Voting Against Council Pay Raises: Councilwoman Margaret O'Brien made a motion Tuesday to reject the increases, which would have been granted automatically had the council taken no action. O'Brien said there was no need to boost pay to entice people to run for office and that she wasn't comfortable accepting a raise in light of the struggling economy. Kalamazoo Gazette July 9, 2007

Protecting The Environment: “…the Portage City Council on Tuesday approved a motion to "support Kalamazoo" in its "efforts to keep the community environmentally safe… Councilwoman Margaret O'Brien, who proposed the statement of support for Kalamazoo that was adopted Tuesday, agreed. "Like many citizens of the city of Portage I share those (environmental) concerns." Kalamazoo Gazette April 25, 2007

Defending School Board Members right to speak out: Portage City Councilwoman Margaret O'Brien said the norms appear aimed at Mazer, in part, because of her political views. "She has had ideas that have been considered thinking outside the box, outside the norm, and that has not been well received.''

“I was not popular in the beginning for my position (on special assessments for road work),'' the councilwoman said. She had criticized the long-standing taxing mechanism even as the city administration fought a legal challenge from a handful of property owners. In November, voters sided with O'Brien and abolished special assessments for road improvements. "Under this policy (school board norms), I would have had no voice,'' she said. Kalamazoo Gazette January 7, 2007

Battle To End Special Assessments: Margaret O'Brien, the newest council member and the only one to vote against a special assessment imposed on Oakland Drive homeowners for road improvements, suggested a motion to create a task force to review the assessment policies. Kalamazoo Gazette October 27, 2004

"I'm pleased that they want to move this process so quickly," said Margaret O'Brien, the lone council member to oppose the special assessments on Oakland.” (After council members decided to consider Ms. O’Brien’s ballot proposal to eliminate special assessments at their annual retreat). Kalamazoo Gazette November 10, 2004

"I am extremely dismayed by the lack of willingness to even start addressing the issues that we can address. ... I think it's time for us to step up to the plate and start addressing it rather than hiding behind a legal appeal or a policy,'' council member Margaret O'Brien said. Kalamazoo Gazette January 25, 2006.