VOTE411 Voter Guide

I am a life long 3rd generation Grosse Pointer, raising 5 sons of whom 3 have returned to the Grosse Pointes to raise their families and introduce the 5th generation to our community. I served 8 years on Council and 2 years as Mayor from 2009-2019. I feel that we need to get on track by taking better care of our business districts, fiscal responsibility for our future, and improve our relationships with neighboring communities.

Returning our Village to be the centerpiece and gem of the Grosse Pointes by cleaning up and refreshing the Downtown districts as well Mack Ave and Fisher Road business districts. We have other very important issues with infrastructure, parking, roads and the tree canopy. If elected, I will focus on all of these starting with subtle changes that grow over time.

We carry more than 30 million in debt service and if the sewer project is reapproved by FEMA after being cancelled, we would add at least another 10-15 million based on how it is spent. It is important to watch the future based on today's decisions. We are AAA bond rated, we just need to direct the funds properly in the budget to ensure our community preserves its small town charm, which corelates to healthy home values, and all of the great services we expect.

Since being elected Mayor in 2019, I have helped move the City forward so it remains a vital and vibrant place to live. Much of our progress is the result of a strong sense of teamwork on City Council. Our Council members — even when they disagree — work together cooperatively, thoughtfully, and respectfully. I am honored to have been endorsed in my campaign by all six current Council members; I take that as a vote of confidence in me and the work we are doing together.

Finances are at the top of the list. Headlee and Proposal A have capped revenue, and for every dollar a resident pays in taxes, only 33 cents comes to the City. More than 50% of that is for public safety. That leaves pennies for all other services. In the past, we balanced the budget by cutting expenses (since 2007, our already small City staff has been cut by 26%), yet our 5-year forecast projects that expenses will continue to exceed revenue. As a result, we have asked staff to evaluate everything we do to ensure we are using limited tax dollars effectively and managing the City efficiently. And we have worked to increase our tax base by approving two major residential projects, the first of their kind in a half-century.

The City is fiscally sound with a balanced budget, a 25% fund balance, and a AAA bond rating. But revenue continues to dip as expenses rise. As a first step, we changed how we manage the budget by instituting priority-based budgeting instead of simply rolling up each line item. For example, Council responded to residents’ concerns about sidewalk repairs by increasing those funds from $10,000 to $50,000. We also asked City staff to prepare a 3-year balanced budget in lieu of 3-year projections for a longer-term perspective. And we have increased the depth of quarterly reports to allow Council to better track our progress. These steps, among other things, will allow us to react quickly to challenges, keeping the City on the right track.