Novi City Council Candidate: Wayne Wrobel

On the Nov. 8 election ballot, Novi residents will vote for three candidates for a four-year term on Novi City Council.

Incumbent Wayne Wrobel is running against Laura Casey, , Ed Kramer, , incumbent Dave Staudt and . Wrobel submitted these answers to questions asked by Patch.

Age

57

Occupation

Currently employed by AT&T for over 32 years having held diverse Management Positions in Finance, Budgets, Operations, Engineering, and Marketing.

Current and past community involvement

Current Novi City Council member. Former Chairperson of the Novi Zoning Board of Appeals. Former Vice-Chairperson of the Novi Planning Commission. Former Chairperson of the Novi Master Plan and Zoning Committee. Current President of The Willowbrook Farm Homeowners Association and former President of the Royal Crown Estates and Jamestowne Green Homeowners Associations. Member of the Novi Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Church of The Holy Family parish member. Senior Level Judge – Science and Engineering Fair of Metropolitan Detroit since 1980. Member of National Eagle Scout Association.

Education

A.A. Henry Ford Community College, A.C. Henry Ford Community College, B.A. Michigan State University, M.S.A. Central Michigan University, Graduate of Michigan State University Cooperative Extension  Citizen Planner Program, Graduate of Lake’s Area Citizen’s Police Academy.

Family

Fiancée - Debbie Waterstradt.  Father - John Wrobel is a current Novi resident (Meadowbrook Commons) and a sister - Judi Thomas and her family are long time Novi residents (Windridge Place).

How long have you been a Novi resident?

27 year resident and homeowner (Willowbrook Farm, Lakewoode Parkhomes, Royal Crown Estates, and Jamestowne Green)

Why are you running for office?

Novi is my home.  I’ve lived in Novi for the past 27 years and I intend to live here for many years to come.  Therefore, I want to see Novi remain the same vibrant city that is it today.  That being said, I have the experience, knowledge, expertise and desire required to make the difficult decisions that will face City Council members to ensure Novi remains the place we are proud to call home.

What do you think are the biggest issues facing the city? How would you handle them?

There is no single clear cut method for the City Administration to follow in dealing with the current situation of declining revenues and increasing costs while attempting to keep the city financially viable and solvent.  It is the combination of implementing new revenue opportunities and cost savings practices.

Novi residents expect the city to provide the same or better levels of police and fire protection as well as snow removal they receive now. In addition, the roads and infrastructure are aging and require increased funding for repairs and expansion as Novi continues to grow and age.

It is City Council’s responsibility, to direct and work with the city administration to find creative ways to fund these items without increasing the citizen’s tax burden. Novi must maximize the value received for each tax dollar spent. Options such as interdepartmental asset sharing and any community partnering opportunities must continue to be explored as a potential way to achieve this. Novi city government is a business and needs to be run like one. 

If elected, what are some of your goals for the city?

I have numerous short and long term goals that I would like to achieve if I retain my seat on City Council. Some of my short term goals include: adding additional handicap parking spaces in the front of the Novi Civic Center. Review and change the existing senior transportation service within Novi to make it more affordable and user friendly, and to increase the annual neighborhood road repair budget.

Among the term goals I would like to achieve are: implementing a multi-year city budget, reviewing and possibly updating the existing city charter making it more current to enable the city to run more efficiently, and to expand the existing Senior Center and increase the number of programs it offers senior citizens.

Why should Novi residents vote for you?

My current experience as a Novi City Council Member as well as the six years I served on the Novi Planning Commission, and the four years each serving on the Novi Zoning Board of Appeals and the Novi Master Plan and Zoning Committee has provided me with the necessary background and understanding to be effective in dealing with the affairs of city government.

This city service, along with the diverse management positions I have held during my 32 years at AT&T, enables me to bring a wide spectrum of experience and a business based perspective required to deal with the issues Novi will face in the future.

Additionally, when evaluating an issue, I always take into consideration all the facts presented and taking into account all sides of the issue. This decision making process enables me to make a fully thought out informed decision which best serves Novi.

How can residents contact you?

Please feel free to contact me – anytime – to discuss Novi related issues.  

• By mail: 
  Wayne Wrobel
  24578 Ackert Court
  Novi, MI  48375
• By telephone: (248) 231-1690
• By e-mail: wayne@waynewrobel.org
• Website:  waynewrobel.org