Name
Roxanne L. Brown
Education / Experience
Master Degrees from Northwestern and DePaul universities. Currently serving on the Mount Clemens Planning Commission.
Phone
773-383-1553
I have a long history as a community organizer and campaign volunteer worker. I am in my second term as a Mount Clemens Planning Commissioner, where I am not afraid to be that lone dissenting vote on issues that will help marginalized people and neighborhoods. My parents taught me the importance of investing in your community and working to make things better. I know how to listen, learn, act decisively and get the job done! In my second career as a teacher, I serve as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University and Wayne County Community College District. It's my experience that no other career prepares you to do the work required to leave people better off than teaching.
A primary issue facing the city is the practice of governing with an elite posture where downtown Mount Clemens is prioritized over the city's neighborhoods and people. Economic development should not come from top-down plans. Hearing about plans to develop the downtown riverfront with luxury apartments and restaurants to attract boaters doesn't sit well with residents whose basements are flooding or seniors whose increased water bills have made paying their property taxes prohibitive. Mount Clemens needs public-private partnerships with viable anchor businesses that can boost the economy and leave way for resources to provide assistance to citizens when they need it.
I would like to see mixed-use spaces where non-profits, small businesses and affordable housing can co-exist. I've seen how workable ideas like this one have been carried out in other cities.
You can't build upscale housing to attract more residents and not invest in the schools. Schools are the heart of any city. If we commit to investing in our young people today, we'll have a talented pool of potential employees tomorrow. I would like to see strengthened partnerships with Mount Clemens schools, corporate entities, colleges and workforce training programs. Our young people leave after graduation because they don't see innovative, viable opportunities.
In addition to serving on the Mt. Clemens Planning Commission, I am an active member of the local YMCA, and a volunteer with the Mt. Clemens Friends of the Library Committee. I also serve as a board member for the Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit. While living for a period of time in Chicago, I served as an arts and culture patron, a reading tutor, and the mentors coordinator for a journalism exposure program for high school students,
Name
Ron Campbell
Education / Experience
AA Macomb Community College BA Oakland University MA Saginaw Valley University
Phone
586-465-3972
I worked for 30 years as a high school Government and Psychology teacher. It is here I learned to work with all kinds of personalities and differing points of view. I previously served on the Mount Clemens City Commission from 2007-2023.
I believe there are three issues facing the city. 1. We need to promote clean beautiful neighborhoods thorough the use of city code enforcement. Making sure that homes are well maintained. When future homeowners are looking for a new place to live, they look around at the neighborhood. Nobody wants to live a city that looks dirty and unsafe. 2. Balanced City Budget to maintain excellent credit ratings. To do this we spend no more than we collect and are allotted by the State and Federal Governments. 3. City Services, making sure that we continue high standards for Public Safety, Water, Street Maintenace and cleaning. We have excellent highly qualified people in these positions to continue these services.
The biggest development facing the city is a new Water Treatment plant. We need to make sure that the water is safe. Nobody will want to live in a city that does not have safe and clean drinking water. Continue the development of a new streetscape for downtown. This will promote a safer, walkable, family friendly environment. All while encouraging new business growth and shoring up the city tax base.
I have served on the City Commission in the past and would like to continue this again. I loved being available to residents who needed help with various issues and concerns.
Name
Laura Fournier
Education / Experience
Bachelor of Science in Education Magna Cum Laude - Central MI University; Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting with High Distinction - University of Nevada; Certified Public Accountant
Phone
586-524-5941
My past working experience has given me a solid foundation to assess the myriads of issues that the Mt. Clemens City Commission has to discuss and vote on. My 25+ years at Compuware Corporation, where I advanced from Director of Internal Audit to Controller and eventually to Executive Vice President of Finance, CFO and Treasurer provided a wealth of financial experience, contract review skills and team management. At one point I managed a finance staff of over 200 people world-wide. As a City Commissioner it is critical that you have the ability to work with a team of people, as well as pay attention to the financial and contractual requirements associated with the projects and issues that come before you.
The primary issue facing the City of Mount Clemens is financial. Approximately 48% of the property in the city is not subject to property taxes. This not only includes not-for-profit entities but also the property held by Macomb County, putting an extra burden on the residents in the form of higher property taxes and on City Management to find ways to make those dollars go farther. Our spending has to be strategic, which is why maintaining a viable, living strategic plan is so important. This has been and will continue to be a focus of mine as Commissioner. The city also has to maintain and enhance relationships with Macomb County, the State of Michigan and the Federal government to take advantage of every funding opportunity available.
Currently the city has several major projects underway including downtown revitalization, the relocation of city hall, and the Great Lakes Water connection. One of my primary reasons for seeking another term as City Commissioner is that I feel a strong sense of responsibility to see these projects through to completion. I have spent many hours reviewing reports, listening to consultants, and studying the numbers. I want to ensure these projects go forward as intended.
Additionally, local infrastructure projects, primarily local roads and sewers, must continue to be a priority. The city does not have the funding to attack this on a grand scale, but we need to continue to find ways to move these projects forward.
While my family is my top priority, my husband and I have always done what we can, when we can. We have worked for Habitat for Humanity, St. Vincent de Paul, and our church. During the past 12 years we have focused on renovating several homes in the city and torn down ten houses that had deteriorated to a point where it was not economically feasible to restore them. We have never made a dime on any of these projects. For the past three years, I have donated my time to the Anton Art Center as their accountant as they needed assistance in this area, but do not have the funds to hire an accountant. I volunteer for various projects and fund raisers throughout the year when it is feasible.
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Name
Erik Rick
Education / Experience
BS in Political Science from CMU. 3 years on City Commission.
Phone
619-948-3077
I’m a Mount Clemens native who did 22 years in the Navy. My job was planning and communication. It taught me the importance of being able to take a bunch of information and condense it down so people can make informed decisions. I also needed to work with people from all over, with different priorities. Explaining to residents what’s happening is an important part of my job here, long term planning is also a big part of what we do, and being able to work with residents, businesses, and my fellow Commissioners is vital. It was actually a very good preparation to serve as a City Commissioner.
We have many issues that we are working on, but several of those are already progressing well. However one that I want to highlight because I think it needs more public attention is infrastructure needs that exceed our funding capacity. I will continue to search for grants to reduce costs or get to projects that would normally need to wait. I’ll keep advocating for us and seek funding through groups like the Michigan Municipal League, SEMCOG, and with other elected officials. Those, along with looking for long term cost saving should help speed up the progress on our backlog.
I’d like to see continued growth of a variety of housing, but especially smaller starter homes. Of course I’d also like to see more of our storefronts filled too. We’ve gone from 70% vacant to 70% filled in downtown and several businesses have moved in on Gratiot and Groesbeck, which is great, but there are still several more storefronts to fill.
I am volunteering at the County Office of Senior Services a couple times a week helping with grants, website updates, community outreach, etc. I am active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and currently serve as the Post Quartermaster (treasurer). I’ve been volunteering with the Mount Clemens Santa Parade for several years handling the lineup and staging areas. I recently started with the District Court’s specialty court advisory council as well. I also make it out to various community cleanup events.
