Time for a Change in Leadership in Oakland County

If you’ve been around Oakland County long enough, you’d remember the years when businesses were blooming, people were flourishing and the neighborhoods were filled with life. We were known for industries like manufacturing, health care, education and other cutting-edge sectors. Our county was the place to be for anyone looking to make a mark.

But over the last few years, things have been a bit grim around here. Ever since a new government came in 2019 and we lost a previous top-notch leader in 2018, things took a downturn. Our current leader hasn’t quite got the gears turning. It seems like the priorities of the local government just don’t serve our county well anymore.

Just to list a few points – Our manufacturing industry hasn’t shown any significant gains for a while; Local housing costs have skyrocketed, pushing away many potential residents; Planned constructions keep getting delayed; Our tech sector, once on the rise, today is barely moving forward; We’ve been facing some real economic difficulties, and even public safety is taken a backseat; Education quality has seen a drop-off; Moreover, our population has been on a decline.

It’s high time we set sail on a different course. If I take on the helm as the county’s new leader, I promise to turn these trends around.

• I’ll focus on revitalizing our business and community support by cutting any programs in the local government that make it tougher for businesses and families to stay afloat.
• I’ll propose a 25% trim in property taxes, to provide quick relief from the detrimental effects of inflation mainly caused by poor governance.
• I’ll bring together a top-notch team of construction experts to develop regulations that not only push construction forward but make housing more accessible and affordable for the average Joe. The permitting and approval processes will be streamlined for stress-free building.
• I’m talking about starting a brand-new vocational school right here in Pontiac to train skilled workers, preparing a workforce that’s ready to build Oakland into the place we all know it could be.
• Our focus will be on injecting life into essential programs like Emerging Technologies and Medical Mainstreet, enticing businesses in these areas to invest more in our community and partnering with local educational institutions to heighten innovation.
• I intend to introduce tax cuts and regulation reductions specially designed for our manufacturing sector, promoting adoption of latest technologies to improve productivity.
• I’ll champion the cause of the small businesses. Being a former small business owner myself, I know the hardships they face. Tie this with aforementioned tax cuts and regulation reductions and we’ll create a stable environment for these businesses.
• As for public safety and education, while they may not fall directly under my jurisdiction, in my capacity as county leader, I’ll see to it that resources and technologies are efficiently employed to combat crime and lift education standards. I’m keen to introduce initiatives that focus on literacy and ensure every child can read at grade level.

So, let’s think hard about the state of our county leadership. Is the increased crime, tax hike, big government spending, poor literacy rates, decline in manufacturing sector, dip in population, exorbitant housing costs, and out-of-control inflation showing progress?

My view? That ain’t progress. We need a fresh, focused and firm hand driving Oakland County towards genuine growth, opportunity and safety.