Economic growth and how to achieve it are at the top of the platform for most candidates running for government office — whether it be for local, state, or national seats of representation. Regional economic catalyst Southwest Michigan First reached out to the 2023 candidates running for office to get their take on growing the economy. From now until the election, we’ll share the answers of those who responded to our questions in alphabetical order by last name, regardless of position sought. Head over to the FIRST & 42 website to take a closer look at the following four candidates who responded to our questionnaire:
- Jim Pearson | City of Portage Councilmember
- Steve Pieczko | City of Portage Councilmember
- Chris Praedel | City of Kalamazoo City Commissioner
- Patricia Randall | City of Portage Mayor
Jim Pearson
Position Seeking: Councilmember
District Position Represents: City of Portage
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
I have served on the Portage Council for the last 12 years. Prior to that on the Portage Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. My Kalamazoo County experience includes Transit and 911 Dispatch Authorities and Chairing the County Environmental Health Advisory Council for five years.
What is your motivation for running for office?
Continuing high standards of the Portage City Council team. I was unanimously re-elected as Mayor Pro-Tem and have served in that capacity under the last two Mayors. I have also represented Portage citizens on various County matters. Focusing right now on improving county transit service.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
Maintaining Portage’s high-quality parks, trails, roads, and public safety with no tax increases. Near-term top priorities include 1) building a Portage Farmer’s market with a $1.75 million state grant we recently received; and 2) exploring future options for Crossroads Mall.
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
Council heard citizens at a public meeting; staff conducted seller/shopper surveys. Consensus is for a marketplace in city center. Staff will present options to Council for final decisions. The mall is complicated due to multiple property owners. I favor mixed-used re-zoning when the times comes for city involvement.
At Southwest Michigan First, our mission is to increase economic prosperity for all in Southwest Michigan. If elected, will you support policies that will lead to the economic needed to achieve our goal of greater job growth and workforce development?
I support polices attracting new and expanding businesses leading to job growth. Pfizer, Stryker, and FedEx are examples. Portage received $3 million from the county for workforce development. I have already reached out to Southwest Michigan First for re-development of the Department of Public Works site that will be relocated in coming years.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
My re-election will continue stability on the Portage City Council. I was unanimously voted in as Mayor Pro-Tem by fellow Council members. In terms of regional cooperation, I have worked with countywide leaders for years on both Transit and 911 Dispatch Authorities.
How can elected officials create a place where working together towards meaningful progress is the priority?
Example: There were two failed attempts to establish countywide 911 dispatch in the last 20 years. I chaired a Search Committee’s third attempt. After working individually with countywide police leaders, I was able to develop consensus support for my committee’s selection and contract approval. Countywide 911 is finally in operation.
What do you see as the biggest areas of opportunity for elected officials when it comes to addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion? What is the biggest challenge?
Elected officials must be non-biased when appointing citizens to board and commission seats. City Council must continue to direct our City Manager to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. The City of Portage has made great progress in this regard. Our work is not over.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
More direct citizen engagement is needed, but City Council meetings can last for hours. Due to COVID-19, we now allow citizen comments via live phone calls. I hope this change will entice more citizens to voice concerns and suggestions during our meetings. I will work to publicize this new feature.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
I have no other political/career goals beyond continued service to Portage citizens as their public servant. My experience working beyond Portage boarders with Kalamazoo County partners (County Transit, County 911 Dispatch, County Environmental Health Advisory Council) positions me well to continue working for Portage citizens beyond our city limits.
Campaign Song: N/A
Favorite Movie: The Sting
Favorite Book: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Favorite Food: Tex-Mex
Steve Pieczko
Position Seeking: Councilmember
District Position Represents: City of Portage
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
I believe that my background as a small business owner will help with what I believe needs to be addressed in Portage. In my current occupation, I work with Fortune 500 companies to solve complex organizational issues which involves building cross functional teams to collaborate and resolve big issues. My organization and facilitation skills could be leveraged to foster positive collaboration between the residents of Portage and the City Council.
What is your motivation for running for office?
