Meet Mike Estève, Candidate For Bowie City Council, District 1

BOWIE, MD — The office of mayor and six councilmembers for Bowie will be on the ballot Nov. 7. There are at least two or more candidates running for Districts 1-4 and the two at-large seats. Two candidates are vying for the office of mayor. Michael Estève is running for Bowie City Council, District 1. Estève shared information about himself and his interest in running for office with Patch.

What ways can people contact you with questions?

michaelesteve.com
michael.p.esteve@gmail.com

Campaign website?

michaelesteve.com

Age as of election day?

33

Place of residence?

Bowie

Family members?

I'm a lifelong Bowie resident, raised by a Prince George's County Public School teacher and a U.S. Army officer.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My father is retired from the U.S. Army and my mother is retired from the Prince George's County Public School system.

Education?

I attended Prince George's County public elementary and middle schools, graduated from DeMatha, and received a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland.

Occupation?

During the day, I work for a non-profit supporting kids and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Previously held elected or appointed political positions?

I was elected to the Bowie City Council in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.

Why are you running for office?

Bowie is my lifelong home--I love my town and want it to thrive. We have many advantages as a city: a AAA bond rating, a strong tax base and a highly diverse community of working, educated residents. We are facing some headwinds as well: fast-rising costs of basic services, budget shortfalls that are growing year-to-year, and worker shortages leaving critical public works and public safety roles vacant.

We need experienced, clear-headed leaders at the helm who will thoughtfully and proactively work to address our challenges while preserving the safe, quiet community Bowie residents love.

What is the single most pressing issue facing voters?

Public safety. A town our size would normally have 120 police, EMS, firefighters and first responders. Bowie has fewer than 65. While our police and emergency personnel are highly-trained and nationally recognized for their performance, we're going to need to steadily grow our cadre of public safety officers and first responders to keep our neighborhoods safe. This will be a challenge as dedicated candidates in these fields are harder and harder to recruit.

I've begun work with our state officials on creating a region-wide talent pipeline to reinvigorate the public safety and first-responder fields. The goal is to show our young people that these are rewarding professions that meaningfully improve communities and save lives, while also maintaining the highest standards in training and accountability. Addressing this issue will only be possible if we work in close partnership with our county, state, and fellow municipal governments, as well as our secondary schools, universities, and civic organizations.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm a lifelong resident with 17 years of service in numerous volunteer and leadership capacities. As a current elected official, I've prioritized listening to residents, having knocked on over 10,000 doors getting feedback on ways to improve the city. In my spare, and at no taxpayer expense, I publish the most widely followed weekly newsletter in the area, Bowie.News. I love my hometown and am committed to doing what's best for our city.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

On the city council, I've prioritized improving resident engagement, fully-funding core services, and balancing the city's budget while maintaining Bowie's Aaa bond rating. I'm also proud to have championed the city's first-ever municipal solar program, protected hundreds of historic woods and green space from development, created new city parks, promoted trail, bike and pedestrian safety projects, and advocated for smart growth. I successfully lobbied to stop a proposed Maglev train from displacing Bowie neighborhoods and I work tirelessly to promote local, small, and independent businesses.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

A mentor once told me that the biggest changes start small; that little acts of care and respect every day go the furthest in spurring collaboration and achievement.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm a proud Eagle Scout and volunteer with the Wounded Warriors, Bowie Interfaith Coalition, Bowie Green Team, Metropolitan Transportation Planning Board, Maryland Municipal League and Special Olympics.