Politics & Government

Dearborn Councilman: 'We Must Enforce City Ordinances'

Dearborn Patch will profile candidates running for office in the Aug. 6 city primary.

Editor's note: All nine elective offices in Dearborn are on the primary ballot — mayor, clerk and all seven city council seats. There are five candidates for mayor, three for clerk and 21 for council. Dearborn Patch will run profiles of candidates seeking the office of mayor, city clerk, and city council leading up to the Aug. 6 primary election.

Today we feature Councilman Brian O'Donnell.

Candidate: Brian O'Donnell

Office Sought: Dearborn City Council

Occupation: Operations Manager for a Fortune 200 company

Education: Divine Child High School; Madonna University (B.S.); Baker College (MBA).

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Family: I have been married to my wife Julia for nine years, we have two children Sean Patrick and Catherine Colleen “Cece."

I have three sisters and their spouses that live in Dearborn along with 11 nieces and nephews. One of my sisters is a teacher in Dearborn Public Schools.

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Previous elected office: I was elected to my first term on the Dearborn City Council in 2009.

Current public service: Prior to being elected on council, I was a city Beautiful Commissioner and the vice president of the Dearborn Federation of Neighborhood Associations. Since being elected, between my duties on council, my full-time position, and raising two young children, I have still been able to volunteer locally at my church and I am also a member of the Centurions, a group that does a great deal for the city.

What are two keys issues for Dearborn?

One of the major issues that will need to be addressed moving forward simply stated is the budget. The next council will have to deal with many continuing negative economic pressures. For example, mileages will be expiring, and very tough decisions regarding pools, libraries, police, fire department, consolidation, outsourcing, city services, and just about every other aspect of any activity the city engages in.

I will make a difference by continuing to be being open minded, and not beholden to any person or group of people. I will continue my practice of being accountable to, and answer to, all the citizens of Dearborn.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is our neighborhood code enforcement/ interpretation. As the city zoning board and various commissions get together on recommendations to the city council on matters such as garages as living space, trees, etc., there needs to be greater clarity of the code and penalty for non-compliance.

As a runner, I make it a point to run through different neighborhoods within the city. As I make my rounds, I enjoy seeing the well kept homes in the city and it is evident that most homeowners take a great deal of pride in their homes. I do get a bit concerned when I see what seems to be the increasing number of homes with violations and or little maintenance.

In order to address this issue, the reporting of and follow through in correcting these issues must be increased. The city has done a better job of streamlining the reporting processes, but with the increasing demand on a number of workers already stretched thin, adjustments need to be made. Perhaps we can use the City Beautiful commission or the neighborhood associations to take a more active role in documenting and reporting issues, and ensuring that blight and noncompliance is handled in the most efficient possible.

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