Michigan Suburns Alliance    Michigan Suburbs Alliance

Public Policy Reform

Statements from the Candidates

Ask the Candidates

To gain some basic insight into the philosophies of the gubernatorial candidates, we asked each of them to respond in 500 words or less to the question below. Their responses follow, unedited by our staff. It is important to note that as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we do not endorse any of the candidates, but rather offer our members an opportunity to reflect on the issues that each finds important to Michigan’s cities. (Invitations to submit a statement were extended to all gubernatorial candidates.  Candidates without statements appearing here either declined or failed to respond by the date specified.)

The question of urban development is of general interest to the entire electorate and can encompass a variety of issues, including tax policy, environmental regulation, economic development, education and transportation, among others.  What are your views on the development of Michigan’s inner-ring suburbs?

Click on the links below to read the candidates' responses to the question above.

 

Gregory Creswell

The free market is the economic base of any stable or growing community.  It is no coincidence that communities with the most poverty and highest crime rates are also the ones with the highest tax rates, and almost always those that have an income tax.

Economic growth is the cumulative consequence of individual initiative.  Unfortunately such initiative is often stifled by burdensome restrictions such as permit fees for every imaginable enterprise and license requirements that do little to improve the employee’s qualifications, but rather fill the coffers of politicians.  Examples of this include costly permit requirements to do home improvements, a permit needed to be a street vendor, and beautician licenses to get haircuts.

A lack of reasonable transportation prevents many people from being able to commute to work.  This problem is often caused by the fact that communities require cab drivers to buy plates to pick up or drop off passengers.  These plates are available in limited numbers.  Another restriction is that private bus services cannot compete with public transportation monopolies to pick people up at bus stops.

Meanwhile, a basic responsibility of local government goes neglected.  Protecting the innocent from predatory criminals who cause citizens live in fear of home invasions and bodily harm.  When this happens, those who can afford to move do so, selling their house at a bellow market rate.  Business owners find security costs to be prohibitive.  Many close down.  The outcome is what is commonly called urban blight.

Libertarians believe local government should concern itself with basic public safety and a legal system.  The rest can be managed by private and charitable concerns (in a prosperous community).  Minimal taxes lead to maximum prosperity.  The most prosperous communities have no local sales or income tax.  When alternative sources of revenue (such as contract and court service fees) are available taxes should be repealed.

As Governor, I would advocate giving communities back to the people who live in them.  The state government is too large and detached to manage local concerns.  This means letting communities keep their money instead of having it sent up to Lansing, so they can wait for it to trickle back down.

Sincerely,

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Dick DeVos

In this time of economic trouble in the state of Michigan, it is important to understand that redevelopment on the state level is desperately needed. And it is pertinent that all levels of government come together to work for this change.  The future of Michigan’s economy, specifically in this case of inner-ring suburbs, depends on our working together to create new jobs and get Michigan back to work.

It is my goal, if elected Governor, to initiate and support policies that will work to redevelop our urban areas and continue the sustainable development of new communities. By attracting businesses into Michigan and its core cities, bringing vital jobs and economic success to our state, and getting Michigan citizens back to work, it is possible to begin this redevelopment that will be invaluable to the maintenance and improvement of inner-ring suburbs.  By revitalizing Michigan’s economy, we can work to improve the problems of inner-city pollution and contamination, and an overall lack of resources.

Throughout the process of redevelopment, it is vital that we not only support the development of new communities but that we also work to restructure and adapt existing communities – supporting and upholding existing practices that are working while at the same time improving practices that need updating and renewal.  This process can best be carried out with the constant collaboration of the state and local governments. By working together, looking at both the future of our state and of the specific communities, we can succeed at making a difference and bringing positive change to Michigan.  We must solve the economic crisis and its effects on Michigan.  By listening to the issues and concerns of our local constituencies, we can accommodate their needs and the needs of the entire state. Splintered and fractured government is the last thing this state needs.

When I saw Grand Rapids, my hometown, struggling in the face of urban decay, I formed a group of leaders to lead an urban rebirth.  Grand Rapids is now a growing destination city once again.  Jobs are coming downtown and the city center is seeing a revitalization.  The suburbs of Grand Rapids will benefit from a reenergized city center.  Our inner-ring suburbs cannot thrive and grow on their own.  We need to make sure our city centers are vibrant, as well.

We have a lot of work to do, but it is my goal to get it done.  If elected to office, I not only plan to go to work, but I plan to get Michigan back to work as well.  Together, we will turn our communities around.

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Governor Jennifer Granholm

Michigan’s inner-ring suburbs are facing many of the same concerns as their urban neighbors—infrastructure aging, populations moving out to greenfield communities and struggles to balance their budgets.  Over the next four years, I will continue to give inner-ring suburbs the resources to combat additional sprawl, cultivate collaboration with other regions and spur redevelopment.

In one of my first acts as Governor, I established the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council to determine how to limit sprawl and encourage people and businesses to return to our urban and older suburban areas. When the Council released its recommendations, I immediately put many of them into motion, signing new laws to help local officials look at an entire region when developing land use plans. Over the next four years we will continue to identify the causes and consequences of urban sprawl and combat them with innovative, regional solutions.

We must think regionally and forge new partnerships to promote efficiency, stretch dollars and maximize services. That’s why I will continue to strongly support regional collaboration. This year I awarded seven Centers of Regional Excellence grants to help counties, suburbs, townships and cities work together to pool resources and share services, technology, office space and human resources.

Along with promoting collaboration, I will also continue to make our cities and suburbs more attractive places to live and work. My Cool Cities program provides grants to individual communities to spark exciting changes in the arts, housing and development, and attract a young, educated workforce to live and work in our suburbs.  I will continue to support the Michigan Suburbs Alliance Redevelopment Ready Communities certification process, which makes it easier to redevelop inner-ring suburbs.  

Local government budgets are hurting. We must ensure that they have the state revenue they need for public safety and other vital services.  My Task Force on Local Government Services and Fiscal Stability, consisting of representatives from cities, older suburbs, counties and townships from around the state, evaluated existing policies that are problematic for local units of government and recommended new policies allowing them to continue to deliver essential services.  We need this input from our municipal leaders, especially because of next year’s sunset of the revenue sharing act.

We face a new challenge now that the Legislature has repealed the Single Business Tax without a plan to replace the $1.9 billion it provides to fund valuable services such as public safety, education and health care. This may jeopardize vital revenue sharing dollars and public safety programs, and shift the tax burden to our communities. We will work in the coming years to ensure the revenue is replaced without forcing cuts to the services suburban residents value most.

Michigan’s success depends on the success of all of our communities. We’ve accomplished a lot over the last four years, but we have more work to do. I hope you will stand with me this November, as I continue to fight to ensure our inner-ring suburbs are not left behind as we move Michigan forward.

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