Unsubstantiated Charges Mar Commission Campaign

In the current April  2012 issue of Downtown Birmingham Bloomfield  Magazine , in an End Note editorial  recommending candidates for City Commission,  Commissioner Sarah McClure is the target for sticks and stones.She  is described as having a forceful personality. A common affliction of those who seek public office. It is also said that "she bristles when others do not immediately follow her lead". Don't we all ? The publication also found her to be politically insensitive.Well President Harry Truman said "If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen."

Where it gets murky is Downtown Publication's  assertion without substantiation that "McClure is confused over her role her role as commissioner which she believes necessitates her being in the City offices on an almost daily basis, helping run the City." On what basis does the Magazine make  that assertion. ?  That is a fair question because it is news to most people.

We did something  rare in annals of community journalism these days.We called  and asked . Through phone mail prompts  we  got  Lisa Brody who  conducted the two hour interview with all the candidates.  She said that she had been told by numerous people who requested anonymity.  So we asked when . This year ? Last Year ? She said the comments  she got were over a two year period when  McClure was commissioner. She also said the publication would hardy make something like that up. We believe her. No publication would just make something like that up but is it possible that some others are confused about Sarah's
role?

We talked to people at City Hall who said they had no idea  where the observations expressed in the magazine came from.

We also talked to residents some of whom were impressed that a City Commissioner they elected would make sure the job was done right.

Then we talked to Robert Toohey who reminded  this writer of  a long forgotten incident. In the Spring of 2010   Toohey and McClure were elected to City Commission and Michael McCready  became Mayor. At that time  the City's finances were more precarious than they are deemed to be now.Checks were written by many departments.To get a handle on what was being spent, for what and by whom, Mayor McCready  required that all checks be signed by Commissioner McClure. He may have picked her because she had a financial  background and was available during the daily business hours. The matter was discussed at a City Commission meeting when  McClure asked for a definition of her check signing duties and that she be advised of any liabilities she was taking on. At the same time there was also changes in employment in the city's  financial department. Thus it is easy to see how someone or someones  could resent  new face Sarah coming in on almost a daily  basis to do things another way. Especially if Sarah was being "forceful" or "bristling"or lacking sensitivity to how "it was done in the past."

Currently Treasurer Lisa Dollan, a hire all applaud, signs the checks.

In the last year Sarah has worked on a number of projects with City Manager Jay Cravens. Examples include the Woodward avenue tree beautification program, the ethics code, and the City Survey questions.   Those items would have required her to visit City Hall where Mr. Cravens has an office on a basis more frequent than the average commissioner. Because he is the "boss" of City Hall and the day to day operations of the City,her visits to the head honcho's office would be noticed. Sarah might have helped things along by on occasion pointing out a plant that needed watering or a clock running slow.

We do not think the McClure is confused by her role as City Commissioner. Rather we believe her role may appear confusing to outsiders not familiar with the City who are at the mercy of their sources. That is why we publish the City of Bloomfield Hills.