Kalamazoo County Commissioner

Kalamazoo County Commission
Two-Year Term — Vote for One Per District

Q1. Housing is a key aspect of the way communities grow. Do you believe that quality housing should be available for people of all income levels in every community? What would you do to ensure a range of housing choices in the County? [70 word limit]
Q2. What are the major environmental issues facing our County and how should they be resolved? [70 word limit
Q3. How should the County support economic development and job creation, including low-paying service-related jobs and employment for youth, as well as professional employment? [70 word limit]
Q4. What are your top priorities for the County in the coming two years? [70 word limit]

District 1
City: Kalamazoo [precincts 2, 20, 21, 24]

Daniel P. McGlinn
Democrat. Age 43. Attorney, business and health law. B.A., economics, MSU, 1984; J.D., U of Detroit, Mercy School of Law, 1991. County Commissioner, 2000–04; Vice Chairperson, County Board, 2002–04; board member: Northside Business Association, WMU Center for Disability Services, Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study (KATS).

1. Because of the need for more affordable housing in our area, I supported the creation of the County’s Public Housing Authority and the recent expansion of its powers, and will continue to support efforts to increase affordable housing throughout our county. We must continue to seek additional Federal Section 8 rent subsidy vouchers, and encourage coordination among the many local private initiatives addressing the issue of affordable housing.

2. This year, our region was designated as a federal nonattainment area for ozone pollution. Because attainment is required by 2009, all governmental units in our region must begin working together on ozone compliance strategies, or face limitations on development activities. We must also continue to advocate for the clean-up of the Kalamazoo River, and continue enforcement of county-level environmental protection laws, e.g., soil erosion ordinance.

3. The County should continue to help fund Southwest Michigan First’s efforts to attract new and diverse businesses (e.g., WMU’s BTR Park), and redevelop idle brownfield sites (e.g., Midlink / the GM plant), because a growing economy will create jobs for all age groups. We should also support regional collaboration on development initiatives, and continue to seek enhanced transportation infrastructure to support economic development.

4. (a) Place a reasonable proposal before voters in 2005 to fund the replacement of our juvenile home, expansion of our county jail, and the implementation of preventive and restorative criminal justice programs. (b) Adopt innovative and collaborative programs with other local governmental units which save money and improve governmental services, e.g., centralized 911 dispatch. (c) Continue to implement “best practices” in all county operations.

District 2
City: Kalamazoo [precincts 7, 8, 9, 11]

Eva L. Ozier
Democrat. Age 72. Retired. Assoc. degree, KVCC; Bachelor’s and M.A. degrees, WMU. Resident of Kalamazoo, 53 yrs. Mother of six, grandmother, great-grandmother. Educator. Served in many capacities as a means of providing services to the homeless, low-income, and senior citizens. Served the community for several yrs as parent liaison. Taught grades kindergarten, first and second grades. County commissioner, 19-1/2 yrs.

1. Yes! I believe housing should be available for all families and individuals of all income levels in every community. To attain this I would work with and through the Housing Authority to develop ways of providing available housing for all levels of income.

2. There is a greater need for recycling throughout the Kalamazoo County communities. There should be a greater demand on residents to separate waste, and separate containers provided if the need arises.

3. The County should continue its support for economic development through Southwest Michigan First. The County has a large number of employees. Therefore the County could take the lead on providing on-the-job training for many of its positions. For the youth of the community there could be a creation of a career development program that could assist our youth with on-the-job training as well as choosing a career.

4. Maintaining funds to meet the needs of the programs for the needy, senior citizens, low income. Jail overcrowding, jobs, and housing for the homeless.

District 3
City: Kalamazoo [precincts 1, 3, 13, 23]. Township: Kalamazoo [precinct 11]

Robert M. Barnard
Democrat. Age 38. Heavy truck maintenance, driver. Lakeview H.S. graduate; 4 yrs, aviation engineering, WMU; Community Builders graduate. Edison Neighborhood Association Board President, Treasurer; Building Blocks, participant/supervisor; Edison Weed and Seed, Steering Committee member. Volunteer for Edison Blossoms, Edison Bike Parade, National Night Out Celebrations, Community Gardens, Lighting Projects and Edison Easter Celebration. Committee member of Homeless Advisory Council, Public Health Advisory, Brownfield Redevelopment.

1. Quality mixed income housing is a necessity in growing or redeveloping any community or neighborhood. It is the community leader’s, and the community as a whole, duty to ensure that any housing development meets the needs of the surrounding environment. Through creative grant writing and searching of best practices across the nation, developers can be brought into the community to create just such a development.

