Meet the Candidates: Gordon Rinschler Stresses Previous Success in Re-Election Bid

The Nov. 8 election is drawing closer every day, but what do you know about those names on the ballot?

Patch will interview candidates for the , the board and the during the ramp-up to the election, bringing you the stories behind the names and the issues they think are important for Birmingham.

For the Birmingham City Commission, incumbents George Dilgard, Tom McDaniel, Scott Moore and Mayor Gordon Rinschler are running against Doug Weaver, James Foxley, Steve Knox and Vicki Walsh for four spots.

The Oakland County League of Women Voters will hold a voters forum and meet-the-candidates night at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 12 at the for those running for City Commission.

Gordon Rinschler

Age: 64

Family: Rinschler is married to Geri (a trustee on the Birmingham Board of Education) and has two grown daughters, Susan and Lisa.

Occupation: Rinschler is retired from DaimlerChrysler, where he last served as vice president of minivan platform team. He owns Gordon Rinschler LLC, an automotive consulting agency.

Previous elected experience: Rinschler has served as mayor for the past year; before that, he served a year as mayor pro tem under Rackeline Hoff. Rinschler was first elected to the City Commission in November 2007; before that, he was the chairman of the Historic District and Design Review Commission and chair of the Birmingham Historic District Study Committee.

Why are you running?

Rinschler said he's proud of his accomplishments as a city commissioner during the past four years and is looking for a chance to do even more.

From piloting the renovation of to to protecting the city's budget during a nationwide recession, Rinschler said the current commission has led Birmingham through its biggest challenges in recent years, and he is eager to use his management and financial expertise to lead the city into the next decade.

"There's a lot of structural changes going on right now in city government," he said, "and I can be helpful in this process. ... I'm not afraid to jump in when it comes to tough issues."

However, Rinschler isn't merely looking out for himself — but for the three other incumbents as well. Rinschler said the current commission is made of a good mix of thinkers and experts without political agendas who work well together.

"There's a good case to be made in bringing us all back," he said, noting that part of the reason he's running is so he can continue working alongside McDaniel, Dilgard and Moore.

What do you bring to the City Commission?

Rinschler said his experience in management and finance makes him an apt candidate for dealing with structural changes in local governments, particularly when those are strained by smaller budgets.

Rinschler also noted how well the current commission works together and that, without any political agendas or partisan divides, the group (including himself) has served the city admirably the past four years.

What issues are important to you?

Going forward, Rinschler said some of the most important issues for Birmingham include the budget, public safety, business development and the direction of the downtown district.

While the look and feel of downtown Birmingham will be partially decided by the success of a newly revised bistro ordinance, Rinschler said the city needs to continue spotlighting development in the Rail District (located east of Eton Road) and the Triangle District (between Woodward and Eton), all the while not overstepping its authority.

"We have some ability to influence the direction the town takes through zoning laws and such," Rinschler said. "But we have to be careful how we wield that authority. ... But we need to be positively focused and ask, 'How can the city get better?' "

The budget will continue to be an issue, he said, especially as the state looks at how local municipalities will be funded and as falling property taxes bring in less and less revenue.