Election 2012: Jennifer Mann, Plymouth Township Trustee Candidate

Jennifer Mann, candidate for Plymouth Township Trustee

Age: 43  
Party affiliation: Republican
Residence: Plymouth Township 
Length of residency in Plymouth: Resident of Plymouth Township for 3 ½ years.  Prior to that I lived in the City of Plymouth for 15 years.
Spouse/kids?: Married to Chuck Mann, 1 son Nigel who attends Bird Elementary

What is your prior political experience?: Nothing political.  I am a fresh voice with new views and thoughts on how we can improve our Township and keep us moving forward with our services. 

What is your prior professional experience?: I hold a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University’s School of Medicine and graduated with honors.  I am a professional in the health care industry.  I am involved with the American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better program and their Relay for Life Walk/Fundraiser.  I help to organize a team and have been captain, co-captain, and team member.  I am also involved with the Bird PTO and volunteer my services for functions at the school.   I believe that it is important to give back to your community.  

What made you decide to seek office?: I am passionate about helping our community.  I believe that Plymouth Township is a great place to live and raise a family.  However, recent changes in the direction, attitude and respect for all of our residents by our elected officials are cause for great concern.  I cannot stand by and watch as our community is being degraded and ruined by individuals who do not put the residents needs first.  It is clear at Board of Trustee meetings that our elected officials have lost touch with what is important to the residents of this community.  I have witnessed this first hand for the past 18 months.  I have been attending the Board of Trustee meetings now since the fall of 2010.  There is only 1 other candidate that regularly attends these meetings.  During this time, I have been watching what is transpiring and find that the actions and viewpoints of our current Board are out of line with the way they should be representing our community and what our residents want.  I have walked the community and have talked with many residents regarding the state of affairs our Township is in.  They want a change in leadership and the road that we are traveling down.  If I am not willing to stand up and make a change, how can I expect anyone else to?

What issues do you see affecting the township?:  
What is your plan to address those issues?:

Emergency Services and closing of a fire station.   Our current BOT has disregarded the voice of the residents.  There were other options available and this BOT refused to even look at them.  I would have taken concessions first and foremost.  Then I would have turned attention to other cost savings and revenue generating avenues prior to degrading the service.  There were other options that could have been tried prior to closing a station and laying-off fire fighter/paramedics.   This community spent the money needed to make sure that we were offering the best service, Advanced Life Support EMS to its residents.  We should not be throwing that investment away. 

Unnecessary spending on nonessential items. We should not be spending money on extracurricular items, such as land speculations and possible investment avenues, when we are looking at cutting public safety services    First and foremost, we need to get back to the basics with what a government is supposed to provide to its residents.  These are services such as Fire, Police, EMS, Water and Sewage.  After we have these basic needs and necessities taken care of, then we can look at other extracurricular areas such as Parks and Recreation and Community Events, golf course needs and wants, land acquisitions.

Not following their own rules and procedures.  Example: Awarding bids to contractors without getting 3 bids.  Special meeting on Monday April 2^, 2012. Current BOT awarded a contract for the Construction Manager for the Five Mile Pump House Project. Two board members pointed out at meeting that this should have been put out for bids.  The answer by our Treasurer, Ron Edwards, was that “We are the Board… We can do what we want!”  It was made clear that the current elected officials believe that they do not have to follow the rules and regulations set forth in the charter and by-laws.  This is just one example of unacceptable behavior by current BOT.