Candidate Profile: Derrick George, Royal Oak Commissioner

ROYAL OAK, MI — There are three open seats for Royal Oak 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.

Derrick George is running for Royal Oak Commissioner. Here's how he filled out his profile:

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Age (as of Election Day)

47

Position Sought

Royal Oak Commissioner

Party Affiliation

Non-Partisan Race

Family

Wife, Maggie; Son, Spencer

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Education: JD, University of Denver College of Law; MS, Columbia University; BA, Michigan State University

Occupation

Attorney and Founder, George Law, which is headquartered in Royal Oak

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

electyourteam2021.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I want to create a culture in Royal Oak when everyone’s view and input is respected. As a city commissioner, I will make decisions I believe are in the best interest of the community we love and work tirelessly to make better. I want to promote our downtown – small business owners are the core of our local economy. Most importantly, I want to build trust among our citizens. We should expect an open, transparent and accountable leadership team for the city of Royal Oak and my intent is to foster that climate again.

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

When elected, I intend to ensure citizens of Royal Oak are heard and their concerns are addressed through continual engagement. Our current commission does not listen to their constituents and I intend to set up a process in which we have all citizens an active part of the process of governing the city of Royal Oak.

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

I am a small business owner who has chosen to locate in Royal Oak because I believe strongly in the fabric of our community. I think the current city commission needs to do a much better job in listening to residents and upholding the will of the people. As an elected official, I will do my best to put voters first. I think we need more people who are invested in our community like me running for office.

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

As I mentioned, I think our current commission could do a better job at listening to and heeding the will of voters. There is a significant lack of transparency with the current commission’s actions. Further, the current commission works too hard to change existing laws and ordinances (such as our city’s current master plan) when no change is actually needed. I am tired of neighborhoods and small business owners being ignored in favor of large developers and large businesses who wanted to shape our community into something it shouldn’t be. I want to put our citizens first.

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

I commend the Oakland County Health Department and County Executive David Coulter for their consistent approach to the current health crisis. Oakland County has been a state leader in our response to COVID-19. My family and I are fully vaccinated and we believe in putting the science first. Our son is too young to yet be vaccinated and we do everything we can to limit his exposure and keep him safe. We are supporters of our local school district’s efforts to protect students.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am proud to be running with a group of independent thinkers who will be responsive to voters concerns and

• Uphold the City Charter and all City laws/ordinances.
• Focus on fiscal responsibility and transparency.
• Work for residents, local businesses, and neighborhoods, not special interests and/or for personal gain.
• Protect single-family neighborhoods and green spaces.
• Follow the City Master Plan.
• Foster real citizen engagement.

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

As a small business owner and the founder of a prominent law firm in Royal Oak, my experiences are varied in terms of administrative work and customer engagement. I am grown my firm from a one-person shop to a thriving organization because I invest in people and utilize their talents. I am entrepreneurial and understand the necessary factors to grow our business sector, specifically our downtown, but love to engage people. I am a good listener and intend to focus on voters before making decisions that might impact them as a commissioner.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

A colleague once shared with me a perspective of working on a farm and applied it to her work life: Everyone working on the farm wants to drive the tractor but the stalls still be to be cleaned. It’s a constant reminder to me – as a leader – that even though I am generally responsible for the big responsibilities that come with being the head of a law firm, I need to get off the tractor and work in the dirt with everyone else at George Law. That piece of advice really grounds me and helps to delegate responsibility while sharing tasks. I don’t ask anyone at my company to do something I am unwilling to do myself.

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

Voters can learn more about me and my candidate platform at www.electyourteam2021.com