[0:00] [Music]
[0:09] Hello, Westland. I'm Emily Bowman,
running to serve you for a second term
[0:15] on your city council. In November 2023,
you first elected me to start right away
[0:21] to complete a previously vacated term
and to serve a full two-year term. This
[0:27] year, I am asking for your support and
your vote to serve a four-year term. As
[0:32] someone who believes in being better
every day and learning everything I can
[0:37] about what I am working on, I
immediately set to work learning
[0:41] everything I could about being a better
servant for the residents of Westland.
[0:46] One of the things I focused on was the
differences and benefits of I versus we
[0:51] as it relates to council and serving
you. As a Wii, council worked with the
[0:56] mayor and administration and passed two
budgets that did not add taxes or rely
[1:00] on millages to be introduced or passed
in order to maintain and improve
[1:05] services to the city. As a council and
administration working together, we have
[1:09] added police officers and firefighters
to better serve the city and reduce
[1:14] response time. We have also worked to
maintain those officers beyond some of
[1:18] the grants we have depended on. With the
mayor's budget this year, we as a
[1:22] council approved over $600,000
be added into Westland's rainy day fund
[1:29] to better be prepared for unexpected or
emergencies out of our control. The
[1:35] largest ad to the fund in many years and
bringing us as a city much closer to the
[1:39] recommended levels. All of these wins
speak to good fiscally conservative use
[1:44] of your taxpayer dollars that we as a
body council are responsible for. We are
[1:49] also looking forward to the opening of
fire station 2 and the start of fire
[1:53] station 4. There are many other things
that happened in the last two years that
[1:57] we worked on.
But and there's more to come. In the I
[2:02] category, I was responsible for
listening to you, asking questions,
[2:06] challenging decisions, and being a voice
and advocate for residents and
[2:10] businesses that make Westland a
desirable place to live, work, and play.
[2:15] Some areas I want to share where I made
an impact. Since January 2024, I have
[2:20] served as the Westland liaison for the
Nanin Transit Commission. Nanskin
[2:24] Transit provides transportation for our
residents over 50 so they can get to
[2:28] their medical appointments or grocery
shopping or other needs. As a
[2:31] commission, we have worked to maintain
the low fairs for this multi-ity
[2:35] benefit. That is not easy to do in this
economy with prices going up around us.
[2:40] But it has been important in order to
keep providing the service to our
[2:43] seniors.
Other areas that I was responsible for
[2:46] was to take advantage of the education
for elected leaders from Michigan
[2:50] Municipal League. Not only did I achieve
level one, I am just shy of completing
[2:54] level two. Plus, I am currently serving
on their economic development and land
[2:59] use committee in order to keep a pulse
on what is happening at the state and
[3:02] federal levels that could affect us here
locally. I also served on the
[3:07] legislative council of SEMCOG, the
Southeast Michigan Council of
[3:11] Governments. Being on these committees
means Westland has a voice at the table
[3:15] to show support or opposition to
legislation that has direct impact to
[3:21] us. I have been honored to represent
you.
[3:25] Two years ago, I told you that I could
and I would take action on areas to make
[3:30] Westland a thriving city. I said I would
look for ways to lower taxes, make
[3:35] myself available as we work together for
shared goals, work so Westland's current
[3:39] assets in business, community
organizations, and cultural events be
[3:44] even more successful. I said I would
work on the right things and help create
[3:48] a vision where this community brings in
and supports families and businesses. In
[3:53] my two years on council, I have done
what I said I would and know that my job
[3:56] isn't finished. working on where I can
be better and working with the council,
[4:01] mayor, and administration, I am helping
to lead in the right areas to make
[4:05] Westland a thriving community.
Experience and leadership matter. Not
[4:11] only do I have the experience I brought
to council, I now have the experience of
[4:15] being on council, showing that I work
for you. In the coming months, you are
[4:19] going to hear me talk more about one key
area, and that is arts and culture. one
[4:24] of the critical pillars that helps make
a community thrive. And I will be
[4:27] leading the charge to improve this and
make Westland even more desirable to
[4:31] live, work, play, and visit. Voters who
want to see Westland not just thrive,
[4:37] but to flourish are voting to reelect
Emily Bowman. You can read more about me
[4:42] at emilybowman.com.
My telephone number is 734-224-3679
[4:49] and my email is emily emilybowman.com.
[4:54] [Music]
[5:11] Hello, my name is Jim Hart and I'm one
of the candidates running for
[5:13] re-election to city council this year.
I've had the chance to meet many of you
[5:17] at your home or during the extensive
work I've done here in the city over the
[5:20] past seven years. As you know, there's
four seats up for election and you have
[5:23] the opportunity and challenging task of
going over the candidates's quality
[5:27] qualifications so you can make an
informed choice. About myself, I'm a
[5:31] 15-year United States Army veteran and
proudly served our nation both here and
[5:35] overseas. I joined the Army after
graduating high school as public service
[5:38] not only calling but a family tradition.
