Four Candidates Vying for Southfield Clerk Position on the Aug 8 Ballot
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 4, 2023)
Southfield, MI – There are four candidates on the ballot for Southfield City Clerk in the Aug. 8, 2023 primary. The candidates are Gabi Grossbard, Janet Jackson, Jay Reid, and Barbara Seldon.
Grossbard is a licensed Medicare specialist. Jackson is currently Oakland County Commissioner. Reid is an Administrative Assistant with the City of Southfield. And Seldon is a retired associate professor who worked at Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry.
The current City Clerk is Allyson Bettis who was appointed to the position and is not seeking election.The Aug. 8 primary will narrow down the number of candidates to two, who will face off on the Nov. 7, 2023 ballot.
According to the City of Southfield website:
“The City Clerk’s Office is a one-stop office to assist and direct the public with questions.
The City Clerk, one of the administrative officials of the City, is elected to a four-year term and is the official Records-Keeper for the City. The City Clerk examines and audits all accounts and claims against the City; and signs, approves and records all vouchers for payment from the municipal budget.
The City Clerk is the Clerk of the Council, and is responsible for all Council agendas and official minutes of the meetings. The Clerk’s Office maintains records of all ordinances, resolutions, files on easements, payback agreements and rights-of-way, special assessment and zoning notices, as well as birth and death records.
The City Clerk serves as the Director of Elections for all elections held in the City of Southfield. The Clerk administers all elections and supervises the registration of voters, division of precincts and training of election inspectors. An ex-officio member of the Southfield Board of Canvassers, the City Clerk meets with the other Board members after every City election to certify the election results.
Per the direction of City Council, the City Clerk is the Freedom of Information Coordinator (FOIA). All FOIA requests are received and processed by the City Clerk. At Council’s direction, the Clerk receives and distributes legislative information and coordinates the activities of the Council Legislative Committee and Council Boards & Commissions Committee.
The City Clerk is also responsible for issuing business licenses, garage sale permits, liquor licenses and vendor licenses.
Those wishing to contact their local county, state or federal officials may receive assistance from the City Clerk’s Office.
For more information, call (248) 796-5150; or visit the City Clerk’s Office on the main level of City Hall.”
