By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
SAINT JOSEPH – It took two rounds of voting before the Berrien County Board of Commissioners achieved a majority for the replacement for the seat left vacant by the death of former Niles mayor Larry Clymer. Clymer died on June 16, which left representation needed for the 13th district.
Three members of the Niles community were in the running: Scott Clark, owner of Clark's Service and Towing and current chair of the Niles Housing Commission Board, Mary Crayton, former member of the Niles Community School Board for more than 10 years and program coordinator with YouthBuild at Michigan Works and Paul Rifenberg owner and operator of Rifenberg Life and Health Agency and former president of the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club. Chairman of the board, Richard Bartz said a fourth candidate, Gloria Cooper, withdrew her name over the weekend.
At the special meeting Thursday morning, commissioners heard opening statements from the three candidates to fill Clymer's seat in the months leading up to the elections for the full-term. Candidates were then asked a series of questions by commissioners and were allowed a closing statement.
Commissioners Robert Wooley and Gloria Gillespie were absent from the meeting.
Rifenberg, taking the third and final turn before the board, gave what could be considered the most interesting interview. Claiming that he had "no agenda" and stating that "I don't pretend to have the knowledge and experience Larry Clymer brought to the board," Rifenberg said he wanted to serve the southern portion of the county because it had been served with such dedication by the former Niles mayor. When asked by Commissioner Jeanette Leahey, who has served on the Administration Committee along with Clymer, how he would approach his decision making, Rifenberg said he'd seek counsel to help in making decisions and getting the facts surrounding them.
"I'm a pretty good delegator," he said during his questioning. "And I'm not afraid to ask questions."
Rifenberg said he believed "finalizing the budget would be at the forefront" of the commission's agenda for 2008. "I've managed to stay profitable for 35 years," he said when asked about what he would bring to the table in that arena.
But it was Rifenberg's closing statement that seemed most intriguing. "I don't know how well this is going to be received," he said. He went on to say that as a seasoned business owner, if he were looking at three qualified candidates for a position, knowing one had the potential for being around longer than the others and putting politics aside, "I would probably select Scott Clark."
It sounded almost like he wanted out. But Rifenberg said later, that wasn't what he meant. "I just think, why not give someone on the job training?" he said, referring to Clark, who will be running for the full-term position in the next election.
It would receive little argument to say that Rifenberg certainly has years of business and financial experience to bring to the table as well as a dedication and commitment to the district. But it may have been his frankness that won over the board.
In the first round of voting, he received five of the 10 votes, while Crayton received three and Clark two. After a short break, votes for Rifenberg increased to seven and the majority carried his appointment.
Later in the day, Rifenberg was still thinking of Clymer. "Larry has served this community so well," he said. "I didn't want the rest of his term to go down the tubes." He has no political aspirations but plans to take what he can from his time on the board in the coming months. "I'll be able to be a better citizen at the end of this," he said.
Rifenberg is scheduled to attend his first meeting next Thursday.