2. The major environmental issues are primarily the clean-up left to us by the paper industry. These sites need to be remediated as soon as possible as funds become available. During the process care must be taken so as not to end up with another KL Landfill type situation. This care will ensure that no further damage is done to our water resources and river system.

3. The county should continue with its agreement to supply finances to Southwest Michigan First. This next agreement should include more definitive goals, objectives and reporting criteria on what has been done with the funding and how it has benefited the entire county. We have seen the performance of this group, and it can leverage jobs to all income levels in an appropriate economic atmosphere.

4. Top goals for myself, as with most all other Commissioners, is to provide the county with plan to build new Jail and Juvenile Home without millage. Secondary goals include finding any areas within budget that can be reduced without sacrificing services or jobs, cooperate with other local governments to create environment that will attract new business and in as much as possible help educate those constituents that I come in contact. . . .

District 4
City: Kalamazoo [precincts 4, 5, 12, 14, 22, 26]

Dennis Jokela
Republican. Age 49. Property Manger, Allen Edwin Homes. Education: Portage Public Schools and KVCC. Vice chair, Co-chair, and Chair of Arcadia Elementary and Hillside Middle School Parents Assoc. and tennis coach. 27 yrs experience, business management. 2005 Kalamazoo Central Grad Bash, co-chair; Kalamazoo Central High School, operating budget committee; Women’s Tennis Boosters, chair; Veteran of Vietnam and Cambodia.

1. I do believe quality housing should be available to everyone. I would support the Housing Authorities initiatives and encourage new initiatives. I would support initiatives in the county such as Habitat, faith-based organizations, Home Builders quick-build housing, and multi-family housing starts.

2. Watershed management is an area in which strides have been made but we must continue the effort to help ensure a quality water supply.

3. We need to continue to fund Southwest Michigan First to help encourage and attract new business. By helping local businesses grow and attracting new large businesses the professional sector would grow. With an increase in professional jobs, service-related jobs would increase as a spin-off.

4. I would work hard to help retain current businesses and attract new large businesses. We should expand our diversity so as to not be dependant on a few major businesses. I would work with state and federal new initiatives to expand our local economy. We need to explore alternatives in law enforcement. Local law enforcement needs our support and yet law enforcement needs to be accountable fiscally and otherwise.

John Patrick Taylor
Democrat. Self-employed business owner, half owner of T@G properties. Part owner of Clarke Detroit Diesel Allison and Clarke Detroit Fire-pump Division; previously served on their Board of Directors. Company had over 100 million in sales last year. Held part-time job through college working for the Sierra Club, as well as PIRGIM.

1. I have served on our county’s Housing Expansion Ad-Hoc Committee. We recently made a suggestion (with the help of ISAAC) to expand our powers provided to the housing commission. Home ownership is very important to the economic viability to our county. I would like to see our Housing Authority have a “graduation” to home ownership. With credit counseling and other services our working poor could one day own their own home.

2. KL landfill site is nearing completion. While I would have liked to see more flexibility by EPA and DEQ in methods, at least we will be done with it in couple of years. County currently has our share of funds in reserve account; we need to make sure transition goes as smoothly as possible. We also need to be more proactive in decision-making process by maintaining funding to recycling and beach water testing.

3. I have always felt a two-pronged approach to economic development works the best. While we need to maintain funding to our economic engines like Southwest Michigan First and others, we also have to be conscious about our quality of life in Kalamazoo. We need to have safe clean friendly neighborhoods so that businesses find our community an attractive place to locate.

4. We have quite a few important issues facing Kalamazoo County: outdated justice facilities, public transportation, many others. One of the more important issues facing our county and other local entities is continual reduction in revenue sharing. With state and federal governments cutting taxes and not reducing their own spending, we at local level suffer. We must be creative and work with other communities to find most cost-effective way to provide services.

District 5
City: Kalamazoo [precinct 6]. Townships: Kalamazoo [precincts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15], Oshtemo [precinct 6]

Brian Johnson
Democrat. Age 53. CEO, B. R. Johnson Corp. Attended U of Michigan. Kalamazoo County Commission, 4 terms, 1986–92, 2003–04. Former: Legislative Aide for Rep. Mary Brown (House Committee on Insurance), Legislative Aide for Ed LaForge (House Committee on Human Services and Children), Registered Representative in Securities and Insurance business.

