Candidate Profile: Rachel LaPointe, Dearborn Hts. City Council

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MI — There are four open seats for Dearborn Heights' City Council 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.

Rachel LaPointe is running for Dearborn Heights City Council. Here's how she filled out her profile:

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Age (as of Election Day)

35

Position Sought

Dearborn Heights City Council

Family

Spouse: Chris, Children: Grace, Jude, Evelyn and Maggie

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My uncle works for the city of Dearborn Heights in the CDBG office.

Education

BFA, University of Detroit-Mercy, 2008

Occupation

Activist, parent

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

votelapointe.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

In the last few years, as my kids have started growing up I have reflected on how I can best serve others and how I can help our community be the best it can be. I want to be an example to my children of a servant leader who is there to listen, who is there to help, who is there because they care about others and are willing to do what it takes to make the world better for each person. I believe that my strengths are what we need on the city council right now. I’m a positive and empathetic person, who is also realistic and research driven. I look forward to serving the city.

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

The most important and urgent issue is the continued flooding. We can not control the weather or climate change, but we can control our sewer system and we can push the county to maintain the creek. Another part of the problem is that residents hear lots of ideas, but we never see actual action being taken and we don't see preparation in advance of the next flood. We need to complete projects, especially the attainable small-scale actions. We must get every sewer cleaned, ensure the county actually maintains the Ecorse Creek, create rain gardens and detention basins on city-owned property, and most importantly we need to communicate consistently so our residents know what the plan is, how we’re accomplishing the plan, and when the plan is complete.

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

I firmly believe that all candidates running are seeking to do what they can to serve the residents of Dearborn Heights. I believe that I have the skills that we need right now, especially in terms of technology and modern communication styles. Having a Millennial woman on council is something new and necessary and I'm the only candidate with this unique perspective.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I don't feel that our current council has failed, per se, but rather that it's time for fresh voices and faces on council who are ready to get to work for the residents.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

The Dearborn Heights response to Covid-19 has been fine. There is room for improvement in working together to have a strong united plan for things like masking or holding meetings in person. When different officials are using a health crisis to make political points, they've lost sight of the real issue that is affecting all of us. Having that unified plan would have avoided the confusion the residents faced regarding when and where council meetings were held.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Communication: The city needs to be clear, concise and consistent when communicating with residents. Overcommunication is always better than under-communication.

DEI: We've all made strides in working to make our community more welcoming, but we have further to go. Training all city employees in DEI and making sure the city is reaching out to all demographics will be top priorities for me. This work is hard, but it's worth doing and it's worth doing well.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a parent of four children, I have every skill necessary to be a stellar city councilwoman. I've managed budgets, organized events, cleaned up messes, and listened to people in need for years, and I am ready to do all that and more for Dearborn Heights.

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

I'm here to listen and I'm here to be a voice for all residents. If you have any questions, reach out to me on Facebook or through email or call me! Drop by my house or invite me over for coffee and a chat, whatever you need I'm here to listen and help