Michigan Bar Association Member Directory Listing:
John D. Brennan - P40240
45760 Warwick Dr
Macomb, MI 48044
Phone: (586) 992-0710
Fax: (586) 992-0721 e-Mail: crazyhorsde44@aol.com
Michigan Licensed: 05/15/1987
Macomb Twp. supervisor allegedly running law practice from government office
By Steve Neavling
Free Press Staff Writer
October 14, 2008
Prosecutors are investigating complaints that the Macomb Township supervisor is running his law practice out of his government office.
On top of running the township, John Brennan is representing court-appointed defendants in district courts in Warren and Center Line, records show.
The Michigan Bar Association lists the phone number for Brennan’s law office as the number for Macomb Township government offices.
State law makes it a crime to use government resources for private purposes such as running a business.
Brennan, a Republican who makes about $80,000 a year as supervisor, is running for re-election against Democrat Mark Grabow.
“You expect corruption in Washington D.C. and Wall Street, but when it hits Main Street like this, it seems even worse,” Grabow’s political consultant, Joe DiSano, said. “When you have 2,500 home foreclosures in Macomb Township and you are pulling a salary of $80,000 a year and another $20,000 for health care and pension benefits, you should be in the office full-time. What he’s doing is unethical at the least.”
Here we have the new definition of capitalism hard at work. Get the taxpayers to cover
your Guarantee, the office, the phone, the heat, the lights, Oh yeah Salary, Health care.
I'm sure if investigated, office materials, maybe some staff. Not to mention the time
in court. Would that be considered DOUBLE BILLING? After all, these are Court
appointed defendents. A typical Political Representative, I wonder if he's a member
of the ethics commitee.....
10/14/2008 5:26:02 p.m. EDT
What's the point???? The point is that you have an elected official running his private business affairs out of an office paid for by the taxpayers, while also being compensated by the taxpayers for allegedly doing official public business. Brennan not only needs to be thrown out of office for this abuse of taxpayer dollars, he should be disbarred from the practice of law, ordered to pay back all of the taxpayers' money he spent for his private enterprises, and thrown in jail for defrauding the public. Whether he's a Republican or a Democrat is not the issue. Just like Kwame Kilpatrick, he needs to removed from office for his corrupt abuse of power.
10/14/2008 4:19:28 p.m. EDT
What? Grabow's too busy to answer your questions? Has to have some political consultant from Lansing talk for him? Why doesn't anyone ask Grabow about the "extra" work he does around the fire hall? How about it?
10/14/2008 4:08:16 p.m. EDT
Macomb supervisor targeted in complaint over law practice
Jim Lynch / The Detroit News
MOUNT CLEMENS-- A complaint filed with the county prosecutor's office alleges Macomb Township Supervisor John D. Brennan of inappropriately using his public office as home base for his law practice.
But his supporters claim it's a desperate political attack on a candidate whose performance leaves little else to quarrel with.
Brennan, a Republican up for re-election next month, has been targeted not only by a formal complaint, but also via a flier sent out to township residents bearing highlighted phrases such as: "Brennan Spends his Workday Practicing Law in Macomb County Courts and Ignoring His Duties At Township Hall" and "We Pay Brennan Over $100,000 A Year To Manage Macomb Township Full-Time."
The flier is the work of a consultant to the political campaign of Brennan's opponent in the Nov. 4 election, Democrat Mark Grabow.
"We heard enough people talking about (Brennan) that we decided to spend a little shoe leather and investigate for ourselves," said Joe DiSano, of Lansing-based Main Street Strategies, a political consulting firm. Grabow could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Brennan has been reimbursed by municipalities such as Warren for work as a court-appointed defense attorney during his term as supervisor. In addition, Brennan's listing with the Michigan Bar Association includes the Macomb Township office phone number. However, the address listed is Brennan's home address.
"This is, in my opinion, illegal at the worst and unethical at least," DiSano said.
Michael Koehs, Macomb Township's longtime clerk, defended Brennan's performance as supervisor and said the community is lucky to have him.
