Why I'm Running
As a longtime Lathrup Village resident, I know community is our greatest strength. Recently, though, differences over city issues have too often devolved into public arguments that undermine that sense of community.
To truly come together, we need leadership that welcomes differing points of view and realizes everyone benefits when many voices are heard.
If elected, I’ll fight to ensure City Council is fiscally responsible, transparent and responsive. But my first objective will be to make sure our local government engages in constructive dialogue with all its residents.
Together, we can pursue a vision for Lathrup Village that reflects our shared priorities, builds on our strengths and safeguards our community’s future.
Good government builds real community.
Seven Keys to Better Government for Lathrup Village
1. Listen First
Leadership begins with listening. Council needs to truly understand residents’ priorities and values, and commit to supporting them. That means seeking out resident input and feedback before making decisions that effect all of us.
Initiatives:
- Formalize resident participation before major council decisions (public comment sessions, issue workshops, and open short-term advisory committees).
- Hold quarterly, well publicized Town Halls.
- Host Council/Resident Conversations tied to specific issues before major votes.
- Use resident surveys, digital suggestion boxes, and other tools to gather feedback.
- Encourage dialogue at city meetings to ensure resident concerns are heard and accounted for.
2. Value Our Strengths
Lathrup Village’s historic homes and tree-lined streets, our shared green spaces and our ideal location offer special value to home buyers and businesses. By celebrating and investing in our strengths, city government can ensure that the Lathrup Village we love today retains its unique character for future generations.
Key points:
- Stand by our ordinances! Enforce the existing rules designed to maintain and enhance the city’s distinctive character
- Invest in our parks and green spaces
- Develop recreational spaces (dog runs, basketball hoops, pickleball courts, beach volley ball).
- Encourage neighborhood beautification, tree-planting, and heritage projects.
- Work with the DDA and County to expand on Southfield Rd. beautification to ensure our downtown district evokes a “sense of place” that befits our city
- Support our community groups, clubs, and grassroots organizations
- Support events that bring us together and strengthen community
3. Lead with Vision
Government shouldn’t be a series of ad hoc decisions made in a vacuum. By gathering resident input and focusing on our community’s existing strengths, Council can help define a shared vision for Lathrup Village – to ensure that decisions and new city projects are consistent with our resident priorities and protective of the city’s future.
Initiatives:
- Use the required 5-year plan update to launch a resident led “Lathrup VIsion” project.
- Develop annual council goals tied to the long-term plan.
- Establish a resident advisory council for ongoing feedback on progress.
- Ensure that new businesses and developers commit to enhancing the community and furthering our shared vision for the city
- Review all variances or ordinance changes against the long-term vision for the city. Require clear community benefit in return for any exceptions that are granted.
4. Measure Results
A strong government is an accountable one. City Council must set clear goals for itself, measure results, and regularly report its progress back to residents. Leaderhip should be committed to results, and judged by outcomes and ability to adapt.
Initiatives:
- State specific annual goals tied to the 5-year plan, community vision and resident priorities.
- Establish metrics for measuring success
- Provide routine status reports, with honest accounting of what is and isn’t working
- Be accountable for missed benchmarks and responsible for developing new strategies
5. Fiscal Responsibility: Be Frugal but Spend Smart
Lathrup Village faces numerous financial struggles – and citizens currently are being asked to vote on a proposal to raise resident taxes across the board. In this environment, city council must ensure that every tax dollar supports our community priorities and that we get the most value for our money. By the same token, we should never take actions to achieve short-term goals if they weaken the community or undermine its future.
Initiatives:
- Ensure that the city follows the established bidding process for all purchases and city contracts. Taking bids does more than ensure lower prices, it opens up dialogue between the city and vendors, and leads to more effective engagement, better services, and yes, lower prices.
- Create a resident-led budget oversight committee that provides feedback on budget goals for the upcoming year.
- Set clear criteria for pursuing “matching” grants. Evaluate grants against the city’s stated vision and account for potential costs.
- Understand the opportunity costs of new grant projects. Are we giving up something more important to pursue a newly available grant?
- Don’t just be frugal: be smart. Undermining community strengths for short-term financial bandaids just makes our problems worse. For instance, letting the parks deteriorate for short-term savings is shortsighted if it ultimately reduces property values or creates liability issues for the city.
6. Act with Transparency
Residents deserve to know what their government is doing, what choices are being considered, and how decisions are made. Transparent processes and open records build trust and keep government aligned with the community it serves.
Initiatives:
- Livestream and archive all council meetings.
- Publish meeting agendas well in advance of council meetings.
- Publish public hearing announcements, requests for proposals, and calls for committee membership in the Southfield Sun
- Establish and communitcate the decision-making process forconsideration of major projects and ordinances.
- Provide easy online access to public records and data.
- Use newsletters and digital channels to proactively share updates and explain key issues.
- Publish an annual plain language “Budget in Brief” and public-facing budget dashboard online.
