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Community Corner

Brighton Township Man Running for County Commission

A Brighton Township man who says he is concerned with the bare-bones direction of the Livingston County Commission has announced his candidacy for a seat on the commission.

Bruce Schneider filed his nominating papers as a Democrat for County Commission District 1 with the Livingston County Clerk’s office on Monday.

“I am very concerned about the direction our county commission is taking. It appears we are headed toward a county government that only wants to do the bare minimum regardless of the needs in our community," Schneider said.

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Schneider pointed to comments made recently by Commission Chair Carol Griffiths that the commission plans to eliminate non-mandated services, including road patrols, in order to pay for operating a new jail.

"Where are they going with this philosophy? How many things are we going to lose? They don't take care of the roads already. If they take away road patrols by deputy sheriffs, who's going to come when you need police services, when you have a car accident? Many of our communities are small and can't afford their own police protection and the state police doesn't have the staff to respond," he said, adding that leaves Livingston County residents vulnerable.

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Schneider said the bare-bones approach the county commission is proposing could also threaten social services, such as mental health services and services for the elderly. "They are totally losing the concept of what government is supposed to do," he said.

A veteran of 27 years in law enforcement for Wayne County government, Schneider said those years gave him an understanding of how county government works and wants to bring that experience to the county commission.

Schneider currently is a member of the Federal Emergency Management Administration National Disaster Response Team.

His career includes 21 years for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, where he rose to the rank of police lieutenant, responsible for traffic patrol and investigations, field training and executive protections with managerial responsibilities for a staff of 110.

Schneider also worked 6 years as a police executive lieutenant for Wayne County Airport Police. In that position, he was responsible for support services, the water rescue team, and critical incident response. As a commanding officer he was responsible for planning and control of the 120- member Airport Uniform Police Division, which had a budget of $5.5 million.

After Sept. 11, 2011, Schneider spent four years working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an assistant federal security director for the region of northwest Ohio. He had final authority for the full range of managerial responsibilities for a staff of 95 and held a federal security clearance.

Schneider received numerous awards and commendations for meritorious service from the communities and departments in which he served.

Schneider is a member of the Livingston County Red Cross Disaster Response Team and is a past member of the Northwest Ohio Regional Federal Anti-Terrorism Task Force, Toledo Emergency Management Board, Lucas County Ohio Emergency Management Committee, and the University of Findley and University of Toledo Academic advisory committees.  He is a past president of the Adams Elementary (Livonia) Parent-Teachers Association, Livonia Swim Club, and Lake 13 Farwell Mi. Home Owners Association. He also has coached basketball for 6 years and enjoys a hobby of amateur bee-keeping.

Schneider received a master’s degree in management from Eastern Michigan University in 2000. In 1997, he graduated from Eastern Michigan University’s Police Staff and Command School.   

Schneider has been married for 38 years to his wife Amelia. The couple have lived in Brighton Township since 2006 and have three adult children who live and work in the Livingston County area, and one grandson. Schneider is a member of Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Brighton.

County Commission District 1 includes the city of Brighton and all of Brighton Township except the southern third, containing the precincts of 3, 5, and 8. 

(Paid for by Bruce Schneider for Livingston County Commissioner, 3763 Van Amberg Rd., Brighton, MI 48114. Printed on home computer. Labor donated.)


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