"These are hard economic times and I can understand people being upset -- I can even understand political opponents grasping at whatever straws they can," he said. "But Macomb Township has low taxes. Macomb Township has services. Macomb Township has a lot of amenities that other communities would envy. And Macomb Township is in the black.
"So what's the problem?"
So far, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has taken no action in response to the complaint, filed by Macomb Township resident Robert Barsotti. "We have received the complaint regarding (Brennan's) activity and we're in the process of evaluating it," said Jim Langtry, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office.
Brennan could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Re: Mich Macomb Twnshp Supervisor [Attorney John Brennan] investigated for running law practice out of GOV'T OFFICE !
guest wrote:
So far, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has taken no action in response to the complaint, filed by Macomb Township resident Robert Barsotti. "We have received the complaint regarding (Brennan's) activity and we're in the process of evaluating it," said Jim Langtry, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office.
Eric Smith and Langtry will cover for another attorney. The Prosecutor's office covers for crooked attorneys, judges, and organized crime. They won't take them on.
Right now Eric Smith is involved with 2 cases alleging prosecutorial misconduct, but he grand stands along with Hackel whose father got out of prison early and the victim was not notified.
Macomb county is corrupt and it starts at the top.
Re: Mich Macomb Twnshp Supervisor [Attorney John Brennan] investigated for running law practice out of GOV'T OFFICE !
Misuse of Macomb Township supervisor's office probed
BY STEVE NEAVLING • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • October 15, 2008
County prosecutors are investigating complaints that the Macomb Township supervisor is running a law practice out of his government office, in violation of state law.
On top of running the township, John Brennan is a lawyer, representing defendants assigned to him in district courts in Warren, Roseville and Center Line, records show. And the Michigan Bar Association lists a number for Brennan's law office that's the same as the number for his Macomb Township government office.
State law makes it a crime to use government resources for private purposes such as running a business.
Brennan, a Republican who makes about $80,000 a year as supervisor, is running for re-election against Democrat Mark Grabow.
Township resident Robert Barsotti filed a complaint against Brennan on Oct. 3.
"I don't think what he's doing is right," Barsotti, 51, said Tuesday. "I'm sick and tired of my taxes being wasted."
Brennan couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday. Repeated phone calls were not returned.
Grabow, whose wife died earlier this month, wasn't available for comment because of family issues, his campaign volunteers said.
"You expect corruption in Washington, D.C., and Wall Street, but when it hits Main Street like this, it seems even worse," Grabow's political consultant, Joe DiSano, said Tuesday. "When you have 2,500 home foreclosures in Macomb Township and you are pulling a salary of $80,000 a year and another $20,000 for health care and pension benefits, you should be in the office full-time. What he's doing is unethical at the least."
Brennan first served as supervisor from 1988 to 1992, then was a township trustee from 1993 to 1996. He returned to the supervisor position in 1996 and has held it ever since.
Macomb Township Supervisor John Brennan responded Wednesday to complaints he double-dips at the public trough as both a full-time supervisor and a court-appointed attorney.
"All of this is coming from my opponent (Mark Grabow)," said Brennan, who is seeking re-election in November. "It is definitely politically motivated."
Township resident Robert Barsotti filed a complaint with the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office alleging Brennan masquerades as a full-time supervisor to collect his $80,000 annual pay— but actually spends several days a week representing clients in court.
The complaint points out that Brennan, a Republican, lists the township supervisor's phone and fax numbers as his business numbers in the Michigan Bar Journal directory.
Barsotti wrote that raises questions about whether Brennan uses the supervisor's office, including the taxpayer-funded phone system and possibly township staff, to further his private career.
Brennan refused to answer the allegation in detail, though he denied any wrongdoing and said he has his own attorney investigating a possible claim against the source of the complaints.
"It's my understanding the prosecutor's office is not doing anything with it, they're not moving forward," the supervisor said.
Prosecutor Eric Smith did not return a phone call asking for clarification.
Rich Robinson, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, said the entry in the Bar Journal is a sticky issue, although it's probably more of an ethical question than a legal one.
"If it's there because 'I'm a member of the Bar and this is how you contact me' there have to be all kinds of attorneys who are elected officials, and I wonder how many of them do that," Robinson said.