1. Affordable housing is a key ingredient to prosperity in any community. As a member of the ad hoc committee on expanding powers of the county’s Housing Commission, I have and will continue to advocate for innovative methods to increase the supply of quality affordable housing. This will require issuance of revenue bonds by Housing Commission resulting in property purchase and revenue followed by housing trust fund and new strategies for homeownership.

2. Major environmental issues facing county government include water quality and land use planning, which are interrelated. As business and residential development expands and uses more land, infrastructure does not keep pace. Result is too many septic tanks where there is dependence on well water. The county should continue and, if possible, enhance groundwater protection program. County should continue to support and encourage redevelopment of urban core. All this requires land use strategy. . . .

3. The county should support economic development and job creation by continuing to support Southwest Michigan First and the Poverty Reduction Initiative both financially and through proactive leadership. Also, I will continue to participate in efforts to eliminate economic deprivation as a risk factor for young people. The result will be a healthy, productive, and cooperative future.

4. Top priorities for county government in the coming two years should center around criminal justice and crime prevention. This requires a balanced approach, which includes facilities, law enforcement staffing, intervention and prevention. Specifically, we need to ask voters for bond millage to purchase a new juvenile home and jail additions, and we need to ask voters for companion operating millage to staff facilities, fund best practice prevention / intervention programs, fund KVET.

District 6
City: Kalamazoo [precinct 10]. Township: Kalamazoo [precincts 1, 2, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14]

Louis Meinema
Republican. Age 65. Full-time volunteer, 2 Kalamazoo Township boards, 2 Kalamazoo City advisory boards. Non-profit charitable organization, board chair. Christian Reformed Church, Regional Clerk. Kalamazoo Christian H.S., graduate. Numerous management courses, Postal Academy and other institutions. Educated in management skills, e.g., budgeting, accounting, interpersonal skills, labor relations. Citizen Planner Program, MSU. Construction, family greenhouse business, U.S. Postal Service, 28 yrs, ending as Postmaster. Retired, 5 yrs.

1. Quality housing is essential to the welfare of a community. This can take many forms ranging from owner occupied to rental and even subsidized housing if necessary. As a Kalamazoo Township Planning Commissioner this is one of the tasks we are involved with. We have provided zoning and a land use plan that provides space for all these various types of uses, including a Multiple Use possibility.

2. The County can make this part of their short- and long-range planning. The County never will have more square miles than it currently does. The County can be catalyst in networking with local Planning Commissions to ensure adequate green/open space and protect its natural resources.

3. Again the County Commission and the County staff can assist and guide the local units of government in a combined effort to market the community and its well-trained residents to new and existing businesses. The County cannot “create” jobs but it can assist in making this an attractive area to do business.

4. (a) Economic growth, market the community and assist in training the workforce. (b) Quality housing, provide plans to build and maintain quality dwelling units. (c) Good justice system, build and maintain good facilities and provide well-trained employees to operate them. (d) Environmental safety, establish community-wide guidelines and methods to retain and improve open space.

Franklin C. Thompson
Democrat. Age 78. Kalamazoo County Commissioner, District 6. Morrell Grade School, Allegan County, 8 yrs; Plainwell H.S., 4 yrs. Worked on farms as youth. U.S. Navy, 4 yrs. Factory work before and after military service. Kalamazoo Police Department, 25 yrs. Attended various universities and colleges in Michigan And Illinois, reference to law enforcement, supervision, management, accident investigation, instructor’s school.

1. Yes. We need a Kalamazoo County Housing Authority.

2. (a) Kalamazoo River and (b) Kalamazoo Landfill on West KL Ave. The dams on the Kalamazoo River should be removed and be dredged out so the flow of water will clean itself.

3. Work with large and small companies that want to invest and stay in Kalamazoo County.

4. Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home and Kalamazoo County Jail. The whole criminal justice system. Finding the ways and means to accomplishing this project, we must work with all units of government.

District 7
City: Kalamazoo [precincts 15, 16, 17, 18, 19]

David R. Buskirk
Democrat. Age 53. County Commissioner, 6 terms. Life-long resident of Kalamazoo. Electrician/Project Manager.

1. Yes. Keep participating in the local task force to insure we get our share of grant funding for housing projects. Also concentrate on jobs and job retention so people can afford housing. It is the economy that needs attention, and jobs are the engine to that train.

2. Clean air and water. Continue to support stormwater issues and improvements and support our current drain commissioner in the effort to enforce current rules and regs.

