Fitzgerald Looking to Preserve Property Values, Maintain City Strengths

Kathleen Fitzgerald is a longtime Rochester Hills resident and real estate agent who wants to help protect the property values around her city.

That's one of the many reasons she is a spot on the November ballot for Rochester Hills City Council.

"I want to give back to the community that has given me so much," said Fitzgerald.

"I have lived here for decades and watched this community grow from a rural township to a mature city."

Rochester Hills is governed by a seven-member, nonpartisan city council. Four of the council members are elected by district; three members are elected at-large. Terms are staggered: in November two of those at-large seats will be filled.

Besides Fitzgerald, candidates are , Howard Elandt, , and incumbent . Voters will be asked to elect two candidates on Tuesday. The top four vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

Being proactive in protecting our property values while simultaneously continuing to provide city services at a reasonable cost is on of Fitzgerald's goals.

Plans and ideas

Fitzgerald is active in community organizations as a volunteer. She has lived in the city for 34 years. She and her husband, Jerry, have two daughters.

Fitzgerald is opposed to expanding any of the east-west corridors in Rochester Hills to five-lane roads. She supports the . She said that, if elected, she will explore the combining of some city and county services to save the city money in the future.

She will focus also on residential road replacement and, if needed, would support a ballot proposal to fund these replacements through a millage.

If elected, Fitzgerald said she will also consider:

• An effort to promote countywide water and sewer services as an alternative to Detroit water and sewer.
• A rule to end city council meetings by 11 p.m.
• An increase in communications with active homeowners associations.
• The support of additional citywide recycling opportunities, such as medicines, chemicals and electronics.

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