Royal Oak - Staff Directory

Brandon Kolo is from Royal Oak. He has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. He and his wife, Carly, are raising their two young children in Royal Oak.

Brandon has worked in project management and sustainable technology.

Brandon is currently a city commissioner for Royal Oak. He joined the City Commission in September 2020.

Supports investing in the Farmers Market to ensure its long-term success.

- Supports investing in the Farmers Market to ensure its long-term success.

Economy

Supports protecting greenspace and holding landlords and builders accountable.

Supports requiring sustainable building practices in new developments.

- Supports protecting greenspace and holding landlords and builders accountable.
- Supports requiring sustainable building practices in new developments.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports police, fire, and EMTs to ensure safety in Royal Oak.

- Supports police, fire, and EMTs to ensure safety in Royal Oak.

Public Safety

As of August 13, 2025, Brandon Kolo’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Supports upgrading parks with modern, accessible features.

Supports investing in the Farmers Market.

Supports expanding senior programming and transportation options.

Supports connecting residents with city resources like free tree plantings and home improvement loans.

Supports and wants to grow neighborhood associations.

- Supports upgrading parks with modern, accessible features.
- Supports investing in the Farmers Market.
- Supports expanding senior programming and transportation options.
- Supports connecting residents with city resources like free tree plantings and home improvement loans.
- Supports and wants to grow neighborhood associations.

Public Services

Supports advancing policies to meet the city’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Supports protecting and expanding the city's tree canopy and green spaces.

- Supports advancing policies to meet the city’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
- Supports protecting and expanding the city's tree canopy and green spaces.

Energy & the Environment

Supports strengthening stormwater management with green infrastructure to prevent flooding.

- Supports strengthening stormwater management with green infrastructure to prevent flooding.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Brandon Kolo

As of August 13, 2025, Brandon Kolo did not have a website or any information online.

Brandon Kolo is from Royal Oak, Michigan. He has a bachelor of science from Michigan State University. He and his wife, Carly, are raising their children in Royal Oak.

Brandon is currently a Royal Oak City Commissioner. He has served on the Royal Oak City Commission since 2021. He previously served as vice president of the Royal Oak Library Board. 

Brandon Kolo1

Buket Urgen

Royal Oak residents protest plans for apartment complex on old ...

Carolyn lives in Royal Oaks, Michigan, where she has lived for nearly 20 years. 


LinkedIn

Carolyn is retired. She previously worked in a Human Resources role at I.C. Thomasson Associates, Inc. 

Carolyn Martz, Ballotpedia

Carolyn Martz's campaign for Royal Oak City Commissioner is her first entry into politics.

Supports reducing administrative fees and city expenditures to lower taxes, enabling seniors to afford to age in place.

Supports balancing the budget, reducing city debt, and lowering taxes.

Aims to help downtown businesses recover by providing parking passes to residents to encourage a "return to downtown."

- Supports reducing administrative fees and city expenditures to lower taxes, enabling seniors to afford to age in place.
- Supports balancing the budget, reducing city debt, and lowering taxes.
- Aims to help downtown businesses recover by providing parking passes to residents to encourage a "return to downtown."

Opposes the construction of a three-and-a-half-story, 42-unit building on Rochester Road and Genesee Avenue, saying it is too small for the planned development.

Opposes the construction of an apartment complex on Rochester Road and Genesee Avenue, saying it is too small for the planned development.

Supports limiting the construction of “Big Foot“ houses and downtown skyscrapers.

Supports providing public and private incentives to renovate existing smaller homes.

Wants to study and quantify existing rental stock and vacancies.

Supports assisting landlords in improving apartments to blend in with and complement adjacent single-family neighborhoods.

Supports home ownership for all age groups to help residents build equity rather than paying rent.

Supports home ownership for all age groups to help residents build equity.