3. Continue to support Southwest Michigan First and other organizations like our local workforce development board.

4. Our declining income and budget issues, and law enforcement issues, which include the need for a new Juvenile Home and Jail.

District 8
City: Portage [precincts 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 17]

John W. Zull
Republican. Age 63. Retired government teacher, Portage Public Schools. B.A., M.A., political science, WMU. Portage City Councilman, 1987–2000. County Commissioner, 2 terms. Married to one wife, 42 yrs; daughter Julie, married, 2 children; son Jon, married, 2 children. Active member, Portage Free Methodist Church. Committee member, 36 yrs, Portage City and Kalamazoo County, Lions Club, Rotary Club.

1. Recently the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, I serve on, adopted the establishment of a fully empowered County Housing Authority. There is no utopian answer to housing needs, but this is probably the best any community could do to try and provide for those housing needs.

2. KL Avenue Landfill contamination and Kalamazoo River PCB contamination sites. Both issues have been under study by a coalition of parties and plans for remediating under EPA and State oversight. We may be close to finally closing these cases of environmental hazards.

3. This Board of Commissioners has done more to promote economic development than any in the history of Kalamazoo County. Partnering with other local units in the Southwest Michigan First coalition of private parties to promote new growth industries through WMU, and the Midlink Industries restoration of the old GM plant on Sprinkle Road.

4. To place an acceptable millage proposal on the ballot in 2005 to build a new Jail and new Juvenile Home. To find ways to cut unnecessary County expenditures in order to balance the budget. Intergovernmental cooperation and collaboration on issues like KVET, and a transportation authority.

Ruth Ann Meyer
Democrat. Age 68. Retired, taught health, physical education and recreation, WMU. Bachelor’s, U of Northern Iowa; Master’s, U of Northern Colorado; Ph.D., U of Iowa. No previous public offices. Various professional organizations as president and as committee chairs/members. Women’s Physical Education Department chair, Assistant Athletic Director, WMU, 1970s. Currently KARSP legislative chair, and work with Kalamazoo Co. Advocates for Seniors organization.

1. There needs to be encouragement to citizens to own their own property as well as rental property meeting standards for decent living. This is directly related to job opportunities and transportation. The Board needs to continue the work with the strategic plan of “intergovernmental cooperation and community collaboration.” The concern is that each governmental agency has their zoning laws that contribute to the difficulty of housing choice.

2. This is a complex issue: monies, citizens’ understanding of environmental issues (water and land usage), and private land ownership rights are all factors. The intergovernmental cooperation needs to take action and develop a proposal on development rights, where informing and educating our citizens as to how their actions effect our environment. Citizens need factual information as how their recycling efforts are reducing pollution, costs, etc.

3. The strategic plan developed by the present Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners has stated goals that seem feasible. The County can encourage cooperation/dialogue between local jurisdictions and local economic development entities. Again the citizens need to have facts presented to them related to low-paying jobs/related benefits and the costs to the community for not providing adequate employment. This is related to the affordable housing issue.

4. (a) The concern for the criminal justice facilities is inherited from the present board. (b) Seniors issues: housing, medical care, quality of life. (c) Housing. (d) Jobs, economic development.

District 9
Cities: Kalamazoo [precinct 25], Portage [precincts 7, 8, 11, 15, 20]

Nasim Ansari
Republican. Age 57. Adjunct Professor. M.B.A.; chemistry. Portage resident, 27 yrs. Kalamazoo County Commissioner, County Parks Commissioner, Local Emergency Planning Committee, local government employee. Portage City Councilman. Kalamazoo County Environmental Health Advisory Council, Portage Lions Club, Portage Groundwater Commission. Board of Directors Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau, Local Development Finance Authority, Vice Chair Inter-governmental Cooperation Committee. Married, four children.

1. Yes, housing is key. It is possible by encouraging and supporting families in acquiring single-family dwellings. Can be achieved with: Lower interest rates and taxes; FHA loans, GI bill, MSHDA and Habitat for Humanity. I voted for the increase of PHC authority because Public Housing Commission was ineffective and was unable to capture any Section 8 vouchers, when there were no funds available at the Federal level.

2. The major environmental issues facing our county are keeping soil, surface and groundwater from contamination. There are known areas of contaminated sites, i.e., KL Landfill, brownfields and Kalamazoo River. Can be resolved by timely clean-up and educating the public. What is dumped, spilled or buried could eventually contaminate surface and ground water.

