Candidate Profile: Stephen Konja, Birmingham Commissioner

BIRMINGHAM, MI — There are three open Birmingham City Commissioner seats in November's general elections.

To help readers make informed choices, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Stephen Konja is running for Birmingham Commissioner.

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Age (as of Election Day)

43

Position Sought

Birmingham Commissioner

Family

Amy Konja - wife. Chloe Konja - daughter age 12. Ava Konja - daughter age 10

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business

Occupation

Mortgage Banking - Regional Director - 18 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://www.konjaforbirmingham...

Why are you seeking elective office?

• I believe it is critically important for everyday citizens engage with their community. For me, that means volunteering my time and expertise.
• I have no interest in making politics my vocation. I am proud of the work I do, managing a large team of mortgage specialists who help families realize their homeownership dreams.
• My background in finance and management, combined with my granular understanding of the real estate market and what makes communities great, will be useful at the commission table.
• I have a pragmatic approach to problem-solving and won’t need to play “catch-up” on fundamental issues like budgeting and the basics of development and planning priorities.
• I am committed to transparent and common-sense public service that will keep Birmingham a premier community in southeast Michigan.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Outdoor Dining Year Round - I am in favor of continuing the option of outdoor dining in the future. COVID demanded quick action by leaders on so many fronts; it simply was not possible to craft a comprehensive, detailed and equitable plan for outdoor dining.

Clearly, Covid is not going away in the near future, it was pre-mature to have restaurants take down the covered outdoor patio's. As we approach winter and cooler temperatures, wee need to protect our citizens if they choose to go out to a restaurant by allowing them outdoor dining. Moreover, COVID reduced patronage to other businesses, allowing the city to compromise some parking or other service areas to accommodate the new structures.

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

I believe it is critically important for everyday citizens to engaged with their community. For me, that means volunteering my time and expertise to the St. Regis board.

I have no interest in making politics my vocation. I am proud of the work I do, managing a large team of mortgage specialists who help families realize their homeownership dreams.

My background in finance and management, combined with my granular understanding of the real estate market and what makes communities great, will be useful at the commission table. I have a pragmatic approach to problem-solving and won’t need to play “catch-up” on fundamental issues like budgeting and the basics of development and planning priorities. I am committed to transparent and common-sense public service that will keep Birmingham a premier community in southeast Michigan.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

MY SHORT TERM PRIORITY WOULD BE TO MAKE CRITICAL AND SMART INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS like:

REPLACING EVERY RESIDENTIAL LEAD SERVICE LINE. We do so much to keep our families safe…great policing, wonderful parks and neighborhoods. We should make sure that what is underground is as safe for them as what is above ground. Our state leads the nation in making sure that our water supply is as safe as possible.

(Another project is)

GRADING AND PAVING RESIDENTIAL GRAVEL STREETS.
These streets are QUALITY OUTLIERS in our city; Gravel roadways are not the best practice in terms of SAFETY AND AMENITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY; THEY SHOULD BE UPGRADED.

IN THE LONG TERM, I would like to see:

• OUR BUDGET ALIGN INVESTMENTS TO CREATE SYNERGIES AND LEVERAGE FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY DOLLARS [NOTE: This needs editing, read through and see what flows and feels right].
• For example, Oakland County is undertaking a major sustainability initiative. None of us is immune to the changing impacts we are seeing in our climate and weather. As the county looks to setting priorities and perhaps making investments, we should be ready.
• The federal government is on the precipice of passing a major infrastructure bill. While our city won’t direct those dollars (that’s done primarily on the state level), we should be prepared to get our fair share where the state or county investments align with our long-term interests.

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

Smart infrastructure investment: More than ever, the federal and state governments are focused on infrastructure investment and Birmingham needs to be ready to leverage those priorities. Whether investing in green infrastructure to manage changing climate events, improving roadways, or addressing lead water service lines, we will need to coordinate these critical capital improvements to limit disruption to our residents and businesses. These next decades will see tremendous advances in mobility, “smart” utilities, and other infrastructure innovations. Birmingham needs to be ready.