- Opposes the construction of an apartment complex on Rochester Road and Genesee Avenue, saying it is too small for the planned development.
- Supports limiting the construction of “Big Foot“ houses and downtown skyscrapers.
- Supports providing public and private incentives to renovate existing smaller homes.
- Supports assisting landlords in improving apartments to blend in with and complement adjacent single-family neighborhoods.
- Supports home ownership for all age groups to help residents build equity.

- Believes in adding more police officers.

As of August 13, 2025, Carolyn Martz’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports establishing better means of communication for seniors through multiple channels such as direct mail, social media, and email.

Supports protecting and enhancing all Royal Oak parks.

Supports preserving and enhancing existing green spaces and features.

- Supports establishing better means of communication for seniors through multiple channels such as direct mail, social media, and email.
- Supports protecting and enhancing all Royal Oak parks.
- Supports preserving and enhancing existing green spaces and features.

Supports returning to current city zoning and federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking requirements in high-rise buildings.

Believes in maintaining properly sized roads to accommodate emergency vehicles and peak traffic flow, opposing "obstructive medians, road narrowing or road diets."

Supports expanding the SMART on-demand FLEX transportation service in Royal Oak to operate seven days a week.

- Supports returning to current city zoning and federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking requirements in high-rise buildings.
- Believes in maintaining properly sized roads to accommodate emergency vehicles and peak traffic flow, opposing "obstructive medians, road narrowing or road diets."
- Supports maintaining and repaving roads.
- Supports expanding the SMART on-demand FLEX transportation service in Royal Oak to operate seven days a week.

Carolyn Martz

Twitter

- Opposes the construction of an apartment complex on Rochester Road and Genesee Avenue, saying it is too small for the planned development.

As of August 13, 2025, Carolyn Martz did not have a website or any information online.

Carolyn lives in Royal Oaks, Michigan, where she has lived for nearly 20 years. 

Carolyn Martz has lived in the area of Rochester Road and Genesee Street near 14 Mile for 20 years.

Opposes the construction of an apartment building at Rochester Road and Genesee Avenue, advocating for lower density housing.

David lives in Royal Oak, Michigan. He is married to his wife, Nicole, with whom they have two children. He is a member of Shrine Parish.

David is a senior corporate investigations officer for a commercial bank. He also has experience as a manager at Champagne's Wine Cellars. 

David Buzynski's campaign for City Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

Candidate website

Wants to reduce administrative fees and city expenditures to lower taxes, enabling seniors to afford to age in place.

Wants to reduce administrative fees and city spending to lower taxes.

Wants to help downtown businesses recover from the parking debacle by providing parking passes to residents to promote a “return to downtown.”

Wants to help downtown businesses recover from the parking problem by providing parking passes to residents.

- Wants to reduce administrative fees and city spending to lower taxes.
- Supports balancing the budget, reducing city debt, and lowering taxes.
- Wants to help downtown businesses recover from the parking problem by providing parking passes to residents.

Plans to preserve affordable single family housing.

Wants to study and quantify existing rental stock and vacancies and plans to explore ways to assist landlords in improving apartments to blend in with and complement adjacent Single Family neighborhoods.

- Plans to preserve affordable single family housing.
- Supports limiting the construction of “Big Foot“ houses and downtown skyscrapers.
- Supports providing public and private incentives to renovate existing smaller homes.
- Supports assisting landlords in improving apartments to blend in with and complement adjacent single-family neighborhoods.
- Supports home ownership for all age groups to help residents build equity.

As of August 13, 2025, David Buzynski’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes Royal Oak should be governed for the benefit of its residents, not property developers or special interest groups.

Wants to establish better means of communication for seniors through multiple channels such as direct mail, social media and email in order for them to get current news.

Wants to protect and enhance all Royal Oak parks and prevent the sale of any park or the Royal Oak Golf Course.

Supports preserving and supporting existing green space and green features.

- Believes Royal Oak should be governed for the benefit of its residents, not property developers or special interest groups.
- Wants to establish better means of communication for seniors through multiple channels such as direct mail, social media and email in order for them to get current news.
- Wants to protect and enhance all Royal Oak parks and prevent the sale of any park or the Royal Oak Golf Course.
- Supports preserving and supporting existing green space and green features.