3. We must promote policies that will retain existing and attract new businesses to the county, combine resources of the public and private sectors to effectively promote economical diversification and create job opportunities for the benefit of the region. Favorable taxes, skilled work force, and necessary infrastructure would be incentives to prospective investors.

4. These are challenging times with local job losses and reduction in state and local revenues, therefore we need to do our best to keep taxes low while promoting economic development. We must also allocate sufficient resources to ensure public safety, and we need to encourage intergovernmental cooperation.

Lowell Seyburn
Democrat. Age 57. Lawyer. A.B. (1968), J.D. (1971), U of Michigan. District resident, 3 decades. Past president, Congregation of Moses, Jewish Federation of Kalamazoo & Southwest Michigan. Former Asst. Portage City Attorney. Portage Economic Development Corporation, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Environmental Board, Human Resources Board. Groundwater Commission. Kalamazoo County Board of Public Works; Western Michigan Legal Services (Legal Aid). Married 35 yrs; 2 children.

1. Yes. The County Commission has little direct input into zoning or housing issues. I would support all local initiatives by local cities and townships to provide a variety of housing types throughout the county as well as state and federal initiatives to provide low- and moderate-income housing.

2. Protection of groundwater, Kalamazoo River clean-up, contamination of lakes and protection of wetlands, recycling and solid waste disposal. County should support local, state and federal initiatives in all these areas. We should set example in recycling within county facilities; initiatives to monitor new construction and private water and septic systems and encourage connection to public water and sewer assistance. All our residents are dependent upon groundwater supply for drinking water. . . .

3. The county should encourage public/private partnerships in the creation of entry-level jobs and development of job skills through internships/apprenticeships and summer employment (budget restrictions permitting). The county should work more closely with employers and organizations within the county to encourage economic growth. We should develop a more standardized land use plan and infrastructure maps so that prospective businesses will view the county as a whole as one economic unit.

4. Economic development, Public Safety, and budget efficiency. We need to attract new businesses and encourage existing businesses to expand in West Michigan. We must provide the infrastructure (roads, sewers, water, parks, and quality schools) in order to attract new jobs and maintain good relations with our existing employers. Government units must cooperate to provide lower costs in providing essential services.

District 10
City: Portage [precincts 1, 9, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21]

Thomas C. Drabik
Republican. Age 53. Married, four children attending Portage Public Schools. Area chair, Management Studies, U of Phoenix, (West Michigan campus); M.A., organizational management, U of Phoenix; B.A., advertising, MSU. Executive Committee, Michigan WORKS Association (statewide); Board of Directors, Kalamazoo Regional Chamber; Kalamazoo/St. Joseph Counties Workforce Development Board; chair, Kalamazoo County Strategic Plan Economic Development Task Force. Portage resident since 1989.

1. As an acknowledgement of our housing needs, I voted with the Commission to expand the capabilities of our Public Housing Authority (subject to Commission oversight). We should continue to investigate methods of attracting private sector investment to our local housing market.

2. We will continue to work with all parties for mutually beneficial remediation of the KL Landfill issue. We also must support efforts to clean up the Kalamazoo River from PCB contamination as we improve the safety, attractiveness, and economic development potential of this valuable local asset.

3. We must continue to support the job attraction efforts of Southwest Michigan First. I have actively worked at the state and local level to help optimize the effectiveness of the Michigan WORKS jobs programs, while striving to create synergies between Southwest Michigan First, the Chamber, the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, and local educational institutions to provide training and job opportunities for our citizens.

4. The state budget crisis, and its reduced revenue sharing consequences, will result in unprecedented challenges to our ability to provide governmental services. We must look for more internal efficiencies. Public safety is a top priority, and we must offer the public an acceptable millage proposal for new and/or expanded jail and juvenile facilities. Intergovernmental cooperation will become increasingly more important as we face new challenges on a county-wide level.

Ed Morgan
Democrat. Age 60. Manager/Coordinator, Adult Foster Home. Assoc. degree, business administration. Adjunct Instructor, Lake Michigan College. Youth counselor, Berrien County Juvenile Center. Staff Specialist, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), labor organization

1. Quality housing should be available for people of all income levels in every community. As Kalamazoo County Commissioner I will encourage the Board of Commissioners to work with the Community Action Board, Public Housing Commission and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to explore ways of insuring that residents of this county can attain quality housing that is affordable. The Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors should be included in this effort.

