The Oakland County Bar Foundation (OCBF) promotes and funds programs designed to increase access, affordability, and understanding of the law and legal system. He is married with five children and has been an OCC trustee since 2002. I became a social worker after interacting with child protective services as a child. I know first-hand that seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome when individuals have access to the appropriate resources, services and supports. See a list below of all the candidates for county offices below and read some of the platforms and bios of candidates who responded to our survey requests. Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy. . Oxford residents Justine Willcock (Dem) and Michael Spisz (incumbent, Rep) will run against each other to represent residents as the Oakland County Commissioner for the 5 th District. Related Articles. What are your accomplishments as commissioner? Why are you running for the Board of Commissioners? OCRP MENU VOLUNTEER JOIN OCRP ABOUT THE OCRP. Too much work is done behind closed doors and delegated to agencies that are not directly accountable to the people. I am seeking re-election to continue the projects I have been working on over my last term. Citizens should not be overruled and cut off, especially when they come to voice their concerns at county commission meetings. Oakland County, Michigan / Board of Commissioners. I also work with the communities I serve to make sure they are current on county activities along with ways to support their needs. We must also use these funds to support our local businesses and continue to bring employers to Oakland County. I have been married to my wife, Michelle, for 22 years and we have two daughters and a dog. I decided to run for Oakland County Commissioner based on the wasteful spending that is taking place by our commission, the non-transparency that is taking place with meetings behind closed doors, and work that is being delegated to agencies that are not directly accountable to the people. It is a useful benefit to hold developers accountable when seeking government subsidies or project approvals. My vote on the new county commission will join others to open the process to the light of day so the people can watch and judge our actions. Member of County pandemic response team during initial phase of COVID -19 pandemic. Like so many others, I felt that my voice was not being heard in local, state and especially federal government. The second is making sure our economy continues to thrive. I am also a mom to four young daughters. #3 Provide our Sheriffs Department with the funds needed to hire and supply tools they need to keep our communities safe. I have lived in my district for 27 years. Oakland Community College is governed by a seven-person Board of Trustees. Parts of Oakland are represented in Areas 3, 5 and 7 Responsibilities: Taxpayer funds are being wasted by the commission such as $3 million to the job-killing World Economic Fund, which will likely steal jobs from Oakland County rather than create. L.E.O./Kitefest; Operation Injured Soldiers; Huron River Watershed Council; Milford Memories & War Dog Memorial. Working hands-on as a special education teacher and a behavior analyst have instilled the values of persistence, compassion and problem solving, and I will continue to put that spirit to work for constituents. Most of my time on the commission is spent in oversight and planning for Oakland Countys $1 Billion budget each year. This and the environmental concerns facing us require a creative and progressive vision. Some are still in the queue for editing and will be posted soon. A meeting of the Finance Committee will be held on Wednesday, February 22 at 11 a.m. For information on how to watch meetings or participate in public comment, please click here . Sep 12 2022. I will review policy and proposals with an environmental benefit perspective including LEED and EGLE standards. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. The members of the board are elected on a non-partisan, at-large basis by voters living within the college district, an area that generally coincides with the boundaries of Oakland County. Entrepreneurs and small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and especially our local economy here in Oakland County as they drive employment, pay taxes, increase GDP, and are valued members in any community. COVID-19 Meeting Access Notice For far too long, public education has been defunded, resulting in larger class sizes and teacher shortages. We must protect our parks and natural spaces: Our natural spaces, including parks, trails, inland lakes and recreation areas, have always made Oakland County the best place to live and work. to help transition, say, an internal combustion engineer at Stellantis to the world of electric vehicles. We need to address the affordable housing situation. I believe the marketplace, not politicians and bureaucrats, should determine which jobs are essential and which are not. You can find results for Oakland Community College Board of Trustees here. In my 30-plus years as an insurance agent, I have read complex legal contracts and agreements to make sure my clients liability exposures are covered. This is my home and I want to give back to my community and fight to be their voice. Notre Dame Preparatory School enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. I am running for re-election in order to continue to serve the community and help others. He's also president of the California Association of Black School Educators and he previously was a member of the Alameda County Public Health Commission.. RECENT NEWS. I want Oakland County to set the standard for the present and future in all these areas. 