Novi Mayoral Candidate: Bob Gatt

On the Nov. 8 election ballot, Novi residents will pick a new mayor for a two-year term. Current Mayor David Landry's term ends this year.

Mayor Pro-tem Bob Gatt is running against City Council member for the office. Gatt submitted these answers to questions asked by Patch.

Age

61 

Occupation 

Chief of Field Operations, Oakland County Community Corrections.  Responsible for more than 60 employees and $7 Million budget.  Work closely with Brooks Patterson and his staff to keep government costs down, while ensuring maximum public safety. 

Current and past community involvement

Novi Police Officer, 27 Years.  Started the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. Retired as a Shift Commander (Sgt.) in 2002. 

Zoning Board of Appeals, 2003

Elected to City Council, 2003

Re-elected to City Council 2007

Appointed Mayor ProTem 2009

Volunteer at Holy Family Church.

Education

B.S. Degree, Wayne State University, Business Administration/Marketing/Accounting, Masters Degree, Eastern Michigan University, Public Administration/Technology

Family

Wife Susan, a R.N. at Providence Park Hospital, six children, Robert, Mary, Kaitlin, Christopher, Steven and Emily.

How long have you been a Novi resident?

18 

Why are you running for office?  

I am running for Mayor because I love Novi, and I want to help mold its future while preserving its great history. I have worked for the citizens of Novi for almost 40 years, so I understand the community’s great history and culture.  During those nearly 40 years of service, I have gone to work with the same relentless focus:  How can I make Novi a better and a safer community?  What can I do to protect you and your family?

I am the only Mayoral candidate with the life, business and government experiences that are required to be an effective Mayor.   I have a strong business background, as well as a myriad of experience in government.  I am a proven, tested leader.  My knowledge of the city, its employee unions, the business leaders and the residents is unmatched.

What do you think are the biggest issues facing the city? How would you handle them?

PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE CORE REASON for any local government to exist.  This should be our top priority. We MUST continue to adequately fund our public safety departments in order to maintain our personnel at their optimum staffing levels.  We also must provide adequate training and state-of-the-art equipment.  As Mayor, I will advocate for strong public safety departments and fight for a budget that reflects the importance of these brave staff members.

Secondly, we must continue to generate additional revenue through a blended business/residential growth strategy.  Our economic development team has to operate better, faster and smarter than all others. We have to be more innovative than other cities.  And we have to offer a better product to attract a limited number of builders and businesses to Novi.  As your Mayor, I will work closely with our County, State and Federal officials to bring more economic development opportunities to Novi.  Working with the myriad of contacts that I have made through my working careers, I'm certain that I will be able to accomplish this task.

Finally, the City must manage its legacy costs by eliminating any new long-term obligations. 
As a former city employee and negotiator, I understand how to deal with this problem better than anyone.  We already have begun to cut our legacy costs. That trend must continue.  As your Mayor, I will work closely with our human resource staff as well as the various union leaders in the city, through the City Manager, in order to accomplish our goals and provide win/win situations for our great staff as well as our residents.

If elected, what are some of your goals for the city?

As Mayor, I would like to see Main Street developed and become a thriving part of the Novi community.  Too many businesses are locating in other areas.  We need to attract them to Novi.  We need to partner with our business community and use every tool that we have in our economic development box. 

I also would like to offer better transportation services for the residents of Meadowbrook Commons, so they don’t have to choose between going to the doctor and purchasing groceries because of growing van-riding costs.  The older adult population throughout Novi is growing rapidly, and our Novi government must commit to meet their increasing needs.  Likewise, we must continue to fund and grow our public safety departments. Our police and fire departments are second to none.  We must maintain that glowing public-safety reputation,
so Novi will continue to be an attractive location for new families and businesses.

Why should Novi residents vote for you?

I am the only Mayoral candidate with the life, business and political experience that is necessary to successfully succeed David Landry as Mayor.  I have received the endorsements from the Novi News, Novi.Org, Mayor David Landry, Novi Councilman David Staudt, Novi Councilman Wayne Wrobel, former Novi Mayors Matt Quinn and Pat Karevich, State Representative Hugh Crawford, County Commissioner Kathy Crawford, County Executive Brooks Patterson, County Clerk Bill Bullard, Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Senator Mike Kowall, former Novi Mayor ProTem Ed Leininger, former Novi Councilman Brian Burke, Novi School Trustees Dennis O'Connor and George Kortlandt, former Novi School Superintendent Bill "Doc" Barr, the Novi Retiree Association, and many, many more.  In other words, the people that YOU TRUST believe that I should be the next Mayor of Novi.

I have run a fair, lawful, and transparent campaign.  I have relied solely on my credentials and reputation to persuade voters to cast a vote for me.  I would be HONORED if the residents decided that I am the best candidate to fill the open Mayor seat.  For nearly 40 years I have served Novi as a police officer and as the Chief of Field Operations for Oakland County Community Corrections.  I am an eight year member of the Novi City Council, the last three as your Mayor ProTem.  I am ready to serve the residents of Novi as their Mayor.

How can residents contact you?

I can be reached via email at  thegatter@gmail.com, or via phone at 248-921-3467.

Residents can also visit my website, Bobgatt.com, or my facebook page, Bob Gatt for Novi Mayor.