"Absent any other kind of evidence, the phone number is thin evidence that he's using a public resource to advance his (political) career," Robinson added.
Michigan Campaign Finance Law dictates public resources, including buildings, telephone systems, stationery, and e-mail accounts, cannot be used to further a political career.
Violations of the law typically occur when an office holder puts staff to work on their election campaigns, uses time on the clock to make fundraising calls or sends campaign letters on city stationery, Robinson said.
A public official with a second career falls into a gray area that may ultimately be for voters to decide, Robinson said.
Democratic opponent Mark Grabow was unavailable for comment because his wife died last week, said his political consultant Joe DiSano. DiSano recently sent a flier to township residents outlining the complaint against Brennan.
"You've got people in real tough economic times, and if you're paying someone $100,000 a year you should get a full day's work out of them," DiSano said, adding during the hours Brennan is being paid to work for the township "you can find him in courts across Macomb County."
jml2048 wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:29 AM:
" Brennan's response was a non-response. The phone # is not as big a deal as spending "several days a week representing clients in court." Evem 2 days a week would be 40% of the time. Good to see someone called him out on this. His response that is was "political" doesn't answer the question: How much time does he spend on his law practice per week instead of working for the Twp? "
" Brennan response was not a response you would expect from an elected offical that was truely working for the people and had nothing to hide. I am sure that someone could pull court records to see if this clown is double dipping the system! I am glad that someone had the guts to call this guy out. Thank you Mark Grabow. "
" I LIVE IN MACOMB TOWNSHIP AND I AM TIRED OF THESE ABUSES. MY BOSS (IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR) WOULD NOT PAY ME TO BE AWAY FROM THE OFFICE AT MY "OTHER JOB". THIS IS DEFINITE MISUSE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS "
" These are politically motivated lies. If you watched the debates last night, this is what politicians do. They slander their opponent in hopes of winning. Don't listen to the lies. Macomb Township is run beautifully. In these hard economic times they are in the black ink! Watch a meeting and see how orderly it is run. If it isn't broke don't fix it. With Brennan you know the Township will run smoothly. With the other guy you don't. I am not willing to take that chance. This is not a 9-5 job. Brennan is always there for the extras. Because he doesn't backlash at his opponent, doesn't mean he is guilty of the accusations. I respect him for that. I am not in any way affiliated with Brennan or the Township just a resident with an opinion and one vote to cast. "
" It isn't a criminal act for him to take advantage of the township - however, it should be sufficient reason to convince the voters in Macomb Twp to get rid of him.
Brennan spends a considerable amount of time in both the 37th (Warren) and 39th (Roseville) District Courts handling court appointed cases. This has been going on for years.
Obviously he has no intention on ending his law practice or he would have said so.
The trustees should immediately step up and pass a resolution that prohibits him from practicing law. If not, they should be voted out as well ! "
" I like how John Brennan tries to take the spotlight off himself by blaming his opponent when it was a township resident that filed the complaint! Obviously there are a lot of Macomb Township residents that want John Brennan out of office, just look at the results of the primary, that speaks for itself. "
" "The primary speaks for itself"? What? It's a primary. People can only vote one way, and people don't understand that either. Mark Grabow is pushing the limit with all these deceptions. I truly hope that the people of Macomb Township realize that Brennan and his board have done a great job in our Township and what is Grabow bringing to the table? All he's done is tell people what they want to hear even though he knows he can't do any of it. Want your taxes raised to do what Grabow claims to his "friends" he can do. Then vote for him. If you like all the great ammenities we have in the Township and the fact that we're in the black then keep a good thing going. This "running a law office" with tax dollars is just what Brennan said... a political act to get things stirred up just before the election. Grabow is deceitful and I wouldn't take anything he's said as far as I can throw him.