2022 Candidate Interviews and Election Information. This means assuring not only that students at Oakland University are prepared for the challenges of the world ahead, but how can the county leverage programs like Michigan Works! Young people and others struggle to find affordable homes and apartments. I am a fiscal conservative and will always work to find ways to save the county and our taxpayers money. My wife, Erika, and I have two children, Addison (12) and Kailer (10). Voters should re-elect me because I am sensitive to all issues that concern the well being of every resident and will fight for our countys recovery. I have lived in Oakland County for most of my life and I want to continue to make sure the county remains one of the best counties in the Country. At the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, I currently serve as SEMCOG Vice Chair as well as a member of the Management and Budget subcommittee. It specifies the benefits that the developer will bring to our community. Why are you running for the Board of Commissioners? During most of that time, Oakland County was the envy of the nation for its competent, business-like management. Why are you running again for county commission and why should voters re-elect you? Sponsored Oakland County Mental Health grant for Oakland Schools, which provides $175,000 to each school district in the county to address students mental health needs. They must be addressed responsibly without negatively labeling people. What are your accomplishments as commissioner? In 2020, I was elected as a precinct delegate in Orion Townships 6th Precinct and that work has reinforced my belief that local government is where its at local government is where one can effect the most change in ones community. I love where I grew up, think its a great place to live, and I have the experience and know-how to help it continue to be so. No time for QUITTING! #2 Protect our AAA bond rating to keep our financial outlook positive, which will keep both residential and commercial property taxes low, bring business to our county and make it cheaper for us to borrow money, if needed. I have been a commissioner 10-plus years and truly enjoy public service, giving back to the community and I want to keep Oakland County one of the best places to live, work, play and prosper. Tell us about yourself in 200 words or less: I am a wife married to a wonderful man and a mother to three beautiful children. Share this post. The Honorable Jay Costa, JD is a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the 43rd district, which encompasses the townships of Penn Hills and Wilkins; the boroughs of Baldwin, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, Edgewood, Forest Hills, Homestead, Munhall, Swissvale, Verona, West Homestead, West . HEADLINE NEWS. County government needs to return to serving the people of the county, not bullying them or making them dependent. Im a lifelong Oakland County resident, born and raised in the District I represent. The division accepts filings for office and petitions for recall, prepares and prints ballots, programs voting equipment, provides training to election officials and coordinates the certification of . I would be the youngest member and only openly LGBT member of the commission: two voices that are sorely needed in elected chambers. Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Board of Trustees. 538 were here. Boyd Farnam. Fax: (248) 370-4201. joshuamerchant@oakland.edu. . I bring many different benefits and aspects to the Board of Commissioners from my career as an engineer and management roles. I will ensure that all tax dollars particularly the countys $247 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds are spent/invested as intended, wisely and costs are contained. I will propose and vote for steps that make us carbon free. I hope to be part of the solution to life quality issues in District 13. Get to know the candidates running for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. . Not only do schools help to build well-educated citizens who are ready to meet the future challenges of our community, but schools are also a source of employment for residents and we know that school performance directly impact property values, making public schools a monetary investment for all residents. By returning their tax dollars, the people become free to support the initiatives they not the politicians value through the free market. We citizens took it for granted and our leaders were unprepared for the passing of county executive L. Brooks Patterson. I have worked to allocate federal dollars to nonprofits and local businesses to strengthen their budgets. Candidates for two, six-year terms ? It was self-rewarding to contribute to the county I lived in. Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel. $1.5 million of those funds would have helped our Oakland Countys Sheriffs Department that saw its budget sliced by $1.5 million. Second, focus on rebuilding our small businesses and create incentives for entrepreneurs to want to open small businesses in our county. We are in a time where police and sheriff departments need additional funding to fight the rise in crime and mass shootings, such as the Oxford High School tragedy in our own county! Foreign Service, Georgetown University. I am a proud supporter of our veterans as I serve on the annual committee for our Wounded Warriors and Fallen Soldiers charity gala. I did not take the decision to run for county commissioner lightly, nor the decision of running against an incumbent of my party, but after much thought and encouragement, I committed to running for this office. The 2020 General Election will be held on November 3. The focus of our team is to build: Thriving communities, happy and healthy people, and smart business. Current job: Chief Operating Officer FordDirect, Education: Bachelor of Science, Oakland University; Master of Business Administration, Wayne State University. by admin Jan 30 2023. It is time to start investing in public education again. In local government, one has the opportunity to work with people on local issues that affect us all. 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