The 2020 Female Voices for Kalamazoo To ensure fair representation, candidates were placed in alphabetical order.
With less than a month to go until Election Day, Moxie took some time to highlight some of the many wonderful women running for office this election for our great Kalamazoo area. Now you can match a yard sign, sticker or campaign poster name to a face and get to know some of our hopeful representatives a little better.
MARY BALKEMA
BACKGROUND: I have an accounting degree from Western Michigan University, with 15 years of experience in banking and brokerage operations. I am well versed in the bond markets where the experience is valuable in managing the county’s $100 million dollar portfolio. I have been in the office since 2007 and have experience in all aspects of the treasury and especially the foreclosure process. I am the legislative co-chair for the Michigan Association of County Treasurers and have been chosen by my elected peers to help formulate tax policy for Michigan. I have served on the board of Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, am currently the board chair for LISC and serve as the chair of the Kalamazoo County Land Bank Authority. HOW/WHY DID YOU GET INTO POLITICS? I ran for
political office in 2001 for the position of
Kalamazoo City Commissioner. The State Senator at the time was Dale Shugars and he encouraged me to run and serve the residents of the city of Kalamazoo. It was a great experience and one that I am very proud of. PLATFORM: My platform as County Treasurer
is to bring a voice of experience, balance, boldness and passion to the office. I will fight for veterans, seniors and families. I will continue strong leadership in foreclosure prevention. I will continue to have strong and steady financial management. Finally, I will continue my leadership and passion in revitalizing Kalamazoo County through blight removal and new housing opportunities.
GOALS IN OFFICE: Preventing foreclosure and
keeping families in their home is my number one priority. My goals for the next term will be to expand on foreclosure prevention programs, particularly to help seniors and veterans age in place. I will tirelessly champion the county
making necessary investments in technology because it is a critical component in our ability to service the public. People are more and more reliant on technology to conduct their personal business electronically, and their county business is no different. SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO/DRAW INSPIRATION FROM AND WHY? My mother. She was one of
10 children from an immigrant family and grew up on Park Street, on the northside of Kalamazoo. She went on to marry my father and raised six girls and one boy on a farm in Texas Township. She instilled in me a love for our community and a passion to serve others. She has a quiet and gentle spirit and is full of wisdom and grace.
RUNNING FOR: Kalamazoo County Treasurer POLITICAL PARTY: Republican
JOANNA CROES
precious homes and businesses. I plan to BACKGROUND: I studied chemical implement FMEA engineering, taking classes in biochemical (Failure Mode and engineering processes and environmental Effects Analysis) engineering before switching majors and techniques to identify schools. I had been attending Saint Mary’s risks in the county. College (Notre Dame) and The University of PLATFORM: How our county’s storm water is managed has a large impact on the cleanliness Once our risks are Notre Dame before I transferred to Western of our lakes and rivers. Our natural water identified we can start Michigan University, where I graduated is a foundation for our wellbeing AND the with a degree in industrial engineering to be more proactive instead of reactive in the health of our environment. My campaign is and minors of integrated supply chain office. This is an engineering tool that would for managing flooding to protect homes and management and mathematics. I also have be very useful in the office. preserve the environment by keeping our experience in many different industries, SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO/DRAW INSPIRATION water free of toxic chemicals and bacteria. including pharmaceuticals, automotive, FROM AND WHY? My mother is a fighter and I industrial process chillers, and aerospace GOALS IN OFFICE: I am very excited to hydraulic systems. draw inspiration from her quite often. She is bring cutting edge processes, negotiation smart as a whip and never gives up! Her and techniques, and new technology to the office. HOW/WHY DID YOU GET INTO POLITICS? I have my father always encouraged my love for math always had an interest in politics and serving There is quite a bit of work to be done in and science. They raised me to see no barriers the office, one of the highest priorities being the public. I love to help people and felt in my ability to accomplish as a woman. managing flooding in order to save people’s this position was the perfect opportunity to utilize my technical background to better our community. I also really feel that politics need more people who genuinely have the best interest of the public at heart. I am sure it sounds incredibly cheesy, but I want to be that change.
RUNNING FOR: Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner POLITICAL PARTY: Republican 16
October 2020
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