Why are you running for East Lansing City Council?
I want to continue to play an active role in keeping East Lansing a progressive, engaged community. I bring an experienced perspective not possessed by much of the current Council. That perspective includes more than a decade of municipal experience and a thorough understanding of and familiarity with the development process, urbanism, planning, and zoning.
What are your main policy goals if elected to East Lansing City Council?
Since the beginning of my campaign, I have stressed the following aims:
Emphasizing experienced leadership; empowering and retaining city staff
Maintaining and strengthening East Lansing's relationship with Michigan State University
Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, specifically pertaining to budgeting and planning/zoning
What makes you stand out from the other candidates running?
My commitment to serve the City, which led to my decision to run for City Council, did not develop within the last few years. Beginning in 2008, I served for six years – two full terms – on the Historic District Commission. 2021 marks my sixth year as member of the Planning Commission, where I have served as Chair for the past four years. Related committee work includes the city’s Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board, the Rental License Transfer Pilot Program, the Comprehensive Plan’s Urban Form Committee, the Non-conforming Use Committee, and the “Shaping the Avenue” Form-based Code Committee.
This experience provides me with an understanding of the formalities of parliamentary procedure, the workings of municipal government, and greater appreciation for the subjects addressed by the different commissions and committees. In these undertakings, I repeatedly sought opportunities to apply my judgment, knowledge and experience to bridge the gap between city and applicant needs.
How would you improve the city’s relationship with Michigan State University?
As noted above, maintaining and strengthening the relationship between the university and city has been one of my main goals. I had a brief conversation with MSU’s community relations staff, who believe that President Stanley will be open to future efforts. More immediately, there are sufficient opportunities to interact, including student and faculty participation with city boards and commissions. During my time on the Planning Commission, three different students have served as members.
Likewise, I would encourage East Lansing citizen involvement across Grand River. For my part, I have served as a mentor to interior design students, reviewed landscape architecture final presentations and conducted campus walking tours during several spring Science Festivals. I have also taught as an adjunct instructor in two construction management classes.
How do you plan on involving residents in East Lansing to build a better community?
As I noted above, the City has established numerous boards and commissions who are available to advise the City Council on a range of subjects. Vacancies on these bodies are common, so anyone interested in participating can likely be accommodated.
East Lansing faces serious budget challenges and it will be important for members of Council to seek diverse public input in order to reach a balanced consensus. The city possesses limited resources and often faces competing opinions regarding the topics of conservation versus development, or public safety and police oversight. During my canvassing this past summer, I talked with some residents want to exclude rental opportunities within our single family zones. Others have called for an increase in available, entry-level housing within these neighborhoods. As an architect, I can help achieve both of these seemingly competing aims through design, minor compromise and adjustments to our current zoning code. Naturally, citizen input will be essential, both through boards and commissions and through regular public communications.
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