STEVEN JOHNSON
august 4 primary election voter guide
from page 19B benefit industrial processes, agriculture and the daily lives of people. Without proper use, containment, and disposal, they can become dangerous and toxic problems. Where there are issues, we need to correct problems to ensure the chemicals are handled properly from manufacture through disposal. When it becomes apparent that a toxic chemical is dangerous to the community and the environment, yes, decisive action must be taken to rectify the problem, whether it is through a ban, or other means.
Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills
COUNTY COMMISSION - 12TH DISTRICT/DEMOCRAT economy. Ridership in Oakland County was up before Covid. As Oakland’s office, retail, restaurant, daycare, home healthcare and nursing home workers return to work onsite, so will ridership.
KELLY DILLAHA
VOTING DAY OFF FOR EMPLOYEES The county board, controlled by Democrats, recently adopted a policy that gives county employees the day off to vote in an election, by some estimates an added cost of $1 million for the county and its taxpayers. In that state voters approved no-reasons absentee voting, some say this new policy is unnecessary. Do you think the county board policy change was necessary? Explain.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Yes, I would recommend that we provide more chemical/toxic material disposal events. Reporting of dumping potentially dangerous materials needs to be encouraged and proper enforcement action applied. Clean-ups are expensive, it is best to ensure compliance with regulations through educating our communities and businesses to avoid potential issues. SCHOOL WATER TESTING Proper water infrastructure and filtering must be in compliance, with filters changed and systems maintained. We need to follow current mandates for now and if testing shows that safety levels are near the threshold of the desirable range, then armed with those facts, we take action. REASON FOR RUNNING It is my feeling that the incumbent recognizes the ticking time bomb of the count's water-related infrastructure but is failing to lead with creative ideas to tackle the tasks and problems. WHY VOTE FOR YOU I am rather analytical, curious, and creative by nature and have a technical background professionally. Thus, I will analyze and prioritize issues in cooperation with the engineering staff to ensure that we are not only addressing maintenance and repair issues but planning for our future in making system improvements with leading technology. We cannot afford problems like sewer blobs as Macomb County had, the Flint water crisis, and dam failure as in Midland. Empathy, humility, and understanding are important traits in recognizing that not all have the means to afford their water bills. It is my goal to develop a basic level of service that may be available to all or just low-income families at no charge. There are some things that can be done to conserve and save, greywater reclamation systems as an example, and some other ideas that may save Oakland County families money. 20B
Dillaha of Birmingham has bachelor's and masters degrees in sociology from Wayne State University. She owns Fat Cat Concierge Services and has not held political office in the past. MASS TRANSIT The issue of mass transit for southeast Michigan has been a hotly debated topic for over four decades. More recently voters in this county have been less enthusiastic in terms of tax increases to support a system beyond what we now have through SMART or an expanded system that does not provide equal benefits for all Oakland County communities. At the same time, the future for the modes of personal transportation is a big question. Plus, one of the impacts of the pandemic crisis is the number of employees who have been working remotely, which raises a legitimate question of whether there will be even less demand for an expanded mass transit system. What are your thoughts on the mass transit issue? To remain economically competitive, Oakland County needs a transportation plan that addresses the needs of residents: getting seniors to appointments, workers to work, students to school. We need to consider both current needs and how those will change over the next 15 years. By 2035, 40 percent of our population will be aged 65-plus and will have unique transportation needs. Younger people care about negatively impacting the environment, and student debt makes it difficult to pay for and maintain a car. They still need to get to work, so they chose to live and work in cities with reliable and convenient transportation. The companies that hire them locate there, too. Investment in transportation attracts skilled workers and businesses and is good for our
By having Election Day off, Oakland County employees can now fully participate in our democracy and so can their families. Employees can choose to work for the day at an election precinct or count mail-in votes; they can assist relatives and neighbors who need extra help to get to the polls; or they can care for their young children while their partners do these activities. County employees performing essential duties will not be able to take Election Day off, such as clerk’s office staff, Children’s Village staff, and sheriff patrols. Those employees will be allowed to take a different day off in lieu. The cost associated with giving employees just two days off every two years is a fraction of the amount mentioned. BUDGETARY SAFEGUARDS Republican critics of the Democratically-controlled county board are claiming that Democrats have done away with a long-standing budget procedure of providing a cost impact analysis when proposing new programs, suggesting that ultimately this will threaten the financial picture and eventually the bond rating for the county. Your reaction to this criticism? I believe residents should be able to easily understand how their tax dollars are being spent and how resources are used. The board’s current practices provide the oversight and transparency we need. When new resolutions are introduced, today’s costs as well as long-term impacts are noted directly in the resolution. Additionally, during the Covid-19 crisis, the executive office provides weekly reports to the board with cumulative totals detailing spending to keep our families safe and to support businesses. Oakland County’s 2020 AAA bond rating was reaffirmed and the 2020 three-year budget was approved with unanimous bipartisan support. As a business
VOTER GUIDE/DOWNTOWN
owner, I think it’s important to regularly review and tweak business practices to best serve my clients and remain on top of my game. Oakland County needs leaders who aren’t afraid of change and easily adapt to modern ways of thinking and doing business. I will provide that leadership. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Oakland County is the home to hundreds of inland lakes and sits at the headwaters of six major rivers feeding the state’s waterways. Should the county be taking a stronger role in protecting the environment through a more aggressive approach with ordinances regulating items and activities that threaten our natural resources? If so, what would you suggest? We deserve clean, safe drinking water. Oakland County has 80,000-plus residential and commercial septic systems. It’s estimated 10-20 percent of these are failing, exposing residents and groundwater to raw sewage, viruses and other health concerns. Currently, the county regulates septic systems for new buildings or renovations only. We need to add regular inspections of existing septic systems, and increase and improve nearby well inspections to detect contamination early and protect groundwater. I also want to prioritize replacement of lead service lines connecting water mains to our homes. In Birmingham alone, 730 houses have known lead service lines. Local municipalities are responsible for replacing these lines, but it’ll take years to complete and residents are exposed to lead in the meantime. We need to explore ways to help local municipalities make these repairs now county wide, such as low-cost loans and negotiating county-wide repairs to create economies of scale. KEY ISSUES What do you believe are the key issues facing Oakland County at this time? How would you work to resolve the issues? As county commissioner I will bring smart, forward-thinking, compassionate leadership to Oakland County. I will fight to keep families safe and rebuild our economy in the wake of Covid-19, ensuring businesses have information and protective equipment to reopen and operate safely, and the County has resources to fight future outbreaks. Stop the Oakland County “brain drain”: young people and families are moving away and taking their talents and skills continued on page 21B
AUGUST 2020 PRIMARY
