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The 2024 elections are vital. It is time to become engaged.

Endorsing candidates early in the election cycle might seem premature, but American citizens need to participate actively. Now is the time to select a candidate and engage with the grassroots movement that fuels democracy.

The power ultimately lies with you, the voter. Demonstrating your support is crucial, be it through donations, yard signs, or discussions with neighbors. Democracy demands active involvement, not passive observation; it's about rallying together, choosing a side, and being an informed, active voter.

The most significant endorsement occurs in the voting booth. I've made my choice, and now is the moment for engagement. My typewriter is poised, and I hope you are too.

A strong team is representing Livonia in Lansing.

Laura Pohutsky, Matt Koleszar, Stephanie Young

FridayMusings is proud to endorse Laurie Pohutsky, Matt Koleszar and Stephanie Young who have joined together to provide our hometown with as strong a leadership team as we have had in Lansing in years. Individually and collectively Livonia will benefit with their return to the legislature.

Laurie Pohutsky emerged as Livonia's Representative after starting her career as a microbiologist. Her pragmatic approach has propelled her to the role of Speaker Pro-tem, the second most influential position in the State House.

She dedicates a significant portion of her time to Livonia, rather than spending all her time in Lansing. Every day, she engages with the community, whether it's through meeting residents, contributing to projects, or preparing to take over as President of the Livonia Rotary Noon Club. Her consistent presence and deep interest in local matters make her the ideal candidate to retain this seat.

Musings appreciates her commitment to environmental conservation, advocacy for women's reproductive rights, and efforts to strengthen our public school system. Laurie Pohutsky has established herself as a leader in Lansing and Livonia.

Matt Koleszar, a distinguished advocate for our public school systems in Lansing, persists as chairman of the education committee. His pivotal contributions ensured a significant increase in foundational grants for schools, funding for school safety initiatives, and environmental protection. He is passionate about working to protect our vast water resources for future Michiganders and has shown that he will stand by his constituents and work to protect and preserve our environment for years to come

Serving Plymouth, Northville, and Livonia areas, he maintains a strong presence and support across his district. He is consistently available and approachable for discussions on state matters and to address local concerns that fall within state jurisdiction.

With a proven history of championing the rights of all Michiganders, Matt is prepared to persist in his advocacy for laws that safeguard and bolster the citizens of Michigan.

Stephanie Young is one of our Livonia supporters who makes it a point to be available and accessible to her constituents in Livonia. One only has to look up during community events and there will be Stephanie Young. This visibility and accessibility make her a key part of the Livonia team in Lansing. Before becoming one of the team representing Livonia in Lansing Young worked for former state representatives, mayoral administrations, and community advocacy organizations. She was also the first executive director of Detroit’s Community Education Commission. She has sponsored or co-sponsored over 200 bills.

Young’s priorities include ensuring Michiganders have quality public education, including affordable child care and access to trade schools. She advocates for expanded mental health resources, and clean water and air. Young is a fighter for affordable housing, resources for seniors, and criminal justice reform.

With her history of working with residents and community organizations, Stephanie is ready to continue the work representing Livonia in Lansing.

John Larkin for

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge

John Larkin brings extensive experience and a commitment to justice, impartiality, and fairness to his campaign. When taking a look at his background and seeing him across Livonia at many of our hometown events there are many reasons to endorse John Larkin for Wayne County Circuit Court Judge.

John Larkin a lifelong resident of Wayne County with core values of justice, fairness, and empathy.

With 33 years of legal practice, John has focused on helping people during their most challenging times. Whether dealing with legal, financial, injury, or employment issues, he has been an advocate for those in need.

Beyond the legal realm, John has been an active contributor to the community. He has offered legal services at the Most Holy Trinity Legal Clinic for over 20 years and held leadership positions on the Livonia Bar Association. Additionally, he has volunteered at a myriad of organizations, including the Ark Food Bank, Trumbull Soup Kitchen, and Livonia Rotary.

Dillon Breen, Angela Jaafar, Candy R. Little for Schoolcraft Trustee 

Schoolcraft College has provided a cornerstone of leadership not only for education but for the communities in Western Wayne County. Part of that leadership has been the Trustees elected to represent our community college district.

Since its founding, the Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees has functioned as a team. Today, that team has unanimously endorsed these three candidates, Dillon Breen, Angela Jaafar and Candy Little.

