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.
This week we’ll share the responses from the following four candidates:
- Michael Fernandez | City of St. Joseph City Commissioner
- Jeanne Hess | City of Kalamazoo City Commissioner
- Esteven Juarez | City of Kalamazoo City Commissioner
- Tony Lorentz | City of Portage Councilmember
Michael Fernandez
Position Seeking: City Commissioner
District Position Represents: City of St. Joseph
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
I remember participating in student government in high school. Professionally, I’ve held leadership positions that allowed me the opportunity to be an advocate for my team and their accomplishments. It has always been a passion of mine to be an advocate for others.
What is your motivation for running for office?
My family and I chose to call St. Joseph home. I want to help shape the city that my children will grow up in.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
Making St. Joseph an attractive place for young families to live, work, and play. Promoting solutions to make housing affordable in the city, and creating additional housing to help the city grow. Investing in the preservation of our parks and beaches.
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
Taking actions and selecting contracts with companies that will develop local projects and employ local workers. I want to help make the city government more accessible to residents. This will entail making efforts to solicit input from the community as often as possible and communicate decisions made by the commission more effectively.
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?
Yes. I believe that choosing local partners for city projects is good for both the city and local employers.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
The City Commission makes the final determinations on not only projects themselves, but which company receives the contract. The decisions made by the City Commission have the potential to create and support hundreds of jobs every year.
How can elected officials create a place where working together towards meaningful progress is the priority?
By seeking to understand instead of seeking to be right all the time. Far too often we see political battles where it seems everybody just wants to win. I believe that by first seeking to understand the viewpoints of others, we can identify common ground to build from.
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?
We need to continue to elect more diverse leaders. People who come from different backgrounds can help bring a diverse way of thinking and provide new perspectives. I think a huge roadblock in the past has been a satisfaction with the status quo, but we need to embrace new people with new ideas.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
Door to door canvassing is one of my favorite campaign activities. Talking to people in their own neighborhood helps me understand the issues that matter to them. Being a presence and talking to residents at city functions would be a priority to me as a commissioner.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
I hope to serve my city as a commissioner for at least the next four years! Professionally, I look forward to working on additional campaigns and the state and federal level as I seek to help promote candidates that will uphold the values that I share.
Campaign Song: Take a Walk by Passion Pit
Favorite Movie: Return of the Jedi
Favorite Book: Brotherhood by Mike Chen, a Star Wars novel
Favorite Food: Congris Cubano, cooked by my grandmother
Jeanne Hess
Position Seeking: City Commissioner
District Position Represents: City of Kalamazoo
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
As a collegiate athlete and then as a collegiate coach and professor for 35 years at Kalamazoo College, my skills include collaboration, leadership, perseverance, vision, creativity, and communication.
What is your motivation for running for office?
Kalamazoo is my home and like the Kalamazoo Foundation says, “love where you live.” I love this city, its history and possibilities; the people and institutions. Kalamazoo is unique, with a spirit of generosity and kindness that has inspired many into civic service and I am no different. Following retirement from Kalamazoo College, I felt strongly that this level of service would be a beneficial use of my time and talents. I’m running for re-election because I want to continue the excellent work of the 53rd and 54th Commissions.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
The top priority for commission in the 2024 budget is a reduction in gun violence. We have also named housing, sustainability, youth development, and economic development as priorities. Personally, I feel like the changes to our city infrastructure/roads should continue to be supported at the commission level.
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
All our goals will be met by collaborating with entities within and beyond the city. I will advocate for budgetary support of these initiatives, and I will support our city departments as they work to reach our goals of a safe, prosperous, and sustainable city.
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 absolutely will. I appreciate the work of Southwest Michigan First that I’ve participated in so far, especially with initiatives around youth development, education, and childcare.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
I believe that my spirit of collaboration, my creativity, and optimism are helpful tools in this current climate. Also, I believe that my focus on education will inspire the community to embrace all forms of teaching and learning, especially as it applies to the trades and needed workforce jobs.
How can elected officials create a place where working together towards meaningful progress is the priority?
Have an attitude of gratitude, teamwork, and mutual respect in a greater culture of education. We need to be visible in the community and advocate for all, including our most vulnerable 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?
The biggest opportunity is Kalamazoo’s size and degree of separation. These are ample opportunities for interaction and education within Kalamazoo’s institutions, schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces. Collaborators such as the Kalamazoo Foundation, ISAAC, TRHT, ERACCE, and others are bringing forth people’s greater selves. I believe the biggest challenge is an unwillingness to embrace growth and change, especially in this current political climate.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
I attend as many public events as possible. Whether they be ribbon cuttings, tours, classes, trainings, celebrations, legislative updates, or even family outings, I’m always ready to listen and learn. I attend the city neighborhood listening sessions arranged by the city manager’s office; I receive input via my commissioner Facebook page, my city email, and in public comment at meetings; and lastly, I consistently meet or talk with constituents at their request.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
Because my career was in academia and intercollegiate athletics, my goals for commission reside in the next four years: “To build upon my past four years on commission to establish a culture of education, collaboration and sustainability within the city of Kalamazoo that my grandchildren and their grandchildren can enjoy.”
