Sunday, February 17, 2008

Andy Meisner considering run against Patrick Dohany for County Treasuer

Lawmaker urges creation of county land bank



State Rep. Andy Meisner says it's time Oakland County Treasurer Patrick Dohany created a land bank to help put the brakes on the rising number of foreclosures in the county.

The Ferndale Democrat, who cannot seek another term in the state House because of term limits, has been approached to run against Dohany, a Republican, this year.

"I've got a lot of constituents in Ferndale, and in Pleasant Ridge and Huntington Woods, who are suffering," Meisner said. "I'm a little upset. I want those programs for Oakland County."

A land bank program exists in Genesee County. A government land bank manages, disposes of or redevelops property that has been foreclosed but not sold at government auction.

There were roughly 8,000 Oakland County foreclosures in 2007.

Dohany, the county treasurer, said his office has been looking at creating a land bank for more than a month.

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