Candidate Profile: Alanna Maguire, Plymouth City Commissioner

PLYMOUTH, MI — There are four open seats for Plymouth City Commissioner 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.

Alanna Maguire is running for Plymouth City Commissioner. Here's how she filled out her candidate profile:

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Age (as of Election Day)

36

Position Sought

Plymouth City Commissioner

Family

I am married and have two sons who are freshman at Michigan State University.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife is the Michigan Attorney General. My mother was on the Plymouth District Library Board for 8 years.

Education

University of Michigan: BA (Psychology); BA (Political Science) Michigan State University: Master of Public Policy

Occupation

US Finance & Business Support Supervisor at RINA Consulting Inc. (6 years); Fair Michigan Foundation President (2 years)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

N/A

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a life-long resident of Plymouth, I was excited at the opportunity to serve my community, and work alongside a dedicated group of professionals both in the elected city government and in the administration. My goals are to improve our infrastructure, and to make Plymouth a more pedestrian-friendly and sustainable city, with a government that is responsive to the needs of its residents.

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

Aside from the importance of working with the administration to craft the city's budget, the top priority of the next city commission is designing our five year strategic plan. I will advocate for responsible growth that respects the increasing diversity of our community, with a focus on environmental sustainability.

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

I have had many conversations over the course of the campaign with my fellow candidates, Nick Moroz and Jennifer Kehoe. I believe we are aligned on the important issues facing Plymouth.

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

I would like to see Plymouth focus more on environmental sustainability, and this will be a priority for me. This can be achieved in a number of big and small ways. For example, I would like to see mixed-use recycling containers available around the downtown area to reduce the amount of recyclable materials thrown away in trash cans. I also support having charging stations for electric vehicles, and more bike paths around the city to reduce car traffic. I would welcome having more regional transit options for our metro area as well. We have to rise to the occasion and meet the challenges of the next decade, and there is no greater challenge than addressing the climate crisis. Cities, even smaller ones like Plymouth, can and must be part of the solution.

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

I think Plymouth has performed admirably in managing the coronavirus in our community. They have hosted vaccination clinics on several occasions at the Cultural Center and Mayor Pro Tem Nick Moroz has been especially vocal on encouraging vaccinations. The Commission also extended and expanded outdoor dining availability. I would encourage mask-wearing within city facilities in keeping with CDC guidance to reduce the spread of the virus and better protect vulnerable residents and visitors.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Infrastructure improvements, diversity and inclusion, government transparency, sustainable growth and greenspace development

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

In my capacity as President of Fair Michigan, I have helped support clothing drives for homeless LGBTQ youth, and founded our Fair Michigan Resources Center at the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit. Our Resources Center provides services to LGBTQ adults who have aged out of traditionally available services. We provide career counseling, access to food and showers, and a clothing bank. Fair Michigan works with county prosecutors' offices in Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Ingham to investigate and prosecute capital crimes involving LGBTQ victims. We also train police departments and prosecutors' offices around the state on best practices for approaching cases with LGBTQ victims and witnesses.

I am a co-founder and Trustee of the Plymouth Democratic Club. PDC has a community service committee, and we participate in activities like the Hines Drive Roadside cleanups, Adopt a Planter, collecting toiletries for Cass Community Social Services, gathering food and supplies for the Huron Valley Humane Society, and organizing our annual clothing drive for the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools clothing bank.