2. It’s important to protect our environment. We are fortunate to have an abundant supply of groundwater in Kalamazoo County. The Environmental Health Advisory Council should continue the free testing program, and provide funding ensuring we meet our goals for clean water, and all other environmental issues affecting the citizens of Kalamazoo County. I believe the Public Health Advisory Council must work with the EHAC to maintain a healthy environment.

3. I strongly believe Kalamazoo County has lost far too many jobs through businesses outsourcing from Kalamazoo County. We should, in every way possible, support the Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors in an effort to reduce outsourcing, and to assist local industrial and commercial businesses in their development and expansion programs. There should be an initiative aimed at encouraging new businesses to establish and operate in Kalamazoo County.

4. (a) Community Safety and Justice. Alleviate overcrowding by expanding programs for non-violent offenders. Work on improving juvenile and court facilities in the coming years. (b) Health and Human Services. We should work with the Community Mental Health Board to provide adequate services for recipients. (c) Community and Economic Development. Reduce outsourcing of jobs. Developing initiatives aimed at bring new business into the county. (d) Environmental Protection. Protecting our county’s environment.

District 11
City: Portage [precinct 10]. Township: Texas

Grady G. Biby
Republican. Age 64. Owner, Custom Surfacing Ltd., construction company, 1995–present. Mechanical Engineer & B.B.A. Retired: U.S. Navy Submarine Service, Consumers Energy. Formerly, Texas Township ZBA and various committees. County Commissioner serving on Emergency Planning Board, Intergovernmental Governmental Cooperation Committee, Housing Committee, Local Development Finance Authority for WMU Business, Technology & Research Park, Fairgrounds Focus Group, Kalamazoo County Committee and Board Interview and Recommendation Committee.

1. Good quality housing should be available to all county residents. While on the Housing Committee, I actively supported the expansion of the Housing Authority (HA). I continue to support the HA in its endeavors to buy, sell, own, manage and subsidize lower income housing through rental and ownership programs. The HA now has the ability to provide lower income housing which benefit the poor, elderly, and unfortunate.

2. The major environmental issues facing the County are continued clean-up and development of the brownfield areas in the core city and the Kalamazoo River. We continue to be subjected to air pollution caused by industry across Lake Michigan. Health Department funds to protect the aquifer must be maintained as continued migration from the cities into the out counties causes concern for the groundwater.

3. The County should continue its support of Southwest Michigan First and its endeavors to stimulate the economy through attraction of new companies to the area. Expansion of the airport will help draw new companies through improved quality of life. KVCC needs to expand its technical trades education as statistics show an ever increasing shortage in these fields.

4. The long-term solution to overcrowding at the County Jail and State Prison is increased education to provide alternative life paths. In the short term there is an enormous need for a new Juvenile Facility and improvements to the County Jail. We are simply holding juvenile and adult law-breakers until we have to release them. We need facilities and programs which provide marketable skills the incarcerated can use when returned to society.

Bobby Jones
Democrat
Did not respond in time for publication.

District 12
Township: Oshtemo [precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9]

Bob Brink
Republican
Did not respond in time for publication.

Lisa Minott
Democrat
Did not respond in time for publication.

District 13
City: Parchment. Townships: Alamo and Cooper.

Deb Buchholtz-Hiemstra
Republican. Age 37. Finance and Accounting. B.A., U of M; M.B.A., U of Chicago. 4-year incumbent, 2-year chair of County Board. Helped establish and expand an international trade company specializing in carbon-based commodities; currently chief financial officer. Current chair, Kalamazoo County GOP. Mentor to young student. Formerly international employment recruiter, small business consultant and manager of family restaurant business.

1. Affordable housing is an important component of and essential to the health of every community. The Board’s expansion of powers for the Public Housing Authority helps lay the foundation for a more coordinated, effective and collaborative effort for the creation of additional affordable housing. The Board and PHA must now work together and with other public, private and non-profit entities to marshal and focus limited resources to maximize their impact.

2. Rapid and sensible Kalamazoo River clean up, attainment of new air quality standards, and reutilization of brownfields are important community priorities. The County can use its power to influence, advocate and lead efforts to protect these natural resources and safeguard economic and community assets. The County should continue to be good stewards by directly monitoring surface water quality and proper septic system operation and develop an improved self-financing park system.

3. I have been actively involved with and supportive of Southwest Michigan First’s dual focus on conventional aspects of economic development and acquiring new tools necessary to compete in today’s marketplace. Our economic vision requires collaboration among governmental, educational and private entities to provide the infrastructure and business climate necessary to retain high-level talent and community competencies while developing training programs for all types of traditional and emerging job sectors.