Campaign Song: It’s My Job by Jimmy Buffett
Favorite Movie: It’s a tie: The Wizard of Oz or Forrest Gump
Favorite Book: Sportuality: Finding Joy in the Games by Jeanne Hess
Favorite Food: Anything shared with family and friends
Esteven Juarez (Not pictured)
Position Seeking: City Commissioner
District Position Represents: City of Kalamazoo
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
I have served as a city commissioner for the last two years. I was the director of Outreach at Urban Alliance for four years, whereas before, I was hired as the director of outreach. I created a program called Momentum. This program was a workforce development program that changed many people’s lives. This program generated millions of dollars in economic growth over seven years. I have fostered many relationships and facilitated many community events that have helped bring long-term change to our community.
What is your motivation for running for office?
I desire to help bring change to the Kalamazoo communities. A collective response is what we as a whole community need to understand to see generational transformation. Coming from generational poverty I have experienced a ton of trauma. Through honesty, openness, and transparency, we can make a difference.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
Here are some of my priorities as a city commissioner if I am reelected: 1) Youth, 2) Gun violence, 3) Intergenerational poverty, 4) Housing, 5) The unhoused, and 6) DEI.
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
We have to bring more partners to the table. We don’t have enough people working on any of these issues at one time; the city needs the help of the community to make a larger impact. Collective impact is super important to this process. We need each other.
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?
Yes. This work is taking place already and we hope to see the growth of these efforts continue.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
We need individuals on the commission that understand economic growth, not just for now, but also to ensure our future. A city that is welcoming to new companies looking to call our region home.
How can elected officials create a place where working together towards meaningful progress is the priority?
By putting our money where our mouth is. By creating relationships that forage new and innovative ideas. Making room for talent to thrive and not being afraid to take a chance on the impossible. By ensuring the future of Kalamazoo depends on working together.
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?
Being a catalyst for this work. Shaping and molding what this work looks like — not just a set of rules and regulations, but setting forth a way of life that changes how we all see and treat each other. A new beginning that allows all to have the same opportunity regardless of your race, gender, or religion. One of our biggest challenges is wrapping our minds around the depth of what DEI truly means for all of Kalamazoo.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
The commissioners are part of a listening session that the neighborhood association hosts. That is one way we receive input. I would be willing to be part of small or large group conversations.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
Serve as a city commissioner for the next two to four years and then run for mayor.
Campaign Song: N/A
Favorite Movie: Nacho Libre with Jack Black
Favorite Book: The Bible
Favorite Food: Olive Garden
Tony Lorentz
Position Seeking: City Councilmember
District Position Represents: City of Portage
What community/professional experiences do you possess that have prepared you for this position?
I have worked on large scale projects during my working career and learned to negotiate and solve problems. Also owned an auction and appraisal business and interacted with many different people. For the last several years I have worked during elections at the polls, and currently the on board of canvassers and on the county construction project advisory committee.
What is your motivation for running for office?
Life has been good to me. Now that I am retired and have the time, I would like to give back and help others.
Please list your top priorities within the responsibilities of this elected office.
Be mindful of how tax dollars are spent. We need to make sure that people can afford to live here in the future. While growth is important, it needs to be balanced with affordability and quality of life.
How do you plan to accomplish these goals within the responsibilities and restrictions of the office?
By being transparent, listening to people’s thoughts and views, and then projecting these views to the council.
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 support economic growth with job opportunities that complements other interests of the community like environment and quality of life.
How will your election impact the region’s workforce and companies who call Southwest Michigan home?
When elected, I will work with both the people and industry leaders to make changes where it will benefit everyone.
How can elected officials create a place where working together towards meaningful progress is the priority?
By being open and honest with everyone before backroom deals are done and make sure everyone benefits.
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?
We need to see everyone as a fellow human being before anything else. The challenge is to be open to include everyone in the opportunity provided by the city.
In what ways do you plan to connect with constituents to receive their input?
Through emails, phone calls, and meetings, if desired.
What are your long-term political/career goals?
Other than serving the people of Portage, I have no long-term political goals.
Campaign Song: The National Anthem
Favorite Movie: Top Gun
Favorite Book: The Bible
Favorite Food: Old fashioned roast beef dinner and homemade apple cherry pie
