A personal message from Gary to voters
Direct communication between you and me. That’s how it’s always been, through my 20 years of elected service and as a journalist before that. And that’s how I’m approaching it now, as I ask your vote to again serve you as State Representative of the 15th House District.
From regular newsletters as a County Commissioner and State Representative, and in writings as Editor of the Dearborn Press & Guide, I’ve always approached our communication as personal. I’ve provided information and analysis on topics of importance and interest, and asked your feedback.
Whether it’s been in wide distribution, or in emails between two of us, more recently on social media, or in conversations over the years in the community at Kroger and elsewhere, I’ve felt a relationship with the people of our town through this communication.
The communication has been two-way, certainly. As an elected official, I mailed an issues survey to residents every year, and was grateful for thousands of responses that advised me on how to best represent them. I’ve not only been listening, I’ve been asking and engaging.
I’ve always done my own writing, never leaving it to staff or others. So what you read is from the horse’s … well, keyboard.
In that vein, here are a variety of thoughts about the election for State Representative. Not necessarily well organized or conventional. But that’s how conversations go.
Gary has informed and communicated with us for years. Drawing on his background as a journalist, his newsletters as an official kept us aware of what was happening in government. His annual issues survey asked our opinions on important matters to guide Gary in his role as our representative. And, Gary created A Citizen's Guide to Wayne County Government to increase awareness of how the county works and the services it offers.
THE FIRST, OBVIOUS QUESTION: WHY SHOULD YOU VOTE FOR ME
Respectfully, no other candidate in this race has the experience that I have, both at the state and county levels. But beyond experience, more important than just having held public office at this level, I believe I have a track record of accomplishments that demonstrate I can serve you well going forward.
Leadership is important for this position, and again, with respect, no other candidate in this race has my credentials. I'm beyond proud to have been elected by my fellow commissioners, four times, to be Chairman of the Wayne County Commission. Fourteen other elected officials had faith that I could represent them to the public and with the county administration, and that I could organize the work of the commission and provide a steady hand for county government.
I was Chairman of the Commission during some of the most difficult challenges Wayne County has faced. The housing crisis and Great Recession that followed drastically reduced county tax revenues and plunged the county into a fiscal emergency. Under my guidance, the commission was a good and important partner with Wayne County Executive Warren Evans to weather that storm, and Wayne County has had fiscal stability ever since.
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I believe experience matters. So do relationships. I have maintained and cultivated relationships in state government over my years of service, and those relationships can help me be effective as your State Representative. I have a longtime relationship with new State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko from his years as a teacher, principal and then superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools, and this relationship will help me as an advocate for our school districts in Dearborn Heights and Dearborn.
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EXPERIENCE THAT GOES BOTH WAYS
I hope you will consider my background, experience and performance as a public servant as you decide who is best prepared and suited to serve as State Representative. My performance in positions of responsibility that I've held for most of my life has prepared me for this.
But on the topic of experience, it’s not just my experience serving the community, but also the experience that many of you have had with me. Based on your own experience, you can judge whether I have worked effectively in your best interests, gotten results for the community and communicated well to keep you informed about, and involved with your government.
It’s the kind of two-way experience, I hope, that will bring us together as you decide on who will be the State Representative for the 15th House District.