Skip Maccarone Leaps Aboard the County Executive Bandwagon

Shelby Township Supervisor Skip Maccarone has been elected to serve the people of Shelby Township. Yet, while he has earned his "grossly under-compensated" [Skip's own words] taxpayer-funded township paycheck, he has been spending his time on other things that he obviously thinks are more important.

The most recent example of this involves efforts to create a Macomb County Executive.

There has been plenty of debate, discussion and disagreement about a County Executive - both this year and in years past. It was put on the ballot for voters several years ago, and was soundly defeated.

Times have changed, or so we are told. Now, enter Skip Maccarone and his entourage. For some strange reason, Skip wants people to believe that his experience as a lawyer gives him some sort of unique perspective on this very controversial issue. He has tried to portray himself as some kind of local expert on the subject of a County Executive. This is the same self-promotion he launched in the newspapers a few years ago, when he offered himself as some kind of legal expert in the battle between Sterling Heights and Freedom Hill. To their credit, officials in Sterling Heights were quick to respond "thanks, but no thanks!"

As reported in recent editions of the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, and the Macomb Daily, Shelby Township Supervisor Ralph (Skip) Maccarone, Harrison Township Supervisor Anthony Forlini, and Sterling Heights Mayor Richard Notte urged residents to support the County Executive form of government, which they say is vital for Macomb County.

When we saw this headline, our first inclination was "okay, this is April 1st...so this must be an April Fools Day prank." To our dismay, it was not. Turns out that the joke is on US. Amazingly, Skip Maccarone has now put himself front-and-center in supporting a big government Macomb County Executive.

We've said it before, and will say it again: Skip Maccarone is just another big government taxing and spending politician.

"I think the people should at least explore this by advancing it to the next level," said Maccarone, adding that an executive would bring jobs, businesses and more accountability to the county.

Skip Maccarone and others who support the creation of a County Executive want us to believe that having one person run everything would be better. Really? They want a strong figure, like they have in Wayne County, claiming it would be much better for Macomb taxpayers. Really?

• We are told (by Maccarone and others) that a County Executive will stop the erosion of jobs from Macomb County. Really? How? By waving a magic wand, saying "abracadra" and ending the internationalism of the economy and the movement of jobs to other countries? How? By single-handedly bringing thousands of jobs back to Macomb County? Not even an elected County Executive could pull that rabbit out of his or her hat.

• We are led to believe (by Maccarone and others) that a County Executive will have powers that the current Board of Commissioners does not have to eliminate the County's enormous deficit? How? By raising taxes (or fees, or assessments, or some other term for tax)? In our opinion having one individual in charge of making these important decisions makes those of us who value our hard-earned tax money nervous.

NOTE: Macomb County's current tax allocation is 4.56 mills, and it only levies 4.2 mills -- one of the lowest in the state. Creation of a County Charter would allow for a new County tax ceiling of up to 10 mills. That's more than a 100 percent increase in allowable taxes! Even though that higher tax ceiling is not required, it is more likely than not that Macomb County taxes will go up under a County Executive. After all, history has shown, time and again, that when given the opportunity politicians will raise taxes. There is a variety of reasons (excuses) they use to justify the increases, but nevertheless, THEY RAISE TAXES.

Here is one scenario for how this might happen in Macomb County. The Charter Commissioners that write the Charter for the County Executive form of government include a tax increase of some amount to run the modified and "improved" governmental structure. Having this Commission do their dirty work will give elected officials political cover. The elected officials will respond that we need the County Executive, and will say that they are not the ones proposing a tax hike, it is the Charter Commissioners. They will claim that the Charter Commission studied this issue very thoroughly, and as elected officials they are only following through with what the Charter Commission proposed. They will then likely deflect talk of the tax increase, pointing instead to the many "positive" benefits of their County Executive. They will do this over and over and over in attempt to drown out any opposition to their big government tactic. Make no mistake about it — the individuals who are spearheading the County Executive are skilled political operatives. They will use every tool in their toolbox to get what they want.

• We are told (by Maccarone and others) that a County Executive will create jobs. This is actually partly true. However, what kind of jobs? It is more likely that any jobs created by a County Executive will be for government bureaucrats working directly for this new County Executive, or any of the departments that he or she will oversee. Macomb County's government payroll will skyrocket (thus the need for higher taxes). Can you say political patronage?

Macomb County taxpayers working in the "real world" (outside government) understand that jobs are created by the private sector. Government officials (like a County Executive) DO NOT create jobs - except, that is, for government jobs. All this propaganda about how a County Executive will create jobs is a just that: PROPAGANDA.

