Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Campaign Phone
517-499-6647
My leadership style is rooted in listening, building relationships, and bringing people together to solve problems. As a former Mayor, I understand how city government works and how to turn ideas into results. As a nonprofit leader, I have managed large budgets, complex organizations, and major investments while balancing competing priorities. Working with residents, businesses, and community partners, I've built a reputation for collaboration, fiscal responsibility, and effective leadership. I am ready to deliver on a bold vision for Jackson’s future, grounded in experience, driven by results, and focused on opportunity for every resident.
Our biggest challenge is that we're a city built for nearly twice our current population. As our population declined, fewer residents and businesses were left to support aging infrastructure and rising costs. That challenge is reflected in deteriorating roads and aging utilities, as well as public safety and affordability concerns. Solving it requires growing our tax base through economic development, housing, and placemaking while remaining focused on the fundamentals residents expect: a long-term strategy to repair and maintain our roads; a comprehensive approach to public safety that includes increased police and fire staffing, technology, and prevention; and high-quality public services and spaces. By strengthening our neighborhoods, workforce, schools, parks, and amenities, we can attract residents and businesses, expand opportunity, and build a strong city.
Reducing serious crime requires enforcement and prevention. During my time as Mayor, violent crime fell 27.5%, total crime reached its lowest level in 30+ years and we recorded our highest annual arrest totals in nearly 20 years. Short term, we must increase police staffing, strengthen neighborhood policing, focus on violent/repeat offenders with evidence-based violence prevention programs, grow violent crime and traffic units, and use new technology to reduce desk time and improve evidence collection and case clearance rates. Long term, we must reduce truancy, invest in workforce and recreational opportunities, and build safer public spaces.
The City should serve as a convener, bringing together shelters, housing providers, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and local governments to better coordinate services. We must address barriers that prevent people from accessing support, including secure storage for personal belongings. The City should also lead on affordable housing. As Mayor, I created the Affordable Housing Development Board, and we should use it to expand housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents. We should recommit to redeveloping Reed Manor and rebuilding public housing that is safe, affordable, dignified, and supportive of long-term stability.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Campaign Phone
5172403511
I am a lifelong Jackson resident, business owner, nonprofit leader, civil rights activist, certified Community Health Worker, and Michigan Supreme Court-certified mediator. Through my dual roles as Founder and President of the Dungytreei Heritage Foundation and owner of Kinderstar Academy, I have worked directly with residents to address housing, food insecurity, public safety, and access to community resources. My experience in community service, business leadership, and conflict resolution has prepared me to serve the residents of Jackson and make informed decisions that benefit our city.
The most important challenges facing Jackson include roads, public safety, and affordability.
I would address these challenges through transparent budgeting and equitable investment across all neighborhoods. I support dedicating $1 million to each ward every year for road repair and infrastructure improvements, along with ward-based “Fix Our Roads” committee to ensure oversight, transparency, and community input.
For public safety, I support strengthening law enforcement while also investing in prevention, protection, and community programs.
For housing, I support developing affordable housing using city-owned vacant lots, including co-op housing models. I also support expanding assistance for homeowners with repairs and stability, increasing legal support for HUD renters to prevent unlawful evictions, and partnering with landlords.
I support strengthening law enforcement presence in high-risk areas. I also support using appropriate technology, such as drone monitoring in high-risk areas, with proper oversight, to assist public safety efforts and help law enforcement respond more effectively. We must provide safe havens and protection services for individuals who are exposed to threats of violence or feel their lives are in danger, to help prevent situations from escalating and ensure people have somewhere to turn. We must focus on the root causes of crime, including poverty, by expanding youth programs. I am committed to hosting more town hall meetings in every ward.
We must review policies to identify and remove barriers that may contribute to homelessness. We should help homeowners better access and apply for assistance programs so they can maintain and repair their homes before losing them. We should also expand rent-to-own options to strengthen housing stability. I support co-op housing models where residents can build equity, share ownership, and have a voice in their housing communities. We must focus on partnering with nonprofits and landlords to improve housing stability. I also support opening overnight emergency shelters at the King Center and Boos Center during dangerous weather conditions.
Campaign Phone
517-784-0158
Training/experience - I have been involved with local government as a 'citizen watchdog' and candidate for decades and, I can read and comprehend a budget. As a proud Jacksonsonian born and raised in the city of Jackson, I have an unwavering passion and belief that Jackson can be once again, a decent city to call home. I will always advocate and fight for ALL the responsible citizens, ALL the law-abiding citizens, All the hard working citizens, ALL the retired and elderly citizens and ALL of our most truly, vulnerable citizens.
Neighborhood Streets - General Obligation Bond(s) to pay for neighborhood street overlay (mill) and paves. City Hall can afford to fix many of our neighborhood streets without assessing homeowners thousands of dollars in extra property taxes.
Street Gangs - Gangs trafficking illegal drugs and illegal/stolen guns need to be removed off our streets from with an arrest, charge, conviction and jail. Juvenile gang members found guilty can be housed at the Jackson County Youth Center. Rehabilitation programs can be provided while incarcerated.
Downtown Parking - Expand current 2-hours of free parking to 3-hours of free parking. The 3-hours will give residents and visitors more time to dine, shop and enjoy downtown.
Downtown Encampments - Pass an ordinance to prohibit. Downtown businesses, patrons and visitors deserve a downtown free of homeless encampments.
Street Gangs - Remove gang members who are trafficking illegal drugs and guns from our streets with an arrest, charge, conviction and jail. Street gangs 'shots fired' and 'bullets to body' is a result of gangs securing their turf that endangers innocent lives and overall safety of our neighborhoods. Of course second chances should be always available, but those involved with gangs and convicted of gang activity need to be punished first and secondly, provided the rehabilitation services needed for an offender to become a productive, law abiding citizen of the city of Jackson.
There are multiple local, state government and nonprofit agencies servicing the homeless, City Hall does not need to be directly involved. City Council without any proper oversight and accountability, has wastefully spent hundreds of thousands of dollars the last few years on a homeless shelter supposedly run by a local nonprofit that never opened. The most serious issue with homelessness is the downtown encampments. As Mayor, I will request City Council to vote and pass an ordinance that prohibits unregulated camping and homeless encampments on public property in the downtown or anywhere else on city property.