4. (a) The Board must develop and promote to voters a reasonable solution to our overcrowded and outdated jail and juvenile home. (b) With decreasing governmental budgets and increasing costs, we must set budget priorities, increase cooperation between local governments and private sector to provide services most efficiently and effectively, and continue to increase reliance on performance-based criteria for decision-making. (c) The County’s capacity for regional leadership must be increased.

District 14
Townships: Charleston, Richland and Ross

M. Jeff Heppler
Republican. Age 51. Law Enforcement and School security, Lakeview Schools, 30 yrs. Business owner; volunteer fireman, 24 yrs, First responder. Lakeview H.S. graduate. College degree, criminal justice and business, KCC and KVCC. Richland Village trustee, 12 yrs; president, 4 yrs. Kalamazoo County Commissioner, 2 yrs. Married 31 yrs, wife Judy, three children. Member, Westlake Presbyterian Church, 45 yrs. Richland resident, 27 yrs.

1. Work with the Housing Authority to help make housing available. We need to work with all of the local communities to make available housing (intergovernmental cooperation).

2. Sanitary Sewer and Water. The safe and fair collection and clean-up of wastewater.

3. The county needs to work with our economic development partners and local business to create jobs both in professional as well as service jobs and jobs for the youth.

4. The Justice Facilities are one of the biggest problems facing the county of Kalamazoo. In order to have a safe community, we need to have facilities for adults and youth. Mass transit is also important for the community to help people get to work and shopping.

David L. Shafer, II
Democrat
Did not respond in time for publication.

District 15
City: Galesburg. Township: Comstock [precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7]

Joe VanBruggen
Republican
Did not respond in time for publication.

Patrick B. Smith
Democrat. Age 66. Retired. Nazareth College president, 8 yrs; school superintendent, 10 yrs; high school principal and counselor; curriculum director. Doctorate, education; Master’s, counseling; B.A., history; MSU. Master’s, educational leadership, WMU. Teaching certified. Served on Comstock Parks and Recreation Commission. Board member: Glowing Ember Girl Scouts, Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce. Member: Rotary, Kiwanis. Married 37 yrs; four children. Lived in Comstock, 20+ yrs.

Did not respond to questions.

District 16
City: Portage [precinct 2]. Townships: Climax, Pavilion, Wakeshma, Comstock [precinct 5]

Jeff Balkema
Republican. Age 42. Vice President, Balkema Excavating, River Street, Kalamazoo, MI Kalamazoo Christian H.S. Lifetime experience in all phases of construction and excavating. Kalamazoo County Commissioner, 2002–present. Member, Environmental Health Advisory Board; former member, Comstock Planning Commission.

1. The County Commission created a housing authority and now it needs to have adequate funding. We need to encourage all taxing jurisdictions and developers to create housing opportunities for all income levels. We need to pursue a fair share housing policy that includes all communities in Kalamazoo County.

2. The major environmental issues facing the County are the KL Avenue Landfill and the continued monitoring of the site, substantial plat growth without the availability of water and wastewater utilities. We need to leverage the utility and create a regional wastewater authority.

3. The County should support economic development and job creation and we do that by partnering with Southwest Michigan First, Michigan Works, MEDC, Downtown Kalamazoo Inc., The Upjohn Institute and the private sector. We need to continue to try to keep our millages low and create a climate where businesses want to locate, grow and succeed.

4. Budget Sustainability, Jail and Juvenile Facilities and a Regional Service Delivery Model.

Clare Annen
Democrat. Age 76. Retired, United Paperworkers International Union representative. Kalamazoo Central H.S., graduate. Represented employees in the paper industry for over 30 yrs. Kalamazoo County Election Board, over 25 yrs. Presently on Board of Directors of Kalamazoo County Economic Development Corporation and Kalamazoo County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. Resident, Pavilion Township, over 50 yrs.

1. The ability to purchase your own home is important to an individual and to the entire community. The level of quality housing that a person can afford depends upon the earning power of the person or family and the level of interest rates charged in a community. I will work to raise the standard of living of each individual in the county so that home ownership is possible.

2. Groundwater contamination, Brownfield Redevelopment, and protection of our lakes and rivers are major issues for the citizens of Kalamazoo County and its Board of Commissioners. I support efforts for clean-up of contaminated sites on a “pay-as-you-go” approach utilizing tax increment financing revenue generated from new development on these sites. I support County Board of Commissioners involvement in protecting lake levels.

