Get to Know Your City Council Candidate: Sherry Wells

Sherry Wells is a lawyer, publisher, author, public speaker and Ferndale volunteer. She's also a 23-year resident and one of three candidates running for -- incumbent Mike Lennon and resident Dan Martin are also running. Wells was elected to Ferndale's Charter Revision Commission in the '90s and was the commission's chair for two of its three-year existence.

The election is Nov. 8.

As part of Ferndale Patch's election coverage, we asked Wells to answer a few questions about not only the election, but also what she sees in Ferndale, what she thinks Ferndale needs and her favorite things about the city.

Ferndale Patch: Tell Ferndale about yourself.

Sherry Wells: I lived more than 30 places before coming to Ferndale but have lived here for 23 years—that says a lot about how welcoming it is, how one can easily feel a sense of belonging. That feeling has expressed itself in all the volunteering I have done and continue to do. The graduation party for my daughter was as much to honor her village here as to honor her—she has quite an extended family right here in Ferndale though her father and I were the only blood relatives. They have helped make her the fine young woman she is.

Ferndale Patch: What are your passions?

Wells: Contributing--to leave the world a better place for my having been here. Educating myself and others. Law is fascinating to me but I wrote Michigan Law for Everyone also for the “ounce of prevention instead of a pound of court” for my readers. Because of genealogy, I’ve learned to enjoy history and delved into it more with the book I wrote about a Ferndale family—Father, Ford, $5 a Day: The Mullers from Missouri and four books about famous people who were wonderful stepparents. (Also) the language Esperanto (and) travel.

Ferndale Patch: Why are you running for council?

Wells: We need council members who will listen, advocate and inform constituents; who will work for balance between government, businesses and residents; who will keep Ferndale financially accountable and environmentally sustainable.  

Ferndale Patch: What is Ferndale's biggest challenge(s)?

Wells: The residents, businesses and city government are facing the same one—the financial straits caused by the economy. We all have tightened our belts. We need to work together to improve the financial situation for us all and we also need to work towards balance between government, business and residents.

Ferndale Patch: What is Ferndale's biggest asset(s)? 

Well: “Good neighbors” is not simply a town motto but a reality. I’ve heard heart-warming stories everywhere around our town, whether it was people helping out those residents affected in the storm this month, business owners with electricity offering freezer space to those business owners who lost it this past summer, or the city government departments turning the Kulick Center into a Cooling Center. It encompasses the high degree of volunteerism here, too, whether for nonprofits like FernCare, or our festivals, or our recreation department, and the generosity of the businesses.

Ferndale Patch: What will you do/work toward if elected?

Wells: My goals include more information to the residents; more prompt response to their concerns; exploring solutions to the financial straits our city and our residents and our businesses are in and those goals mentioned in my other answers.

Ferndale Patch: What are FIVE things Ferndale needs?

Wells: So I don’t repeat myself, I’ll list 5 downtown businesses many of us want: hardware store; family dining; everyday people’s clothing stores for men, women and children; office supply store; teen center with a wide variety of activities.

Ferndale Patch: What are your FIVE favorite things about Ferndale?

Wells: See (question) five for more than 21,000 of them -- our population plus businesses and their employees. My real-wood-around-the doors-and-windows bungalow. Being able to walk to stores, library, Rotary meeting, city hall. Being near one of the best bus routes in the Metro area. The creative kinds of businesses.

Current Ferndale City Councilman Mike Lennon is looking to extend his time on council and is running on Nov. 8. Read how he answered our questions .

Current Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter, who was appointed in January, is also looking to keep his seat and is running Nov. 8. Read his answers .

Ferndale resident Dan Martin is campaigning for one of the two seats on Ferndale's City Council as well. Read his answers .