Candidate Profile: Jacob Kovacs, Farmington Hills City Council

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — There are three open seats for Farmington Hills City Council Member 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.

Jacob Kovacs is running for Farmington Hills City Council. Here's how he filled out his profile:

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Age (as of Election Day)

25

Position Sought

Farmington Hills City Council Member

Party Affiliation

Non-Partisan

Family

Not Married

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Brother, Jonathan Kovacs is a Police Officer in Waterford, MI

Education

Bachelor's in Business Management from Wayne State University

Occupation

Business Owner of Platinum Tile and Marble (6 years to date)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

JacobKovacs.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I want to serve my fellow neighbors in Farmington Hills. I have been involved within the Metro Detroit area with many faith based organizations and homeless outreach groups. But considering my level of experience from operating my own company and previously working as a project manager at Hella Electronics Inc I want to help our city maintain a balanced budget and to lower the tax rate of which Farmington Hills is one of the higher taxed cities within Oakland County. I would also like to develop a clear work plan to develop our power grid that will endure through years of harsh climatic conditions.

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

Our power grid is in need to serious redevelopment so we can make sure power outages are reduced to almost none. We need develop a work strategy that divides the responsibilities of shrubbery trimming and power grid preventative maintenance between both our public works division and utility providers. Far to long have we relied on the utility providers to do all the preventative measures when they seem to act sluggish in this domain.

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

I'm the youngest and most energetic of any of the candidates. Even though I am young, I do have an extensive network chain with contacts that span across many states and industries who have helped shape my understanding of how many domains work in which I can use within our city. Last but not least I am doing this to help my community, which currently is asking for someone with a new perspective.

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

We have had a lack of transparency and connection between our local government and our residents on numerous issues like our school board, budgeting, debt, and our infrastructure development. We also have faced years of power grid related issues that never seem to cease. Many leaders have promised to hold DTE and other providers accountable but to no avail.

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

I do believe our city had taken effective measures through our local government decisions and our police department to slow the spread of covid-19. But I do believe we should have spent our money more wisely. For example our police department had spend approximately twenty thousand dollars on disinfectant sprayer machines that are hardly being used today. There are simpler and more cost effective items that could have been procured during the hardest times of the pandemic.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am heavily connected to our communities residents and businesses. Most of my business procurements are within the Farmington Hills border which in turn strengthens our local economy. Thankfully with the help of my campaign volunteers we have reached and connected with thousands of residents of the city.

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

I worked over two and a half years as a project manager at Hella Electronics Inc, where I managed multiple global projects with multi-million dollar budgets. With my work with Ford and GM on global scales I was also able to strengthen our automotive economy within our state which provide our companies with millions in revenue. I also worked first hand within our nation's White House as an intern within the management office where I was able to see first hand how our executive branch helps our country to function on a daily basis from a Federal level.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

A preaching at church on John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

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

I will never stop working for you, the people of my community and country. It is my duty to bring about a promising future for us and our children.