Wants to revert to federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking requirements in high-rise buildings.

Wants to revert to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking requirements in high-rise buildings.

Supports expanding on-demand, seven-days-a-week FLEX transportation service in Royal Oak.

Wants to prioritize making downtown parking accessible for all.

- Wants to revert to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking requirements in high-rise buildings.
- Believes in maintaining properly sized roads to accommodate emergency vehicles and peak traffic flow, opposing "obstructive medians, road narrowing or road diets."
- Supports maintaining and repaving roads.
- Supports expanding on-demand, seven-days-a-week FLEX transportation service in Royal Oak.
- Wants to prioritize making downtown parking accessible for all.

David Buzynski

As of August 13, 2025, David Buzynski did not have a website or any information online.

- Plans to preserve affordable single family housing.

- Believes Royal Oak should be governed for the benefit of its residents, not property developers or special interest groups.

Eric has a bachelor's degree in game technology from IADT and an associate's degree in engineering from MCC. He has lived in Royal Oak since 2018. 

Eric is an engineer. He is also a landlord with multiple properties. 

Eric Smethurst, Ballotpedia

Eric's campaign for Royal Oak City Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

Aims to lower taxes so seniors can afford to live in their own homes.

Plans to balance the budget, reduce city debt, and lower taxes.

Wants to help downtown businesses recover from the parking debacle by providing parking passes to residents to promote a “return to downtown”.

- Aims to lower taxes so seniors can afford to live in their own homes.
- Plans to balance the budget, reduce city debt, and lower taxes.
- Wants to help downtown businesses recover from the parking problem by providing parking passes to residents.

Supports limiting the construction of “big foot” houses and downtown skyscrapers.

- Supports limiting the construction of “big foot” houses and downtown skyscrapers.
- Supports providing public and private incentives to renovate existing smaller homes.
- Wants to study and quantify existing rental stock and vacancies and plans to explore ways to assist landlords in improving apartments to blend in with and complement adjacent Single Family neighborhoods.
- Supports home ownership for all age groups to help residents build equity rather than paying rent.

As of August 13, 2025, Eric Smethurst’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to protect and improve all Royal Oak parks and remove the threat of selling any park or the Royal Oak Golf Course.

- Believes Royal Oak should be governed for the benefit of its residents, not property developers or special interest groups.
- Wants to establish better means of communication for seniors through multiple channels such as direct mail, social media and email in order for them to get current news.
- Wants to protect and improve all Royal Oak parks and remove the threat of selling any park or the Royal Oak Golf Course.
- Supports preserving and supporting existing green space and green features.

Opposes "obstructive medians, road narrowing or road diets."

Plans to prioritize making downtown parking accessible for all.

- Wants to revert to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking requirements in high-rise buildings.
- Believes in maintaining properly sized roads to accommodate emergency vehicles and peak traffic flow, opposing "obstructive medians, road narrowing or road diets."
- Supports maintaining and repaving roads.
- Supports expanding on-demand, seven-days-a-week FLEX transportation service in Royal Oak.
- Plans to prioritize making downtown parking accessible for all.

Eric Smethurst

Eric Smethurst's campaign for Royal Oak City Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

As of August 13, 2025, Eric Smethurst did not have a website or any information online.

Eric Smethurst's campaign for Royal Oak City Commissioner is his first run for public office. 


Paul is a Royal Oak resident of over 40 years. He’s a proud graduate of Shrine of The Little Flower Elementary, Dondero High School, and Oakland University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. Paul and his wife, Jenn, live with their rescue cats in Royal Oak’s south end.

Paul is a Realtor at Good Company. He previously worked in the service industry at several local restaurants and retail establishments, held roles in law firms, and worked in chemical solutions manufacturing and data security.

Paul's campaign for Royal Oak City Commissioner is his first entry into politics. 

