O’Connor seeks seat on Novi City Council

Dennis (DOC) O’Connor, a 22-year Novi resident, has announced his candidacy for one of three, 4-year terms on the Novi City Council.  Voters will be asked to elect three city council candidates on the November 5, 2013 general election ballot. O’Connor is the President of the Novi Board of Education. He is running for the city council seat vacated by Terry Margolis, who decided not to seek re-election.

“I see an opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience in public service for the Novi Community,” O’Connor said. “Novi voters deserve the type of independent, critical thinking that I bring to all Novi community issues. I have an outstanding track-record as a good steward of taxpayer dollars. I want to bring that same philosophy to the Novi City Council.”

O’Connor, who already has received a major endorsement from Novi Mayor Bob Gatt, supports the current direction of the Novi City Council, and he wants to keep that momentum going.

“I want to serve on the Novi City Council because I reflect what voters expect from public officials: a passionate, hard-working, fiscally-conservative person, who is focused on providing the best possible government services for Novi residents. I want to continue the great record of the current Novi City Council by ensuring that our tax dollars are invested properly by keeping people safe and by keeping neighborhood roads smooth.”

O’Connor, 55, also seeks to leverage his skills and ability to help further promote Novi as a “Destination City” in the state of Michigan.

“I love the Novi Community,” O’Connor said. “I love the Novi School District.  I’ve been a small business owner in Novi for 13 years, operating a communications & training consulting agency.  These skill sets have been a welcomed addition to the Novi Board of Education over the past five years.  Now, I’d like to offer this expertise to the Novi City Council.  We need to continuously attract more businesses, corporations and families to our Novi Community.  

“I’m ‘laser focused’ on promoting our City to families and businesses outside the Novi Community,” O’Connor added. “We have a great public safety system. We have great schools.  We have low city taxes, and we offer a vibrant and diverse culture. With voter support, I can continue to be part of the promotional effort to attract more people to the City of Novi.”

Prior to opening his own agency, O’Connor was a Divisional Vice President for Maritz Communications Company in Detroit.  He began his career in the newspaper industry as a reporter and editor for the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers.  O’Connor is a 1979 graduate at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor where he earned Secondary Teaching Certification in Journalism and Mathematics.  O’Connor also earned a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Wayne State University, majoring in Marketing and Management.

O’Connor is a long-time Novi community volunteer who has served many roles and participated on many boards and committees over the years.  Some of them include:

Civic & Non-Profit Organization Experience

• President, Novi Board of Education (2013 to present) 
• Communications Director, Save Novi Roads  Bond Committee (2012)
• Vice President, Novi Board of Education (2011 and 2012)
• Treasurer, Novi Board of Education (2010)
•  Trustee, Novi Educational Foundation (2011-2012)
• Novi Legislative Representative:
  Oakland County Intermediate School District (2009-2011)
• Novi Community Education Advisory Council (2005-2010)
• Novi Schools Bond Proposal Citizens’ Committee  (2007)
• Novi Schools Utilization & Redistricting Committee (2006)
• Novi Schools Long Range Planning Committee (2004-2005)
• Novi Athletic Boosters, Vice President and Publicity Director (1998-2004)
• Novi High School Band Boosters (1998-2004)

Educational Background 

• MBA: Marketing & Management, Wayne State University, Detroit
• BA: Journalism & Mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Secondary Teacher Certification: University of Michigan Education School
• Fellow:  National Security Forum (NSF), Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, 2011
• Fellow:  Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 2010
• Award of Merit-School Board Member:  Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB), Lansing, MI,  2009
• Certified Focus Group Moderator:  Burke Institute, Cincinnati, OH, 2006

For more information about Dennis O’Connor’s candidacy, please visit his
“Friends of Dennis O’Connor” website at dennisoconnor.org or email him at dennis@dennisoconnor.org