KEEP BRENNAN! "
" If Brennan is expected to stop practicing law, what is Grabow going to do? Doesn't he have a full time job now and a part time one with the fire department? So he's going to stop doing all that too? This is a joke! Wake up people, he's throwing garbage so you vote with him and his ax grinding people. Don't fall for it. Brennan deserves better for what he's done for this township! "
LONG TIME RESIDENT wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:57 PM:
" I totally agree that John Brennan has done an exceptional job for the township. As previously posted, his job is not a 9-5 position. He gets the job done - period! If he were to practice law full time he'd be making more than his township salary. So, in esseence he's taking a pay cut in order to serve our community. If he spends part of his time suplementing that income, I don't have a problem with it. Mark Grabow is just seeking revenge because the township wouldn't change their zoning to accommodate his limousine rental business. "
" Unless John Brennen comes up with a good viable explanation, and checks out to be on the up-and-up, my wife and I will vote for Mr. Grabow come November 4th. By the way, we are republican. "
" What I like about John Brennan is this: He is who he is. What you see is what you get, the good and the bad. I don’t agree with everything he says and does, but if you’re like me, you really enjoy seeing someone who is true to themselves. I’m tired of manufactured personalities and people who are more spin than substance. Mark Grabow could not wint he election on his own merits. He had to create and issue out of nothing. Our Township enjoys low taxes, a budget surplus and a lot of services. Where other townships are in the red, and cutting services and raising taxes. We have all of this because of the hard work from our Supervisor, John Brennan, and the board of trustees. Residents of Macomb Twp lets be smart and Vote for Supervisor Brennan, and the curent board of trustees. "
" Bottom line here is this Township has been run in exemplary fashion. Low taxes, good services and NOT in the red. (How many other cities in this county can say the same.) The facts are we MUST keep John Brennan in office if we would like to continue on this same path. "
" The reason Macomb Township is great place to live is because of John Brennan's representation. He is a very professional, well educated, dedicated person who knows the township in and out. Because of his diligence this Township is doing so good. I don't believe it should be handed to his opponent on a silver platter. It was Brennan's hard work and dedication that got us here! I'm sticking with him and hope everyone else does too. Don't fall for the lies. Haven't you had enough of that with Bush the last 8 years. I think the person filing the lawsuit is probably a friend of Grabow. "
Scott wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:31 PM:
" Politically motivated or not, the only question that matters is: Is it true? "
" See the harassment Brennan is causing for King of the Winds Farm, and Grabow's limo service. Macomb Township wants the property developed near the township offices.
It is all about developing property to generate local revenue for the township with building permits, and taxes.
Since Brennan is an attorney he should know about constitutionally protected property rights. That is what the Founding Fathers intended, not a good ole boy in office for developers as Brennan is. "
Stay above the mud slinging...Vote for John Brennan based on the facts!
My personal opinion is that John Brennan has done an exceptional job for
Macomb
Township .He is a man of action and conviction with upstanding ethics and values who gets the job done!As a voting resident, one should look at his track record with his statutory responsibilities and duties and bench mark him against what we elect him for!The undeniable facts are that the Macomb Twp millage rate is the lowest in the surrounding areas, he understands a surplus and how to protect and use it wisely, his so called “personal gym” which he pays dues at …just like you and I are entitled as residents…has generated a profit, and, in this poor economy, he voted for no salary increases, just to name a few!
The political mud slinging needs to stop!I was impressed that John Brennan did not lower himself to respond to his competition with additional mud slinging but facts at the October 22, 2008 Board of Trustees Meeting, which I will base my vote on! I enjoyed listening to the response and will probably play it a few more times before Election Day!
Re: Stay above the mud slinging...Vote for John Brennan based on the facts!
guest wrote:
The political mud slinging needs to stop!
Brennan is on the payroll of the taxpayers for 2 simultaneous positions, and he is an attorney. This is unethical. Did the taxpayers of Macomb Township knowlingly agree to this arrangement, that he be at his other employment instead of handing Macomb Township Business.
That is the issue my friend.
Also based on the Brennan's history with land use issues, he seems to be dedicated to violate property rights to generate revenue for developers and Macomb Township. We have Constitutionally guaranteed, sacrosant property rights in this country. I think the Michaels and Grabow should contact the Institute of Justice or the Castle Coalition which specialize in fighting the overextended arm of government into property rights issues.
Those are the issues that I see, and that is not mud slinging !
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