After attending numerous city council and planning commission meetings this year, it’s clear to me that we need new leadership with improved communication and transparency in the Portage City Council.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
1) A large percentage of the recent city council meetings center around inadequate affordable housing, public safety, and the preservation of natural resources. Implementing programs to provide more affordable family housing requires a multi-faceted approach that involves various strategies. I would begin by first examining land that is available to be developed, which includes looking at abandoned or dilapidated commercial properties before clearing any undeveloped areas. It is essential for Portage to consider the significant role that our green spaces have in the fight against climate change. 2) Over the past few years, we have seen inflation negatively impacting everyone, however, when you look at the Portage balance sheet, the city is very healthy which includes growth in “income from earned interest”, which implies that the city has a healthy reserve. As such, I would examine the possibility of lowering the tax rate to ease the burden of citizens
impacted by the current inflation.
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
1) On a regular basis, I would improve the communications of projects that are in the discussion and planning stages and include financial impacts of these projects. I would leverage the Portager newsletter and online portals to improve communications with the residents. Moreover, we need to communicate progress on the master plan. We should also provide a reoccurring online poll of the residents to collect feedback on the master plan and other projects in the planning stages. 2) I would implement a line-item review of the balance sheet with an eye on balancing the implementation of proposed capital improvement projects while also lowering the financial
impact to the residents.
At Southwest Michigan First, our mission is to increase economic prosperity for all in Southwest Michigan. If elected, will you support policies that will lead to the economic needed to achieve our goal of greater job growth and workforce development?
I would seek to promote and encourage regular meetings with local employers on job growth and workforce development policies that foster improvements for the greater Portage area.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
Over the past several years I mentored computer science students from my alma mater, Illinois State University. I have seen how mentorship for college students can be successful in helping students land employment opportunities. I believe the greater Kalamazoo area would benefit from a mentorship program led by local business owners to encourage others to enter occupations that are in high demand for the area. I would encourage regular meetings with guest participants and speakers discussing various careers related to local business.
How can elected officials create a place where working together towards meaningful progress is the priority?
Communication and collaboration are key to positive outcomes for Portage. Collaboration begins by aligning on the goals and priorities for the city, which have also been communicated to the residents and which map back to the city master plan. Once you have alignment, you dive deeper into the implementation and communications plan. Communication begins by improving the frequency and depth of the communication by sharing development ideas with the residents before they get to the planning commission and by including financial impacts to the residents.
What do you see as the biggest areas of opportunity for elected officials when it comes to addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion? What is the biggest challenge?
Elected officials play a crucial role in addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within their communities and societies. This begins by first understanding how Portage ranks in relation to the surrounding municipalities and determining what needs to be improved. This could include improvements in community engagement and awareness or improving infrastructure and accessibility. Improving DEI may be challenged by a resistance to change or a lack of funding to make improvements in this area. Communication and collaboration are key to making improvements in DEI.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
While I’m a nominee for the city council, I have already started dialoging with other current city councilmembers as well as other city council nominees regarding goals and priorities for the City of Portage.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
First and foremost, my top priority is to serve the people of Portage.
Campaign Song: None
Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams
Favorite Book: Bounce by Keith McFarland
Favorite Food: Steak and sushi
Chris Praedel
Position Seeking: Commissioner
District Position Represents: City of Kalamazoo
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
It has been an honor to serve our community for the last four years on the Kalamazoo City Commission. I also serve as liaison to the Planning Commission, Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study (KATS), and Employee Pension Board, KDPS First Amendment Subcommittee, and on the City Attorney Search Committee. In 2015, I was appointed by the Mayor to serve on a blue ribbon panel to study municipal revenue options. I remain actively involved in our community through several board and volunteer roles, including previously serving as a director and board chair for the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, treasurer for the State Rep. District Service Office (DSO), and currently on the Capital Campaign for El Concilio. I have also mentored two teenage boys through Big Brothers Big Sisters. I serve as a full-time nonprofit executive in the housing sector for a nonprofit called Community Homeworks. The organization provides empowering education workshops and critical home repairs for low-income homeowners in Kalamazoo County. I manage a staff of 12 and a $1.4 million budget. This provides me with a lens into the unique challenges related to the housing ecosystem in our community.
What is your motivation for running for office?