Candy Little works for Merck as both a Senior Clinical Research Specialist and Institution Lead Clinical Research Associate. She has been active as a volunteer in the Livonia community for over 16 years. She was an active volunteer on various committees until her daughter graduated from the Math, Science, and Computers (MSC) program at Churchill High School in 2022. She stood out in the application process and we will benefit from her community and professional skillset when elected to a full term.

Angela Jaafar previously served on the Northville Board of Education, has served as a commissioner for Parks and Recreation, Advisor for the Senior Advisory Board (Northville), and serves as a member of the Detroit Zoological Authority for Wayne County. She brings a background of community leadership from which Schoolcraft will continue to benefit.

Dillon Breen has served on numerous Livonia commissions including serving on the Livonia Human Relations Commission, the Livonia Local Officers Compensation Commission, and the Livonia Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. Dillon was a 2019 Fellow in the Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) at Michigan State University. He understands the connection with citizen engagement, as a member of the Livonia Rotary Club, and brings the kind of citizen ownership that will continue to benefit Schoolcraft College.

Karen Bradford, Madeline Acosta for Livonia Board of Education

Historically, Livonia's school board members have been actively involved in their community, running for Trustee positions out of a firm belief that the schools and community jointly contribute to the high quality of life. Typically, any list of Trustees would be filled with engaged and visible members. 

However, in recent years, although the school board is replete with likable and dedicated Trustees, this sense of community cooperation has diminished. Therefore, this year, it is crucial for Livonia to scrutinize the candidates running for office to identify those who aim to forge connections with the broader community, not solely the school sector.

Two Trustees, Karen Bradford and Madeline Acosta, have announced their intentions to seek re-election. Both are prominent and approachable figures whose continued service would reinforce the notion that our schools are pivotal in shaping the quality of life for all residents, serving the entire hometown, not just the educational community.

Karen Bradford joined the Board in November 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and a Master of Arts in Reading from Eastern Michigan University. Bradford has experience as a substitute teacher and is a proud parent of four graduates from Livonia Public Schools.

Madeline Acosta was elected to the Board in November 2020. She possesses a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan, another Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Wayne State University, and has pursued a Master of Arts in Teaching.

Acosta's previous roles include working as a Bilingual Educational Technician, Special Education Teacher, and Homeless and Community Liaison in Southwest Detroit. She and her husband, Nico, are raising two sons who are currently enrolled in LPS.

In November, four Trustees will be elected. Once the filing deadline passes and the complete list of candidates is known, two additional candidates will be endorsed. For Musings we will look for these two final endorsements to share a philosophical stance similar to that of Bradford and Acosta.

Glenn Anderson for Wayne County Commissioner

For more than ten years, Livonia has been competently served by Glenn Anderson, initially as a Michigan State Senator and later as Wayne County Commissioner. Anderson remains active and approachable in the community, always ready to lend an ear and respond when needed.

With extensive experience in both local and state government, Anderson has served as a State Senator for eight years (2007-14), a State Representative for six years (2001-06), a Westland City Council member for nine years (1991-2000), and a member of the Wayne County Ethics Board.

His legislative efforts were dedicated to ending bullying in schools, child protection, redistricting reform, and enhancing consumer protection and government transparency. His service earned him recognition from various organizations, including being named Legislator of the Year by the Michigan Chiefs of Police and the Police Officers Association of Michigan. He also participated in the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators and the Council of State Governments Great Lakes Caucus.

Beyond his elected roles, Commissioner Anderson has been actively engaged in the community, participating in numerous civic groups, including the Westland Goodfellows, Western Wayne NAACP, Churchill High School PTA, and other charitable organizations.

Before entering elective office, Anderson worked for Ford Motor Co. and has been a United Auto Workers member since 1972.

Livonia continues to be represented by individuals who cherish the community, volunteer proactively, and embody the spirit of a citizen servant, and that is a definition of Glenn Anderson.

Mail Address

19514 Bainbridge 48152

E-mail address

rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com

Cell address

734-674-5871

The typewriter is not available for phone calls or emails Saturday and Sunday. Mental health and rehabilitation time. Out and about enjoying life.

What motivates FridayMusings:

We can't only define Livonia as taking small steps toward maintaining the way things were. That will give us mediocre outcomes. Our goal needs to be innovative and transformative.