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Local Voices

Fox Run Precinct Has Highest Voter Turnout in Oakland County

The Fox Run retirement community voting precinct in Novi, MI,  has the largest voter turnout of any precinct in Oakland County. Residents are proud of this distinction and are looking forward to voting in the upcoming August 5 Primary and November 4 General elections.

The Fox Run precinct marked a record 87 percent voter turnout in the November 2012 election. The precinct, which is designated Precinct #10 by the Novi City Clerk's Office, has a total of 919 registered voters. Six voting booths are brought into the precinct on election days.

Geri Angel, chair of the resident-run Political Awareness Committee, said the huge voter turnout is attributable, in large measure, to ongoing promotion of the importance of voting. “We plan, market and present forums for our residents that have recently been likened to a Presidential Debate.  We use posters, cubby stuffers, Fox Run closed-circuit TV and the Fox Run Village News to encourage our residents to vote,” she said.

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“Each month an article written by a committee member explains the upcoming issues and why it's important to vote -- every time -- even for a Primary election,” she said. “Next, we work in unison with the City of Novi to get our residents to register to vote.  The City Clerk actually visits Fox Run to accomplish this.

The Political Awareness Committee's mission is to educate and inform residents about candidates and issues that will appear on upcoming election ballots. The committee is non-partisan and non-preferential. It will present four political forums this calendar year.

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“We invite members of both/all parties on the ballot, “said Angel, who worked for 30 years for a national child care company as a district manager and was responsible for management and operations of 120 child care centers in five states.  “We have been successful in presenting Senator Carl Levin, Senator Debbie Stabnow and Governor Rick Snyder (twice), as well several state and local leaders on the Fox Run stage.”

The Political Awareness Committee is comprised of nine members:  Geri Angel, Chair; John Fountain, Co-Chair; Pat Kridler, Recording Secretary; Ann Cook, Corresponding Secretary; Members, Sy Berman, Doris Fell, Dorothy Gagnier, Marilyn Ratner (Fox Run Village News writer), Len Terry; and RAC Liaison, Chuck Schmitter.   The Political Awareness Committee was developed in 2012.

Each year all Fox Run residents are invited to submit an application for inclusion on the Political Awareness Committee.  A focus group comprised of committee members interviews and presents three final candidates for the entire committee's approval.

 

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