I’m running for re-election because as a father of three boys (ages 8, 7, and 3) I want to continue to create a future we can be proud to hand over to the next generation. The challenges we face and the ambitious growth we hope to achieve require experience and deep passion for this work. We have been through so much together as a community in the last four years, facing some of the greatest challenges Kalamazoo has faced in the last century. We have endured these challenges and still accomplish so much. We still have so much to finish. I want to be a part of seeing this transformative work through and continue to put my experience to work on behalf of the residents of Kalamazoo.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
Growth in our housing ecosystem, gun violence intervention and community-based public safety, investing in our aging critical infrastructure, youth programming and parks, small business incubation and entrepreneurship, implementation of our recently adopted Community Sustainability Plan.
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
To keep pace with our housing shortage, we need to use every tool at our disposal to incentivize, reduce barriers, and attract investment. To reduce violent crimes, we need to continue to laser focus on individuals most as risk, through proactive investment in targeted juvenile intervention strategies, including our PAL youth programming, proactively working with the families of highest-risk youth, Gun Violence Intervention (GVI) strategies, and our Building Bridges program with the Boys and Girls Club. To invest in our aging infrastructure, we need to fully leverage competitive federal and state grants made available to communities, especially right now from ARPA and Infrastructure dollars trickling down to communities. We have a once in a generation opportunity to get ahead and do the aspirational infrastructure work, such as recent funding awards for the downtown street two-way aspirational infrastructure work, such as recent funding awards for the downtown street two-way conversion or the US-131 interchange business loop. Both projects have remained on our aspirational wish list as a region for decades. We also must ask our residents and local businesses to sacrifice a bit and pay higher utility rates to allow us to catch up from decades of underinvestment. We cannot afford to kick the can down the road any further. The long-term cost of not acting will be far worse than the short-term sacrifice we all make now. A bond rating agency recently gave us a credit rating boost, crediting the commitment to investing in our aging infrastructure and strong fiscal management.
At Southwest Michigan First, our mission is to increase economic prosperity for all in Southwest Michigan. If elected, will you support policies that will lead to the economic needed to achieve our goal of greater job growth and workforce development?
I really think Kalamazoo is on the cusp of becoming the next great entrepreneurial hub in the State of Michigan. I’m eager to continue investing in this work through the City of Kalamazoo. We are already doing so but I hope we can continue to keep our foot on the gas. I am excited to watch the positive strides through organizations leading the way, such as Can-Do Kalamazoo, Black Wall Street, KNAC, Room 35, and Sleeping Giant Capital/Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy. We will soon have a City of Kalamazoo satellite office within the new Can-Do Kalamazoo facility. These entities and many others are creating awesome ecosystems for entrepreneurs to thrive. During my tenure, we’ve invested heavily in the Business Development Fund which offers funding to local entrepreneurs and neighborhood businesses with 10 or fewer employees, through technical assistance grants, façade improvement grants, and whitebox build out grants. These grants have supported hundreds of small businesses since 2020, from downtown brick and mortar locations to home-based businesses. We are really focusing efforts on both start-ups and the growth phase. We’ve created new positions within the City of Kalamazoo’s Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Division to support more technical expertise and small business support within our neighborhoods. I attend almost all the Southwest Michigan First Local Official Academy events and Legislative Updates and also try to attend some of the town halls.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
I understand the interconnectedness and complexity of so many of the issues we face. There are very few silver bullet or one-size fits all solutions to the complex issues our community faces. I do my homework, study the issues, and remain engaged throughout the community. I challenge the status quo and believe we are a community on the rise. We are taking many current steps that great communities take to rise to the next level. Some steps are not particularly popular. Change can be hard. However, I make decisions based on what I know we need to do to become the best place to live, work, and play in the state, if not the entire country. Now more than ever experience matters. From a record $111 million investment in capital improvement projects, curbing gun violence, and accelerating housing development, this is not a time to learn on the job. These are the steps necessary to attract and retain the best talent and business investment. We have a great current team who work well together and share an ambitious vision for our community.
How can elected officials create a place where working together towards meaningful progress is the priority?
A great example of working together is the recent $20 million funding secured for the US-131 business loop interchange. This has been on the regional wish list for decades. As the voting representative for the City of Kalamazoo on the Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study (KATS), this is something we have collectively championed for many years. It will lift the tide for our residents but also surrounding jurisdictions, reducing congestion through our downtown and northside neighborhoods and improving air quality. Another example is the 40-year water utility agreement the City of Kalamazoo secured with the surrounding townships. After years of litigation, we got it done during my tenure. I think relationships really paved the way for that progress and will ultimately save taxpayers millions of dollars on continued fighting in the courts. We also worked with Kalamazoo County to both match $1 million in funding on gun violence intervention strategies. I believe in relationships and being a model of civility at the local level. Local government is where people experience the greatest impact from our decisions, and we owe it to them to work together and make meaningful progress on their behalf.
