I have been part of the Keego Harbor community for more than 50 years and bring decades of business, redevelopment, and leadership experience. I have owned and operated businesses in Detroit since 1981, Pontiac since 1988, and Ferndale since 2000. My background includes concert promotion, venues such as St. Andrew’s Hall and Clutch Cargo’s, restaurant ownership including Imperial in Ferndale, and restoring more than 10 historic buildings.
I am running because Keego Harbor needs lasting change at City Hall—change in how we listen, communicate, spend taxpayer dollars, attract investment, and serve residents. I will bring independence, persistence, and a willingness to ask difficult questions. Every tax dollar should be watched carefully and spent with a clear purpose: improving safety, roads, neighborhoods, services, and opportunities that benefit residents and their families. City Hall should be transparent, accountable, professional, responsive, and focused on residents first.
1)Transparency & Trust: Residents should know what City Hall is doing before major decisions are made. I will push for clearer agendas, easier access to financial information, earlier public involvement, and a simple online dashboard showing major projects, spending, and progress.
2)Responsible Spending & Stronger Services: Every tax dollar should produce a clear benefit for residents and families. I will review spending closely, compare budgeted versus actual costs, require competitive pricing when appropriate, and prioritize public safety, roads, parks, neighborhoods, and essential services.
3)Economic Development: Keego Harbor needs to actively recruit businesses residents want. I will work with property owners, TIFA, and regional partners to fill vacant storefronts and specifically pursue a neighborhood grocery/produce market, while making City Hall predictable and welcoming to responsible investment.
I’m running because the more involved I’ve gotten in Keego Harbor, the more I’ve seen opportunities where I genuinely think I can help. I’ve attended meetings, dug through city records and plans, applied to serve on TIFA, and talked with residents. I keep coming back to the same thing: we have good ideas, but I want to help move them into action.
I hold an MSA in Leadership and a BA in Communication Studies. I’m a lifelong volunteer, military spouse, caregiver, advocate, and Department of Defense logistics and acquisition professional. I lead people, manage competing priorities and taxpayer-funded resources, interpret complex policy, and solve problems across organizations.
At 32, I'm youngest candidate on the ballot. Age alone doesn’t qualify anyone to serve, but I believe Keego benefits when different generations and life experiences are represented. I’m qualified to do the work, and I would bring a perspective largely missing from our current leadership.
Connected Communication: Fix the website, organize records so information is easy to find, expand text/email alerts, and make it easier for residents to interact with City Hall
Environmental Stewardship: Protect our lakes by prioritizing stormwater, shoreline and water-quality needs, pursuing outside funding, and considering environmental impacts from the start of development and infrastructure decisions
Local Business & Economic Vitality: Support existing businesses, use TIFA and Main Street resources effectively, learn from successful peer cities, and actively pursue redevelopment opportunities with clear goals and timelines
For me these aren't all separate issues but are part of making Keego Harbor future-ready. Being future-ready means not waiting until something becomes a problem to act. It means planning ahead, learning from what works elsewhere, and thoughtfully integrating practical technology that makes city services more efficient and accessible. More at naomirivera.com
