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A Letter From
 |
Based
on the encouragement of friends, neighbors and numerous stakeholders
concerned about
the future of Oakland County and the important role it must
play in creating a revitalized future for
Michigan,
I have filed as a candidate for the Oakland County
Commission.
Why
am I running? To provide the kind of innovative leadership
required to maximize the
mobilization of public
resources to attract new business, create new jobs and stimulate
economic
growth.
We
have some wonderful people in elected service; but tough times require
the election of more than
nice individuals with good intentions. In a declining economy,
we need elected officials that can actually
stimulate economic growth. If
we are going to jump start an economic transformation in Michigan, we
need highly skilled public policy professionals who are focused on job
creation.
Years
of divisive regional, racial and partisan politics have significantly
contributed
to the inability of
local governments in Southeastern Michigan coming
together during this economic crisis in a
collaborative manner to implement a strategic plan to stimulate
targeted business expansion and job
creation. Yet, we must come together to pull Michigan out of our
declining economic
spiral….and that
unity has to commence at the local level. We can’t wait
on Washington, or Lansing to solve this for us.
Ten
billon dollars a month in federal expenditures on the War in Iraq
eliminates the
potential for any
immediate help from Washington; and term limits have stifled
the potential for any continuity in
implementing a coherent economic transition
and transformation strategy in Lansing
As
home foreclosures increase, property values decline, food and gas
prices go up,
and we brace for
General Motors & Chrysler to reduce another 10,000 from
their
workforce; there can be no denial that we
are in a crisis. It may not be popular
to say, but Michigan is suffering from a leadership gap. We’re in
serious trouble
and we don’t seem to have a lot of talent in the bull pen capable of
assisting
in a save.
That is why I am asking for your vote for Oakland County Commissioner.
As
part of a “New Democratic Movement”, I stand for local control,
innovative thought,
rational debate,
intelligent collaboration, and business based public policy.
Although my Party is Democratic, my politics
is coalition based and
quality of life focused.
I’m
a graduate of Central Michigan University with a Masters
Degree in Public Administration. As a Public Policy Professional I
serve as
Chief of Staff for one of the
most progressive and respected state legislators in Lansing.
As a Civic Affairs Professional, I serve the
public-private collaboration needs
of S.E. Michigan’s largest tree care provider. These combined
experiences have
forced me to learn my way around Lansing and Washington and develop
working
relationships that produce real outcomes focused on economic growth.
As you will see in the material
that follows, I’m experienced, well prepared, and ready to serve.
I
fully understand the role the County of Oakland should play in leading
the state’s
economic
transformation. I pledge to work day and night to achieve creation
of a regional bi-partisan economic
growth strategy that will create new high
wage jobs in Oakland County, and secure the quality of life of
our children’s
future.
Sincerely,
