Planet Detroit Candidate Survey
What are the three most pressing environmental issues facing the communities you seek to serve? Please rank them in order of priority and briefly explain why you chose each.
Water Infrastructure and Affordability. Communities like Owosso face aging water and sewer systems that require major investment. Clean drinking water is not optional, and working families should not be forced to choose between paying their water bill, buying groceries, or filling a prescription.
Utility Costs and Energy Reliability. Michigan families continue to face rising utility bills while utilities seek repeated rate increases. We need reliable energy, modern infrastructure, and stronger accountability to ensure ratepayers are receiving value for what they pay.
Farmland Preservation and Responsible Development. Mid-Michigan's farmland is one of our greatest assets. We need to protect agricultural land from speculative development, ensure local communities have a voice in major projects, and balance economic growth with long-term stewardship of our natural resources.
Michigan law requires utilities to reach 100% clean energy by 2040. If elected, would you support maintaining this law, or would you support revising or repealing it?
Other (please explain below)
Explanation for Question 2 (1-2 sentences)
I support the goal of cleaner and more reliable energy, but I also believe affordability and grid reliability must remain central to the conversation. Any implementation should protect ratepayers from excessive costs and ensure Michigan families are not asked to bear an unfair financial burden.
More than two dozen Michigan communities are considering or have approved large-scale data center developments. What role should state government play in overseeing data center development, and what guardrails should the state legislature enact?
State government should ensure communities have access to accurate information and meaningful input before major projects move forward. I support a temporary moratorium on new large-scale data center developments while Michigan studies their long-term impacts on energy demand, water usage, utility costs, and local infrastructure. Any future projects should include transparent reporting, local approval processes, infrastructure impact assessments, and clear protections for taxpayers and ratepayers.
PFAS contamination has been detected across Michigan. What is the single most important step the officeholder in this position should take on PFAS in the next term?
Michigan should accelerate cleanup efforts by holding polluters accountable and ensuring affected communities receive the resources necessary to identify, monitor, and remediate contamination. Communities should not bear the financial burden of pollution they did not create.
Do you support requiring Michigan regulators to assess cumulative environmental and health impacts on overburdened communities before approving new permits for polluting facilities?
Yes
Explanation for Question 5 (Optional 1-2 sentences)
Environmental permitting decisions should consider the full impact on communities, not just the impact of a single project in isolation. Residents deserve transparency and a complete understanding of how new developments may affect public health and quality of life.
Should elected officials play a greater role in holding utility companies accountable for rate hikes and rising energy costs?
Yes. Utility regulation should prioritize ratepayers, not utility shareholders. Michigan residents deserve transparency, accountability, and a thorough review of rate increase requests. Families and small businesses cannot continue absorbing repeated increases while struggling with the broader affordability crisis.
What is your position on Line 5?
Any decision regarding Line 5 must carefully balance environmental protection, energy reliability, and economic impacts. Michigan has a responsibility to protect the Great Lakes while ensuring communities have reliable access to energy. I support a transparent, science-based review process that fully evaluates risks, alternatives, and long-term impacts before major decisions are made.
Would you support legislation to cap water bills for low-income Michiganders and add certain shut-off protections?
Yes. Access to clean water is a basic necessity. I support reasonable affordability protections and safeguards against shutoffs for vulnerable households while also pursuing long-term investments in water infrastructure to address the underlying causes of rising costs.
Do you support or oppose legislation to hold polluters accountable for cleanup costs?
Support
Please explain your position on polluter accountability.
The polluter should pay. Companies and individuals responsible for contamination should be held accountable for cleanup costs rather than shifting those expenses onto taxpayers and local communities.