What do you see as the biggest areas of opportunity for elected officials when it comes to addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion? What is the biggest challenge?
The biggest opportunity is the willingness to be an active participant in learning and growing. Work in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is not a destination or a checkbox but rather should be a continuous journey. The City of Kalamazoo has invested significant time and resources to provide DEI initiatives and training to our 660+ employees, leadership team, and even inviting community partners. From the mayor to our public safety officers, each member of our team is now engaging in this work within City Hall. As elected officials, we need to remain out-front and be present at these opportunities. We recognize that a culture shift will take time and perseverance. We are committed to making it a long-term priority to outlast our time here.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
Like I did in 2019, I plan to knock on thousands of doors in all 22 neighborhoods before November 7 to hear directly from residents on what’s on their mind. In my four years, I read and respond to constituent emails, attend a vast array of community events, and regularly participate in neighborhood listening sessions. The city has distributed comprehensive resident surveys in the last two years, one biennial survey to provide a report card on our work and the other related to how we spend ARPA dollars. We are excited to also launch our next Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 Master Plan outreach and engagement with the entire community, beginning in 2024.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
I am hopeful the community will grant me another four years to serve again as a City Commissioner.
Campaign Song: I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting
Favorite Book: Lincoln President-Elect: Abraham Lincoln and the Great Secession Winter 1860-1861
Favorite Food: Hawaiian Pizza with Mushrooms
Patricia Randall
Position Seeking: Mayor
District Position: City of Portage
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
I have served on the Portage City Council for fourteen years, the past six as mayor. I understand the importance of building consensus and am not afraid to lead.
What is your motivation for running for office?
I originally ran in 2009 on fair property taxes, transparency, and improving customer service. Today, I embrace the challenge of raising the bar on all that local government does and recognize the impact our decisions have on our citizens’ everyday life.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
Adopting a balanced budget with no millage increase, keeping a 20% fund balance, and maintaining our AA+ bond rating are all important to keeping our reputation for fiscal discipline, which helps attract new businesses to our community. Over the past 15 years, we have reduced our debt from a high of $110 million to $55 million. Finding a location for our farmer’s market. Reimagining the Crossroads Mall.
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
My finance background comes in handy with the budget. Determining between a want and a need keeps our spending in check. We have received $1.75 million for a new farmers market from the state’s appropriations budget. We are discerning between three city sites in the center of our community. Trying to work with current mall management and local developers to reimagine this important part of Portage and be proactive with our zoning instead of reactive.
At Southwest Michigan First, our mission is to increase economic prosperity for all in Southwest Michigan. If elected, will you support policies that will lead to the economic needed to achieve our goal of greater job growth and workforce development?
In Portage, we are already seeking economic prosperity for all in Southwest Michigan. As our community ages, open space is becoming limited. We are trying to be more creative and thoughtful as we work with developers and citizens to approve industrial, commercial, and residential plans.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
I think re-electing me is a continuation of the solid values and best practices I have worked hard to build. My re-election would offer stability to our council and our region.
How can elected officials create a place where working together towards meaningful progress is the priority?
Cooperation and collaboration used to be the buzz phrase, but I still think it is applicable today. I recognize that Portage is just one part of our region and believe what is good for another neighboring community, is also good for Portage.
What do you see as the biggest areas of opportunity for elected officials when it comes to addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion? What is the biggest challenge?
I am strongly committed to the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and my leadership reflects that. City hall looks much different today than when I was first elected. I have personally recruited people to run for council and be appointed to our boards and commissions that help our community be more equitable and inclusive. The need for all types of housing is critical as we go forward. Opposition to change is a hurdle, but I am always looking for the win-win.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
I return every phone call and email outreach I receive. I participate in just about everything occurring in our community and enjoy citizen contact. I am very approachable in public and always strive for a positive encounter.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
I love serving the citizens of Portage as Mayor and have no higher political aspirations.
Campaign Song: N/A
Favorite Movie: Flashdance
Favorite Book: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Favorite Food: Anything Italian — pasta, pizza, cannoli, etc.
