VIDEO: Ferndale Seniors Host Forum for Mayor and City Council Candidates

(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 9, 2023)

Ferndale, MI – Voters in Ferndale will have a chance to select a mayor and two city council members on the Nov. 7, 2023 ballot.

For Mayor the candidates are Sean Hurley and Raylon Leaks-May. The seat is open as current mayor Melanie Piana decided not to seek re-election. Leaks-May is a current councilperson.

For City Council there are two positions and three candidates: Donnie Johnson, Rolanda Kelley, and Dennis Whittie. These are both open seats as Leaks-May is running for Mayor instead of City Council, and Kat Bruner James chose not to seek re-election. Whittie previously served on City Council, by appointment, to fill a short-term vacancy.

The Mayoral position has a two year term, and the Council positions have four year terms.

All of the candidates attended the Aug. 9, 2023 Ferndale Seniors forum, which took place in Ferndale City Hall. Oscar Renautt was the moderator, with President of the Ferndale Seniors Jeanie Davis welcoming the participants and giving the ground rules.

Candidates were given time for an introduction and a closing statement, with a series of questions suggested by audience members in between.

Residents shared concerns over the lack of a Senor Center. They also wanted to know how in touch candidates were with issues facing residents on the east side of the city, further from the downtown. Another question asked candidates to speak as if it were a job interview, and talk about their managerial style. Candidates also discussed the needs of seniors, their views on taxes and the Headlee override, where they see Ferndale now and in the future, and of course trains.

Oakland County Times recorded the questions and answers in the forum, editing them together without the transitions and hiccups of the full event, for more efficient viewing. The City of Ferndale also recorded the forum in it’s entirety and will be available on the City of Ferndale You Tube page.