Accomplishments

The issues I care deeply about, and my accomplishments as your County Commisioner…

Greening Washtenaw County Operations

• Energy efficiency investments for annual savings of $300,000 since 2006.
• LEED Certification policy for all new county buildings
• Wind turbine and solar energy generation for county operations

10 years of Washtenaw County Balanced Budgets

• Personal leadership as consensus-maker on the Board helped meet the challenge of projected $30 million deficit  for ‘10/11 with few reductions in services to citizens
• Consistent voice for transparency, public engagement and performance based budgeting

The Plan to End Homelessness

Prioritized best practice solutions to homelessness with strong personal advocacy resulting in:

• The Robert J. Delonis Center
  Private-public partnership that constructed this first linchpin in the local effort to end homelessness with public, private and non-profit sectors
• PORT & JPORT
  Intervention for the homeless or those at risk of homelessness before the need for urgent health or legal institutionalization
• Urban County Funding
  Advocated and worked to secure millions in additional federal dollars to address housing, homelessness and neighborhood improvement in the County’s neediest neighborhoods
• Human Service agency funding
  Assuring standards through collaboration with proven human service non-profits to preserve continuity for services in County’s role as last ‘safety net’ for a growing number of citizens without resources

Governmental Collaboration

Champion of finding who does what best, avoiding duplication and saving dollars

• Community Development
  Washtenaw County and City of Ann Arbor now unified
• 1Washtenaw
  Collaborated on Professional Development, Geographic Information Systems and strategic planning with County townships, cities & villages
• Information Technology
  Shared County staffing in IT and Human Resources with Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Pittsfield Township
• 911 Dispatch
  Much needed & long awaited co-location with the County & Ann Arbor coming soon

Protecting Natural Areas

Successfully campaigned for Natural Areas Preservation Program (NAPP)

• Advocated for referendum on NAPP in 2000 to protect natural areas in Washtenaw County
• Administered through Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, NAPP has successfully protected 2,000-plus acres of high quality habitat and wetlands throughout the County

Supporting Public Transit

Local & Regional Public Transit Policy and Advocacy

• SEMCOG (Southeast Michigan Council of Governments) Transportation  Advisory Board member
• Ann Arbor to Detroit Rail Project
  Strong advocate and shaped surrounding policy
• WALLY  (Washtenaw Livingston Rail Line) 
  Service planned between Ann Arbor and Howell, Michigan
  

Domestic Partner Benefits 

Proud to advocate and vote for domestic partner benefits for Washtenaw County employees

Humane Society of Huron Valley

Proud to advocate for appropriate County funding of new HSHV shelter

• Another example of public/non-profit partnership to help carry out government responsibility
• Cost effective partnership with a trusted local group valuing the ethical of treatment of animals

Assorted Honors & Affiliations & Board Memberships

• Named Best Young Government Leader of the Year (2000) by the Michigan Jaycees
• SEMCOG Executive Committee &  SEMCOG Transportation Advisory Board
• Workforce Development Board, 2007 Best Elected Official
• Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (Chair)
• Washtenaw County Solid Waste Consortium
• Intergovernmental Partnership Committee (re: Pall-Gelman contamination)
• Public Works Board
• Criminal Justice Collaborative Council
• Public Safety and Justice Oversight Committee
• Statutory Drain Board
• Washtenaw County Money Purchase Pension Plan Board of Directors
• Co-founder: Michigan Democratic Party Environmental Caucus
• Founding member of Partners For Transit
• Member of the Washtenaw County Economic Development Corporation
• Chair, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners (2007-2008)
• Chair, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Ways & Means Committee (2006-2007)
• Chair, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Working Session (2004-2005)