter leaves matters like this up to commission. At the annual appointment meeting after the commission election , the newly elected Mayor  having sifted  through the stack of applicants past and present and would submit sub candidates for vacancies in on the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Board of Review which reviews property assessments. Then the commission simply voted on who the Mayor recommends.  There were  occasional  nay votes  but in recent years  no  not out and out rejections of a Mayor suggested  candidate .

An appointment to a partial term vacancy on the City Commissions is  different because of the importance of  City Commission which is  the highest and only elected position the City. The Mayor for all intents and purposes is just another commissioner. Still one can imagine in years gone by the usual suspects might have pulled from the usual stack to reveal  Bob, Joe, Beth,  Tom, and Judy before the remaining commissioners decided it would probably be be either Bob or Judy. After  a discussion  with everyone sort of deciding on Bob that would be  announced at the meeting.

This year is different.  Everyone who wished be considered  was.

Tomorrow night residents who attend the commission meeting may see the process begin and perhaps according to some observers, come to a successive conclusion. That is because until the vacancy is filled four commissioners will have to do the work of five. If the commissioners can come to an agreement as to who is the best candidate sooner is better than later.

Initially the applying for the job got off to a slow start.  First announced at the November 13th  City Commission  meeting only one application had been received a week later on. By Dec 1st that number had increased to four and finally seven  by the deadline.

How does that compare to other communities ? In 2011  Bloomfield Hills School Board  received  13 inquiries,  ten  of which  submitted applications that included essay questions. The group of ten then was reduced to 5 semi finalist by the school board.
 Those five were the interviewed at a meeting open the public. From the group of five three finalists were chosen to attend a regularly schedule school board meeting  where the other board members announced their vote and the reason for it. It gave the public a chance to see the the board's "visible thinking".

There are estimated 30,000 registered voters in the Bloomfield Hills School system.  There are 3500 registered voters in the City of Bloomfield Hills. Our seven applicants compared to their ten is rather impressive.
What we lack is protocol  and what is hopefully being developed is  a procedure to follow. To that end  City Attorney   William  Hampton wrote the following letter to the remaining commissioners with his suggestions.  It is published in this week's City Commission Agenda Package and appears below. With four commissioners per Roberts Rules of Order  three votes will be required to elect. Of note in  Mr. Hampton's letter refers to four candidates since it was written before the deadline. The actual number who applied before that deadline is seven.

The exact number of votes required to be met or exceeded in order  to elect or nominate is common to political conventions, and the Vatican's College of Cardinals. Often this type of elections which usually  require multiple ballots and a  certain amount of compromise can  produce  interesting  and sometimes historical results.

Tonight Birmingham Community House begins month long series of Travel Presentations telling you where in the world you can go in 2013.

Tonight is Cuba. Last year the Community House went to Cuba. Apparently the trip was so successful they are going again.  The only way you can visit Cuba is via an arranged "Person to Person Cultural Exchange Tour."Community House is one of the few Travel organizations able to qualify for such trips. Get the complete details and more at tonight's free of charge presentation which begins at 6pm.




Need a  Winter Break ? This March 23-23 trip  be just the thing. The trip includes round trip, non stop air fare and  three nights at the Bellagio  Hotel. While all Community House presentations are free of charge, this one on  Tuesday December 18th  at 6 PM will require you to roll the dice a little. Be prepared to make a deposit at the Presentation because that  will be your opportunity to sign up. Need more information ? Call Community House Travel Direction Zelma at 248-554-6583 for details on  this trip or any of the others.

Northern Italy is the destination  for the Thursday January 10th Travel Presentation at 6pm. This trip scheduled for May 5-14, covers a lot of ground.  You will see Milan, Florence, Venice, and Montecatini  (pictured below ). You will also and travel to the northern Italian lakes where you will see sights  like Isla Bella pictured above .

Today Santa is at the Birmingham Max Broock Office 1 pm to 4 pm !

 Is Santa moving to Birmingham?

 We don't know and haven't heard anything that might indicate that.  

 As best we can tell Santa, the ultimate multi tasker has simply added one more stop to a busy itinerary of pre-Christmas meet and greets. 

We believe the location selected  that of the Max Broock realty office at 275 S. Old Woodward is part of Santa's goal for increased efficiency and productivity. 

As you know Santa is busy taking requests with a merry Ho-Ho-Ho but he is also making a list and checking it twice to see who is naughty or nice.

What better place to talk turkey than a professional business office ? Such a venue has that added advantage of insuring  that all written correspondence received gets to Santa in an expeditious and professional manner and are answered in the same spirit.

Yes, you can see Santa at the end of a parade, at a breakfast, or in a department store but a chance to see Santa up close and personal at Max Broock is a opportunity not to be missed. Bring a camera, take a picture and share your joy with the world this Holiday season!