3. I believe we have to protect our existing manufacturing, retail and commercial enterprises. We need to pay special attention to our manufacturing operations and the better paying jobs that they provide. We need to work for their expansion and use their success as a magnet for other enterprises. I believe we should rely on County Development staff to visit every business and determine how Kalamazoo County can solve their problems.

4. My top priority will be to protect and enhance our industrial manufacturing, retail and commercial operations in the County. I intend on continuing to work on Economic Development and Brownfield Redevelopment in order to improve job opportunities for Kalamazoo County citizens. My second priority will be to work on improving the roads in Kalamazoo County by working closely with the Kalamazoo County Road Commission and other interested groups.

District 17
Townships: Brady, Prairie Ronde and Schoolcraft

David C. Maturen
Republican. Age 56. Real Estate Appraiser. Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration, WMU. Incumbent County Commissioner. Serve on Metropolitan Planning Comm., Board of Public Works, Vicksburg LDFA, Geographical Information System, and Solid Waste Mgt. Comm. Brady Township Trustee, 14 yrs. Planning Commission, 12 yrs. Chair, State Board of Real Estate Appraisers. President, Michigan Riparian magazine. Small business owner.

1. (a) I chaired the County’s Public Housing Authority Committee. We expanded the PHA’s powers commensurate with state law, kept a tight rein on the financial aspects of the PHA and engaged the real estate and development communities to insure that government was not “competing” with the private sector. A win–win, I can say. (b) Barriers to increased density need to be relaxed to provide affordable housing.

2. (a) Everyone drinks from the groundwater whether from individual wells or municipal water. Protecting our groundwater resource is very important. We have two major watersheds in the county. We should continue the county’s water monitoring program administered by our top notch Environmental Health Dept. (b) Resolution of the KL Landfill pollution problem (to which the county is a responsible party) needs to be done in a cost-efficient manner.

3. (a) We are doing a good job by supporting Southwest Michigan First. They have a broad view of economic development and have shown success. (b) The government should not be in the business of picking economic winners and losers. (c) State legislation initiated by Kalamazoo County allows us to make economic development loans to communities for infrastructure. We should pursue this if funds are available and the demand is there.

4. (a) Find a resolution to our criminal justice problems. We cannot be routinely letting criminals out on the streets early. A full jail means that our highly recognized “alternatives to incarceration” programs have no “consequence” if the terms for release into alternative programs are violated. Our half-century old Juvenile Home must be replaced. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. (b) Finding more efficiencies in county government.

Cathy Brockington
Democrat. Age 54. Retired educator, Vicksburg Schools. B.A., english, Grand Valley State; M.A., information and library science, U of Michigan. Married, 30 yrs. Kalamazoo County Resident, 13 yrs. Teacher & teacher-librarian, 31 yrs. Vicksburg Education Assoc., Building Representative, 1 yr. Kalamazoo County Education Assoc., PAC Representative, 4 yrs. VP, Vicksburg Library Board, 3 yrs. Member, Schoolcraft Township Swan Park Committee.

1. The County should encourage development of housing at all income levels by (a) developing a County-wide modern land use plan, (b) continuing to assist the County Housing Commission, allowing it to play a more significant role in making safe, affordable, housing available, (c) working with other area housing agencies (e.g., Habitat for Humanity) to attack the problem at all levels.

2. Problems: (a) 99% of County’s air pollution caused by factors citizens directly control (diesel emissions, automobiles, etc.—83%; lawnmowers, body shops, drycleaners—16% in 2000). (b) 2,700 homes with high-risk lead paint. (c) Agricultural waste disposal. Solutions: (a) Mobilize an aggressive education and work campaign using all resources available to county agencies. (b) Support programs, and incentives for citizens to improve quality of life through environmentally responsible practices.

3. Economic development and job creation in Kalamazoo County. (a) Continue to work with Southwest Michigan First to create jobs. (b) Work with ISAAC to unite communities and encourage investing across the region. (c) Protect farmland and wildlife areas to preserve agricultural jobs. (d) Develop a county-wide modern land use plan. (e) Support Education for Employment programs in the schools

4. Top priorities for Kalamazoo County. (a) Solve the problems of our inadequate Youth Home Facilities and Jail overcrowding. (b) Protect the environment through education and responsible land use. (c) Work for a solution for the 25,000 residents of Kalamazoo County including seniors and children who lack health insurance. (d) Work with area governments and agencies to develop employment and small business opportunities county-wide.

VOTE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2004