By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – One current council member and three residents vie to fill the seat vacated by former Mayor Gary Burtka earlier this year. The seat is currently filled by Felice “Tony” Lalli, who is among 19 people running for city council seats in the Aug. 2. primary election.
Current councilman Kevin Rourke has been on the council for eight years. He has lived in Allen Park for more than 50 years. He was a city Parks and Recreation commissioner for eight years. He and his wife, Karen, have three children.
David Noel Babbage was a city councilman from 1983 to 2003. He has owned Babbage and Sons Premium Entertainment Systems, which sells home theater systems, since 1994. He is commander of American Legion Post 409 and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Allen Park. His wife, Frances, serves on the Allen Park Board of Education. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and a former teacher in the Taylor Public School district.
William Matakas is a past member of the Allen Park Building Commission and Allen Park Public Schools Board of Education. He has served on the Allen Park Building Authority since 1996. He has been a private practice attorney in the city since 1977. He had his wife, Phillipa, have been married for 46 years and
have two children.
Jerry Galka, who is also running, did not respond to requests for comment for this story.