Candidate Profile: David Hamilton, Troy City Council

TROY, MI — There are three seats open for Troy 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.

David Hamilton is running for Troy City Council Member. Here's how he filled out his profile:

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Age (as of Election Day)

38

Position Sought

Troy City Council Member

Family

I live in Troy with my wife, Stephanie, and our daughter, Victoria (who just turned 2). My brother, his wife, and my four nephews also live here and we have a lot of fun going to family events across the city together.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

I have a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in Electrical Engineering.
I'm also a graduate of the Troy School District.

Occupation

I'm an Engineer who has worked in the auto industry for the last 16 years. I'm currently a Research Engineer at Ford Motor Company.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I've been on Troy City Council for four years and I was Mayor Pro-Tem of Troy for one year.

Campaign website

hamilton4troy.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

My main motivation for running for re-election to Troy City Council is to make sure all the children in Troy get to enjoy the same childhood I had. I was born and raised here and lived a majority of my life here. I want to protect the things that shaped me into the person I am today: our library, parks, recreation programs, community center, green spaces, and safe and caring neighborhoods. I also believe that transparency and upholding ethical behavior in government is extremely important. I want to continue working with a Council that feels the same way and works hard to strengthen Troy's reputation.

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

Troy’s largest challenge is the ever-changing COVID crisis and its impact on our residents and business community. Our businesses provide a third of our property tax revenue and the understandable pivot to at-home work has decreased the demand for our office spaces. We need a plan to handle a post-COVID business world and get ahead of changes.

I will continue to stand united with the current council to follow all recommendations from our healthcare heroes. We'll keep residents informed about changes to city functions due to COVID. We offer resources and opportunities to get vaccinated. We offer safe ways to interact with the city, such as vote by mail and our secure ballot drop box. We make sure Troy’s R.Y.D.E. services (provides transportation to seniors and those with disabilities) continues to be safe to use and is ready to take residents where they need to go. Regarding our local businesses, I’ll continue to use every resource available to support them, including emergency loans, grants, and easing restrictions.

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

I’m supporting my fellow incumbent City Council members: Ellen Hodorek and Rebecca Chamberlain-Creanga. The critical difference between us and other candidates is our direct experience and track record on Council. We have a deep understanding of how the city functions and have years of financial and budget analysis experience. Together, we also worked hard to bring in a new chapter of ethics and accountability to City Hall and we want to maintain that culture. We respect one another, work well together, and believe that community engagement is paramount to maintaining a stable local government. In addition, we’ve strengthened Troy’s finances through a pandemic, providing Troy with opportunities to grow that few municipalities have at the moment. We want to work side by side with residents and make sure they are a part of shaping the future of Troy.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My priorities will continue to be protecting our green spaces, library, and parks. I’ll continue to support our police, fire, and public works departments. I also want to maintain our financial strength. During my term, we paid off $18 million in debt. As a member of Troy’s Pension and Retiree Healthcare boards, we made smart, long-term investments, saving the city millions and securing our AAA bond rating. But the pandemic is unpredictable. I’m dedicated to reinforcing our finances to prepare us for what’s ahead.

I also hope to be a part of the update to Troy’s Master Plan. This is a long-term, aspirational vision for the city that influences our approach to development, green spaces, infrastructure, etc. After four extremely educational years on Council (and growing up in Troy), I’m ready to be a part of this process to ensure it's done properly and with the buy-in of residents.

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

When I was first elected, I fought for transparency on Council and an overhaul of our ethics policy. I feel like those changes have brought in a new chapter of accountability to City Hall, and our current Council is now respected and collaborative.

During my term, I also worked hard to make good on my original campaign promises. I supported the creation of a subcommittee focused on protecting green spaces in Troy. I helped approve a 7-day library and sorely needed investments to its infrastructure, staff, and programs. I supported upgrades to our parks and investments to our trails program. I championed raising police funding by $4 million and restoring our Traffic Safety Unit by hiring six new officers.

But I’d say the biggest indication of my ability to handle this job is that myself and the current Council stayed strong and united through the COVID crisis. We followed recommendations from our healthcare community. We provided residents with updates, resources, and ways to interact safely with the city. Through it all, we managed to strengthen Troy’s finances by paying off $18 million in debt, lowered our tax rate 3.5%, and secured our AAA bond rating. I’m proud of our accomplishments over the last four years and look forward to what we can achieve together in the future.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

When you represent a body of people, it’s not about you. They are the boss. You represent them. Part of your job is to reach out to them and be accessible to them. Ask them what they want and include them in the decision making process.