7. Build Community
Strong neighborhoods and shared experiences create the foundation for civic pride and resilience. City Council can play a leadership role in strengthening community by supporting events, institutions, and spaces that bring people together and reflect the values of our residents. And by modeling the type of civil discourse we should all be striving for.
Initiatives:
- Support neighborhood associations and block clubs.
- Expand city programming that fosters connection between residents of all ages.
- Partner with schools, businesses, and nonprofits to create shared spaces and activities.
- Encourage volunteerism and civic participation through recognition and support.
1. Listen First
Real leadership begins with listening. To ensure residents’ interests are being served, council needs to understand our priorities and values, and commit to supporting them. That means engaging in ongoing conversation with residents about all the major issues facing the city – and making sure resident feedback is sought on before decisions are made.
Initiatives:
- Formalize resident participation before major council decisions (public comment, short-term advisory committees, structured timelines).
- Commit to holding quarterly Town Halls.
- Host Council/Resident Conversations tied to specific issues before major votes.
- Hold rotating listening sessions in the neighborhoods.
- Use surveys, digital suggestion boxes, and community workshops to gather resident feedback.
- Encourage dialogue at city council meetings and study sessions, and enforce a code of conduct for meetings, fairly and without prejudice.
2. Value Our Strengths
With our historic homes, tree-lined streets, and our shared green spaces and our distinct downtown district, Lathrup Village offers a special value to residents, businesses and consumers. By celebrating and nurturing our strengths, city government can ensure that the Lathrup Village we love today retains its unique character for future generations.
Initiatives:
- Enforce existing ordinances that maintain and enhance the city’s character and sense of place.
- Invest in our green spaces, develop recreational opportunities for resident use – dog runs, basketball hoops, pickleball courts.
- Celebrate neighborhoods through beautification, tree-planting, and heritage projects.
- Support community groups, clubs, and grassroots organizations.
- Host events that celebrate our diversity and strengthen community.
3. Lead with Vision
City Council can provide real leadership in moving the city forward. By gathering resident input and building on our existing strengths, Council can define a shared vision for Lathrup Village, we can ensure that decisions and new projects are consistent with our priorities and safeguard our future. Instead of a series of ad hoc actions, That leadership must also be tested against measurable outcomes.
Initiatives:
- Use the required 5-year plan update to launch a “Lathrup 2030” community visioning process.
- Develop annual council goals tied to the long-term plan.
- Establish a resident advisory council for ongoing feedback in key areas.
- Ensure that new businesses and developers enhance the community, serve residents, and further the vision for the city rather than simply profit from it.
- Review all variances or ordinance changes against the long-term vision for the city, and require clear community benefit in return.
4. Measure Results
A vision is only as strong as its outcomes. City Council must set clear goals, measure progress, and report back to residents so leadership remains grounded in results and ready to adapt. Measured results, in turn, depend on sound stewardship of city resources.
Initiatives:
- Tie council goals directly to resident priorities.
- Provide regular public progress updates.
- Hold leadership accountable to benchmarks and outcomes.
5. Fiscal Responsibility
Lathrup Village faces numerous financial struggles – and is currently looking to raise resident taxes across the board. In this environment, it’s more important than ever for City Council to ensure that every tax dollar spent is in support of our community priorities, and shared vision. That we are getting the best deals possibble when we spend our money, and that we aren’t spending in ways that weaken the community or undermine our future.
Initiatives:
- Ensure that the city follows the established bidding process for all purchases and city contracts.
- Create a resident-led five-year financial and capital plan.
- Set clear criteria for pursuing “matching” grants. Evaluate grants against the city’s stated vision and account for potential costs.
- Expand shared-service agreements with neighboring municipalities.
- Prioritize investments in infrastructure and public services that support long-term growth.
6. Transparency in Action
Residents deserve to know what their government is doing, what choices are being considered, and how decisions are made. Transparent processes build confidence and keep government aligned with the community it serves. When residents see clear processes and accountability, it creates the conditions for healthy civic dialogue.
Initiatives:
- Livestream and archive all council meetings.
- Publish meeting agendas well in advance of council meetings.
- Publish public hearing announcements in the Southfield Sun
- Clearly outline decision-making processes for major projects and ordinances.
- Provide easy online access to city records and data.
- Use newsletters and digital channels to proactively share updates and explain key issues.
- Publish a plain language “Budget in Brief.”
- Develop a public-facing budget dashboard online.
7. Build Community
Strong neighborhoods and shared experiences create the foundation for civic pride and resilience. City Council can help build community by supporting events, institutions, and spaces that bring people together and reflect the values of our residents.
Initiatives:
- Support neighborhood associations and block clubs.
- Expand city programming that fosters connection between residents of all ages.
- Partner with schools, businesses, and nonprofits to create shared community spaces and activities.
- Encourage volunteerism and civic participation through recognition and support.
- Promote inclusive events that celebrate culture, history, and diversity.