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What in your education and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this position?
As a trained and practicing urban planner, I have extensive experience helping communities understand and solve complex issues. I help them understand options and how to address concerns from citizens and applicants. I am constantly working with complex systems that have multiple solutions.
I have worked for local governments, including parks, managing planning, zoning, and code enforcement, and even driving Zamboni. This gave me face-to-face time with citizens and an understanding of the real-world impact of policy decisions.
I have served on a planning commission, historic preservation commission, and land trust board. In Dexter, I have served on council, zoning board of appeals, 3045 Broad Redevelopment, Housing Task Force, Election Commission, and Dexter Area Fire Department Board. I am also a member of several regional and state-wide groups.
I have a fresh set of eyes, supported by solid understanding of general, big issues and specific issues in Dexter.
What are your goals should you be elected and how will you work to accomplish them with currently limited resources?
GOOD GOVERNMENT is essential. I will build on our current best practices by following the City Charter at all times, providing City officials with training and their own email, and developing a public engagement plan. I will conduct interviews for appointed positions with another council member.
Ensuring a SUSTAINABLY VIBRANT DEXTER is important fiscally, socially, and environmentally. I will continue to advocate for tax rates that do not exceed what is necessary and ensure public investments consider life-cycle costs. I will continue work started by our Housing Task Force and develop a Dexter-sized climate action plan.
Improving PUBLIC SAFETY is an essential purpose for local government. I will be the last mayor to have to talk about a fire station. We will build a new public safety facility that supports fire and police services and protects our firefighters and police. We will improve pedestrian safety throughout the City and adopt a rental inspection ordinance.
What are the biggest challenges facing Dexter in the next five years?
It has become very difficult for young professionals, empty nesters, main-street workers, teachers, and even City employees to find housing. If nothing is done, it will become nearly impossible for local employers to find staff and our schools will face dropping enrollment.
If we do not build a new fire station in the next year or two, it may become prohibitively costly to do so. This would have a negative impact on the level and quality of emergency services provided to our citizens.
Like many organizations, we face an aging population. A number of senior staff, elected officials, and appointed officials will be ready to retire soon. We must plan to address these changes to ensure a smooth transition and use it as an opportunity for self-reflection.
Without new development, it will become more of a challenge to support our finances. Water and sewer projects, for example, have primarily been funded by new tap fees.
What does Dexter have to offer people looking for a place to relocate?
My wife and I were very deliberate when deciding where we wanted to live. Here are some of the reasons we fell in love with Dexter.
Our downtown has everything: restaurants, banks, donuts, ice cream, professional offices, hardware store, farmers’ market, post office, library, and concerts. We are able to easily experience this on foot or on bike. The town is still relatively-compact and provides some freedom for kids.
We can leave our house with our puppy dog, hit one of the many trails, and be out in nature in just minutes with no sounds of civilization. It is a great way to refresh, recharge, and exercise.
We like that we can visit Ann Arbor in a couple of minutes when we want bigger-city and university activities but have some distance from all the noise and traffic.
Our schools are great! I am especially proud of their efforts with exchange students, and we have hosted several times. It’s a great way for Dexter students and the community to learn about different cultures.