Dearborn Mayoral Candidate Anxious to Debate
Dearborn Mayoral candidate Michael J. Prus said Monday evening he still is very anxious to debate or have a forum with Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., to discuss in public his plans to help revitalize Dearborn.
We wrote here on these pages last week that Mr. Prus was a no-show at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Dearborn/Dearborn Heights. At the time, we did not know why Mr. Prus was unable to take part in the forum at Dearborn City Hall. It turns out the mayoral candidate had a very serious case of bronchitis. The 50-year-old candidate still had a bad cough even when we we finally caught up with him Monday night.
“I was planning to attend all the way up to 2:30 p.m. on the day of the event,” Mr. Prus told us Monday night. “I went to my doctor and he said you have a severe case of bronchitis. When I told my doctor about the forum, he said ‘you aren’t going anywhere. You need to go home and go to sleep. You are contagious.’
“I am not afraid to debate,” Mr. Prus continued. “Why would I want to miss an opportunity like that? That would be political suicide. I was in no condition to do this.”
Mr. Prus said he is sorry he missed the opportunity to tell voters about his plan to revitalize Dearborn but he is hopeful he and Mayor O’Reilly will still have the chance to meet again in person for the benefit of residents. Mayor O’Reilly, in an earlier story in the Dearborn Press & Guide, told the paper he was willing to take part in a debate with Mr. Prus.
“I wish I could debate the mayor,” Mr. Prus said. “I have questions on how our tax dollars are being spent and why we have so many lawsuits against the city.”
Mr. Prus, a Dearborn resident of 40 years and a graduate of Dearborn Divine Child, works for the state of Michigan as a Department Analyst and state fidelity bonding coordinator, helping people who have trouble in their background find a job through bonding. He is married and he and his wife, Libby, have one son.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
You don’t have to say anything and you have my vote. why? Because Jack has done nothing. He did NOTHING to clean up City Hall. Instead of getting rid of the problem (Norwood) he just moves him to another department.
I need a Major willing to take a hard stance and want better for this City. He talks the big talk but his lack of action speaks louder.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I challenge any supporter of O’Reilly to name one thing he has done that Guido would not have.
Yes, I voted for “the O”, but I am pretty disappointed–his lack of action does indeed speak loudly. I plan to vote for Prus at least as a protest, but he sounds like a solid contender.
October 10th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
emanon, wonder what happened to the supporters of O’Reilly?
October 12th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Prus has my vote, mainly because when a dept.head screws up, he simply puts him in his office (like dave norwood). Good job Big O, take care of a problem, simply by putting him in your office.
October 12th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Norwood is/was not the only problem. His supervisor who has been protected and screwing the citizens of Dearborn since his date of employment needs to be gone if any trust is to return to that dept! How come his ex-girl friend didn’t go to jail when she stole all the money from the Rec. dept and yet the girl from B&S is??? You people don’t know half the shi& from that nightmare! Mr. ‘O has not been transparent.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Mr. Prus has two votes from this household.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Shady–can you elaborate?
October 13th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Donna, I’m pretty sure they’re out there. As I recall he got something ridiculous like 94% of the vote last election and that was with 12 people running. He is simply too much of a political tour de force in this city for anyone currently out there to mount any kind of a challenge.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
This individual worked for the rec. dept in the theater area, she was found to have stolen tens of thousands of dollars and let go. She recieved a “sweet heart ” deal and remains free today. This happened approx. 5 years ago and with all the help from her supervisor friend in B&S, the M&M boys (guido’s) and legal most was kept quite and reduced, also she gets her pension when time comes. It’s there now go get it!