• We are told (by Maccarone) that the current 26-member Board of Commissioners is "too divisive to serve in a leadership role" (Macomb Daily, 4/1/08). In that same article, Skip goes on to say that the County's "power is diluted by its inability to have a unified voice."

We find this comment from Maccarone very interesting. When it comes to divisiveness and the lack of a unified voice, Skip should know. For eight years, he has been the most divisive voice on the township Board of Trustees. He has refused to work with others on the Board, preferring instead to press ahead with his own very costly political agenda. As we see it, Skip Maccarone is too divisive to serve in a leadership role!

Shelby Township needs a unified voice to move our community forward. Our township's greatness is diluted because the Board of Trustees is not speaking with a unified voice. Look at the soccer dome fiasco. Look at the $50 million "campus" (which Maccarone proposed without discussions with other officials). Look at the way Skip belittles and intimidates residents at Board meetings (remember the "peanut gallery" comment?). Watch how Skip operates on a daily basis, and you will see for yourself what a divisive person he really is.

The Macomb Daily pointed out that Maccarone joined four other so-called "Republicans" in opposing the GOP’s anti-County Executive push. The other three in this Gang of Four were Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon; Harrison Township Supervisor Anthony Forlini; and Macomb Township Supervisor John Brennan.

Why would Skip and Co. rebuff their own party on a crucial issue like this? Could the answer be because it is NOT their party? If you ask around, you will discover that Macomb County Republicans don't actually consider at least three of these four men to be real Republicans.

Consider the following:

- Clinton Township Supervisor Robert Cannon was once a Democrat who served as Clinton Township Trustee. Cannon changed political parties only when he decided to challenge an incumbent for Supervisor.

- Harrison Township Supervisor Anthony Forlini is a Republican by title only. He is not active in the Party and does not attend Republican membership meetings. Not only that, Harrison Township taxpayers complain that Forlini is a very divisive and negative factor on the Harrison Board of Trustees. In fact, one Harrison Township official recently stated at a Board meeting that Harrison Township is secretly being run by Skip Maccarone.

- Shelby Supervisor Skip Maccarone is not a real Republican. He is one in name only. Skip is not active, and does not attend GOP meetings. Besides that, the way Skip has spent, and continues to spend, our tax money is enough to make a liberal Democrat blush.

- Finally, there is John Brennan. As Supervisor of Macomb Township Brennan may be the only true Republican on this list. However, he has changed positions over the years to reflect changing voter demographics in Macomb.

This is certainly a hot political topic with long-term ramifications for our County. The Macomb County Republican Party recently passed a resolution opposing a Wayne County style Executive (as proposed by Democrats) for Macomb County.

Here is how the Macomb GOP's resolution reads:

Macomb County Republican Party's County Executive Resolution

Whereas, the Republican Party has always been dedicated to the democratic principle that government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people;
Whereas; Macomb County has been recognized for the 26th consecutive year as the top Michigan county for providing cost effective innovative services and with a long history of fiscal responsibility earning it a AAA credit rating;
Whereas; Operating as a General Law County Macomb has demonstrated its ability through strong financial management to weather difficult times while maintaining one of the lowest millage rates in the state as well as one of the lowest per capita debt rates in the nation, thus preventing an additional tax burden on its residents;
Whereas; The Macomb County Republican Party recognizes that any additional tax burden and spending would only compound the impact to the citizens of Macomb County; and that budget cuts should be used to provide a balanced county budget;
Whereas; a group known as ‘Charter = County Executive’ has successfully completed a petition drive in support of a vote focused on transforming Macomb County government from its current General Law form into a Charter Wayne County model (the only such model in the state of Michigan);
Whereas; The Macomb County Republican Party opposes the efforts of ‘Charter =County Executive’ based on:
· This model facilitates a tax cap increase whereas other models do not.
· The failure to address the millions of dollars needed to hold ‘charter’ elections.
· The misinformation regarding the increased administrative costs with an additional layer of government and impact on fair representation by all residents.
· Additional costs associated with payment to charter commissioners, staff and professional staff.
· This group misrepresents ‘choice’ by only promoting the charter form of government.
· This model could be presented to the voters in May which has historically been one of the poorest attended election dates.
Therefore; The Macomb County Republican Party opposes the efforts of ‘Charter =County Executive’ in promoting “Charter Form” of county government.

ONE FINAL POINT OF INTEREST
The idea of a Macomb County Executive is something the Maccarone family has supported for a quite some time. When Skip's wife ran for Macomb County Commissioner in 2004, she campaigned in support of the County Executive. We found that to be a rather awkward position for Mrs. Maccarone, who simultaneously claimed to support smaller government.

If you have something you would like to share with us, send us an e-mail to stopskip08@aol.com.

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