Supports programs that incentivize downtown property owners to promote occupancy and reduce storefront vacancies.

Aims to identify and develop new commercial areas in underserved or underdeveloped parts of the city.

Plans to work with stakeholders to advocate for independent businesses.

Aims to attract and diversify the types of businesses within city limits.

- Supports programs that incentivize downtown property owners to promote occupancy and reduce storefront vacancies.
- Aims to identify and develop new commercial areas in underserved or underdeveloped parts of the city.
- Plans to work with stakeholders to advocate for independent businesses.
- Aims to attract and diversify the types of businesses within city limits.

Supports developing affordable single- and multi-family homes to boost housing inventory, population, and property tax revenues.

Supports creating standalone residences and senior-friendly housing developments that meet the needs of senior residents.

Supports preserving the character of Royal Oak's walkable neighborhoods.

- Supports developing affordable single- and multi-family homes to boost housing inventory, population, and property tax revenues.
- Supports creating standalone residences and senior-friendly housing developments that meet the needs of senior residents.
- Supports preserving the character of Royal Oak's walkable neighborhoods.

Advocates for integrating mental health support into community programming.

- Advocates for integrating mental health support into community programming.

As of August 13, 2025, Paul Bastian’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports prioritizing the development and maintenance of public parks, ensuring they are safe and accessible.

Supports promoting active lifestyles to enhance overall health and strengthen community bonds.

- Supports prioritizing the development and maintenance of public parks, ensuring they are safe and accessible.
- Supports promoting active lifestyles to enhance overall health and strengthen community bonds.

Paul Bastian

As of August 13, 2025, Paul Bastian1’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Paul Bastian1

As of August 13, 2025, Paul Bastian1 did not have a website or any information online.

Supports identifying and developing new commercial areas in underserved or underdeveloped parts of the city.

Advocates for integrating mental health support into community programming, ensuring mental health is prioritized like physical health.

Woody Gontina - Planning Commissioner at City of Royal Oak, MI ...

Woody Gontina is from Royal Oak, Michigan. He has a bachelor's degree in Construction Management from Michigan State University. He lives with his family in Royal Oak.

Woody is a planning commissioner at the City of Royal Oak, where he has served since January 2020. He previously worked as a vice president at CSM Group, a market development manager in construction and a market segment manager for residential projects at BASF, and owned Gontina Building & Design, which focused on environmentally responsible building practices. Earlier in his career, he was a development manager at DPR Construction. Woody holds a degree in construction management from Michigan State University.

Environmental Advisory Board | Royal Oak, MI

Woody is currently serving as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Royal Oak, MI, since January 2020. He is also chair of the Royal Oak Environmental Advisory Board, to which he was appointed by the city commission for a three-year term.

As of August 13, 2025, Woody Gontina’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports the use of solar energy and battery systems in homes.

- Supports the use of solar energy and battery systems in homes.

Woody Gontina

As of August 13, 2025, Woody Gontina did not have a website or any information online.

Woody is a planning commissioner at the City of Royal Oak, where he has served since January 2020. He previously worked as a vice president at CSM Group, a construction management firm, and held roles at BASF as a market development manager for construction and a market segment manager for residential projects. He also owned Gontina Building & Design, which focused on environmentally responsible building practices. Earlier in his career, he was a development manager at DPR Construction. Woody holds a degree in construction management from Michigan State University.

Woody is currently a Planning Commissioner for the City of Royal Oak. He was appointed in January 2020 and is serving his first term. He is also chair of the Royal Oak Environmental Advisory Board, having been appointed to that position in 2020.

- City commissioners in Michigan help make city-level laws, approve budgets, and oversee city services to serve the community’s needs. 
- Commissioners attend regular meetings, listen to public concerns, and vote on city issues like zoning, public safety, and spending. They also appoint and direct officials, like the city manager.
- City commissioners may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. They may represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Terms for city council members often last two or four years, depending on the city.

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