Candidate Profile: Jon Aldred, 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.

Jon Aldred is running for Farmington Hills City Council Member. Here's how he filled out his profile:

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Age (as of Election Day)

53

Position Sought

Farmington Hills City Council Member

Party Affiliation

Council is non-partisan

Family

Married to Heather for 30 years, with two adult children raised in Farmington Hills.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Automotive Engineering and Design, Bachelor of Engineering.

Occupation

Engineering & Product Management (30 years)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

No

Campaign website

www.jonaldred.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I’ve been a Farmington Hills resident for over 20 years and I’m running to be a strong voice for the community. I’m running because a lot has changed in the last 18 months. The Covid pandemic and mandates have impacted all our lives in profound ways. Challenging times certainly put things into perspective. They help us see what is important in our lives and also push us out of our comfort zones to see new possibilities and create new solutions. This is why I’m running. New challenges require new solutions.

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

We’re experiencing power outages like we’ve never seen before. Families and businesses are losing power frequently, even on sunny days. People can’t work from home, families with food spoiling in the fridge, traffic lights out in major intersections. We need better and I’ll work to hold DTE accountable.

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

I fully trust the voters to assess the merits of the different candidates.

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

Farmington Hills is a well-run city with wonderful city employees. My goal is to build upon the good work of previous councils by addressing the new challenges that are facing us in the coming years, and doing this in a fiscally responsible manner.

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

Variances to city zoning ordinances to enable outside dining for restaurants and keeping those extended was a good decision. Most other decisions related to the mandates are coming from Federal, State and County.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The impact of lockdowns and restrictions in last 18 months has seen mental health issues, domestic abuse and drug overdoses all significantly increased in the community. That’s one reason why we need to fully fund our Police and Fire / EMS who are on the front lines dealing with many of these issues in the community – which is why I’m putting my full support behind the Public Safety Millage that is on the ballot this fall, to renew the full 1.7mill value that was approved by voters back in 2011.

Additionally, working from home is an important trend that is resulting in the closing or downsizing of offices. In the next 2 to 4 years tax revenues from commercial real estate will be under pressure. That’s why I support plans to re-develop underutilized office areas to mixed use residential with new green spaces and attract more young families back to the city. In the meantime, it will also require good governance and fiscally responsible use of tax-dollars.

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

My professional background is in engineering. I’ve worked in the automotive industry and I currently serve as the Director of Product Management for a global engineering software company. I’ve invested my career into addressing complex problems and coaching teams to their fullest potential in order to create effective solutions. As a council member, I will apply the same data-driven, people-centric approach to find new solutions in the city and go to work for the tax-payers of Farmington Hills.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Make a choice to really listen. Ask one question at a time. Actually listen to the answer and acknowledge the answer you get.

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

In summary, I will work to resolve our power outage issues by holding DTE accountable for improved maintenance programs and infrastructure. I support fully funding our Police and Fire/EMS departments. I will make best use of our residents’ hard-earned tax-dollars with fiscally responsible city budgets. I’m running because I love this city. I will work hard on council to help keep Farmington Hills a safe and enjoyable place to live, work and raise a family.