The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Solowczuk reflects on tenure
Local commissioner stands by his decisions
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 11, 2007
After serving three terms as a Washtenaw County Commissioner, Stephen Solowczuk characterizes his final two years as "interesting" and says he would not do anything differently, despite attributing his failed bid for a fourth term in the August primary to his stance on the controversial issue of funding police services to area townships.
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Solowczuk knew the issue was a hot button going in.
"I'm not against police services," he said in the final days of his term. "I'm against the unfair distribution of taxes for police services."
The local politician maintains it was his vocal support for reducing the county's funding of sheriff road patrols that cost him his seat.
For months leading up to the primary election, in which Solowczuk faced three Republican challengers –– unlike 2004 when he ran uncontested –– county commissioners wrangled with how to fund an expansion of the county jail and ignited acrimony with area townships by proposing a change in how sheriff's deputies are paid. The measure drew a hailstorm of criticism, but Solowczuk, 55, said he voted what he thought was best for the county.
It proved costly when voters went to the polls in the August primary. Solowczuk drew only 17.5 percent of the vote, far behind Jessica Ping Mills' 46 percent. Mills went on to win the District 3 seat over her Democratic rival.
It was not an easy two years for Solowczuk and the other commissioners.
"We, as a commission, made a lot of tough decisions the past two years," he said.
The lifelong Lodi Township resident said he would miss most his fellow commissioners and people who work for the county. He said he would miss least the stress that accompanies making difficult decisions.
"It's those decision that affect people directly that are the most difficult to make," he said.
The County Board presented Solowczuk with a framed resolution of appreciation before his departure that thanked him for his six years of service, citing specifically his "tackl(ing) challenging public safety issues with integrity and courage" and highlighting his work on the Washtenaw County Police Services Steering Committee and his support of a four-year police services contract.
During his six years, Solowczuk was chairman for working sessions and served on the Planning Advisory Board, the Raisin River Watershed Council, the Sheriff's Community Relations Advisory Board, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Leadership Committee, the 800 MegaHertz Project Committee, the Saline Special Projects Committee and the Local Development Finance Authority for the city of Saline.
Solowczuk estimated he attended upward of 10 meetings a month. He said his departure will leave him more time to spend with his wife, Debra, of 32 years and their children.
He said he is most proud of his efforts to make more accessible information on how the county spends tax dollars.
"My constituents always said they didn't understand what the county does with its money," he said.
Solowczuk said that question is now answered by information on the county's Web site at .
"It explains where all the tax dollars went. It explains what Washtenaw County is doing with your tax money," he said.
The top three challenges facing the county over the next few years, Solowczuk said, will continue to be funding for police services, a lack of revenue and the county's identity.
He said he has enjoyed serving as a county commissioner because he believed people were counting on him.
"Through my years, people have had faith in me," he said, "and that's how you know you're contributing something."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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