Meet Grosse Pointe Farms Candidate: Joe Ricci

One of two candidates vying for a vacancy on the Grosse Pointe Farms city council touts his business experience, education and his strength in negotiations. 

Joe Ricci, 63, is eager to give back to the community. The long-time Grosse Pointer has owned property in the Farms for more than 30 years and now enjoys time with his sons, their wives and his grandchildren, all of whom also live in the community. 

Ricci is "semi-retired," working with his sons at the family's automotive dealerships in Taylor and Clinton Township. He operated an automotive dealership for more than 35 years, handling more than $63 million in sales annually.

In addition to his business experience Ricci believes his educational background in engineering and psychology would also benefit the city if he were elected to council. "I know how things work and how people think."

He also emphasizes his desire to give back to the community: "Most importantly, I am not a politician. I am not looking to use this position as a 'spring board' for bigger things. I do no have an agenda. I'm committed to serving our city."

Ricci answered a series of basic questions via email posed to him by Grosse Pointe Patch. Below is a summary of his responses: 

Important issues in the Farms:

• crime
• water runoff
• increasing water rates
• unfunded employee retirement fund

Issues Ricci would focus on in office: 

• crime--future potential crime in the Farms and increasing crime in the surrounding city
• water runoff
• water rates
• unfunded employee retirement fund 

Personal Strength:

• negotiations due to ability to listen to both sides, ask questions and to make rational decisions "based on facts not emotions."

Committees he'd like to serve on:

• Beautification, with a focus on Mack and Moross area
• Ordinance, "because too many homes and businesses need to be 'kept up' with repairs in order to keep our neighborhoods clean and safe."

Previous committee experience: 

• President of the National Jeep Dealer Association
• President of the Detroit Jeep Dealer Advertising Association, 15 years
• President of Florida condominium association, 3 years

Personal hobbies:

• biking
• working out
• cooking 
• jigsaw puzzles

What else should voters know: 

"I'm level-headed. I have both feet on the ground and I'm not afraid to make a decision."

The special election in Grosse Pointe Farms is Feb. 26. The other candidate seeking office, Elizabeth Vogel, also shared her answers to the same questions.

The candidates will participate in a forum Tuesday Feb. 12 at city hall hosted by the League of Women Voters Grosse Pointe. 

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