Recalls and partisan politics

3/2/2008  RELATED NEWS

Headlines last week declared a second attempt to recall Novi State House Representative Craig DeRoche (R) invalid, with the county election board citing unclear language. Oddly, it was a Novi resident and member of Novi's Parks and Recreation Commission who argued for the recall in Oakland County Probate Court.

But was it so odd that Karen Zyczynski was leading the recall effort? Hardly.

Who is Karen Zyczynski? She's a retired Livonia school teacher, and has been president of the Livonia Education Association and a Democratic County Convention delegate.

Zyczynski was so strongly supported by then City Council Member Toni Nagy in her bid to get onto a City of Novi board or committee that Nagy said at the time she would support Zyczynski for any committee that had openings. Any committee? How can someone be qualified for everything? Interesting.

Zyczynski was the campaign coordinator for state rep. hopeful Joan Gebhardt (D) of Livonia, also a retired school teacher. Gebhardt lost that bid, but was then hired by and is on the payroll of State Rep. Andy Dillon (D). Dillon is of course the current Speaker of the Michigan House - the job DeRoche had.

Zyczynski said she started the recall effort because of DeRoche's support for the pharmacy industry in Michigan (and God help anyone who's pro-business in Michigan). DeRoche explains the recall is because of his efforts to stop taxes from being raised last September (and God help anyone who tries to lower taxes in Michigan).

DeRoche is term-limited and out at the end of the year. He's not currently seeking any elected position. A recall takes months. Therefore any recall effort is no more than political mud-slinging - it would have no real impact even if successful.

In our opinion, Zyczynski is the latest of a series of obstructionists in Novi, who was supported by other obstructionists in her bid to get on a Novi board or commission, and now gives at least the appearance of being a local political pawn for some powerful people in Lansing at the expense of the People of Novi.

We the People are not pleased that one of Novi's own, under questionable circumstances, is putting a negative spotlight on our representative. DeRoche has done an admirable job in Lansing, being the first Speaker of the House from Oakland County since the Civil War. He deserves respect for his service to the People of Michigan, not a shady recall effort during his last months in office.

And now you know, the rest of the story.