Shortly after joining the Army, I
[5:42] married Linda, my high school
sweetheart. And after 29 years of
[5:45] marriage and counting, we've been
blessed with three children. I continue
[5:48] to be very happy that we chose to raise
them here in Westland and in Westland
[5:52] public schools. Education is important
to me. I hold a bachelor's in business
[5:56] management and a master's degree from
the University of Michigan Dearborn. In
[5:59] my professional life, I own a small
technical consulting business and work
[6:03] full-time as a senior engineer for
Verizon. I have almost 30 years of
[6:07] leadership and management experience in
public, private, and nonprofit sectors
[6:11] and have been nationally recognized for
my accomplishments. I've been published
[6:15] in the Construction Association of
Michigan magazine for my work on helping
[6:18] to drive technical innovation,
supporting the rebirth of Detroit. All
[6:22] this means that I have years of
extensive experience, professional
[6:24] business, and personnel management.
These are the qualities you look for
[6:28] from a city council candidate. I'm
applying for the job and I'm here to
[6:31] bring my skills to bear for the
betterment of the city. I'm not doing
[6:34] this to build your my resume. I'm
offering my resume to you. I have a long
[6:38] history of volunteerism and civic
service here in Westland. I served on
[6:42] the board of directors for the Westland
Chamber of Commerce, which is a local
[6:45] business and community advocacy
organization that represents Westland
[6:49] businesses. I'm also a proud alumni of
the Westland area JC's and served as a
[6:53] president of that organization in 2015.
I was proud to put Westland on the map
[6:57] and recognized as one of the top 10
presidents across the United States. On
[7:01] the council, I've been able to bring
consensus and share my experience with
[7:04] my colleagues. I was honored to be
selected to serve as council president
[7:08] for four years. Through my years of work
here in the city, I've developed good
[7:11] working relationships with the
administration and that will help us as
[7:14] we continue to forge the road ahead.
This is a pivotal time, not only in our
[7:19] city, but as a nation. Our home buying,
shopping, and commerce landscapes have
[7:23] greatly changed. This is a national
trend. I've been working with our
[7:26] adapting marketplace for years and I
know the direction successful cities are
[7:30] going. We can also take advantage of
these trends. We can adapt now with the
[7:34] market and our environment to get out in
front and poise our city for success. To
[7:38] be successful, we will re need to
rethink how we approach development and
[7:42] residential landscapes and how we view
fixed retail. Placemaking and
[7:46] neighborhood planning are essential to
this change. I'm an experienced team
[7:49] player and I've been on track record of
being able to bring consensus to large
[7:53] groups of competing interests and
ideals. I realize that we all want the
[7:57] same thing, but we all have different
approaches on how to get there. As a
[8:00] great leader told me, it will be amazing
what we accomplish as long as we don't
[8:04] care who gets the credit. For this
growth to occur and be successful,
[8:07] you're going to need candidates who have
a proven track record in building
[8:10] organizations. You hire someone with
good references and a demonstrated
[8:14] ability to do the job. Having a positive
attitude is good, but you need to have
[8:18] the aptitude as well. Many of you told
me that expanded services are wanted and
[8:22] needed, and I couldn't agree more. We
have made extensive progress in
[8:26] retaining and recruiting our first
responders. Clean and safe streets along
[8:30] with active business growth are the
three pillars required to support
[8:33] continued housing value and thriving
community that attracts new home buyers.
[8:37] I'm proud to announce that we have
worked to double the size of our
[8:40] ordinance department to fight blight and
enforce clean neighborhoods. For years,
[8:44] I've been a strong advocate for our
city, and I've always conducted myself
[8:47] in a manner that continues to bring
credit to our residents and our
[8:50] community. I'm a Westland homeowner,
father, husband, and I have plenty of
[8:54] skin in the game. As you can see, I'm
fully invested in our city. Finally, I'd
[8:59] like to thank you all for your time,
either on the porch, on the phone, in
[9:02] the council chambers, or watching this
video. You really do have a tough job
[9:06] ahead. I applaud your civic action by
going through all of these
[9:09] presentations. As always, I can be
reached by cell at 73479-5307
[9:15] or my email at
jimcitizensforjimheart.com
[9:19] or online where I've posted a great deal
of additional information with my
[9:22] professional resume. This can be found
at citizensforjimheart.com.
[9:27] Thanks for your time.
[Music]
[9:46] Hello, Westland. I'm Delano Hornbuckle,
and it is truly an honor to stand before
[9:52] you once again as I seek to continue
serving as your Westland City
[9:57] Councilman.
Over the past three years, we made
[10:01] meaningful progress in transforming our
community. From safe streets to stronger
[10:06] neighborhoods, we laid a strong
foundation, but we're just getting
[10:11] started. My mission remained clear to
keep building a safer, stronger, and
[10:17] more vibrant restand for your family and
mines.
[10:22] When I first joined city council, I
discovered that some neighborhoods were
[10:27] still without street lights, and that
was unacceptable.
[10:31] Street lights aren't just about
visibility. They're about safety,
[10:36] security, and peace of mind. One of my
first actions was to advocate for
[10:42] installing lights where they were
desperately needed because every
[10:47] residents deserve to feel safe, right
outside their front door.
[10:52] As a husband and father, the safety of
our city and the strength of our
[10:57] community are deeply personal to me.
That's why when the opportunity came to
[11:02] invest in our parks, I didn't hesitate
to support it because safe,
[11:08] welcomecoming space for our families
aren't just luxury, they're essential.
[11:13] During my time on city council, I
champion programs that uplifted and
[11:19] empower our residents. from supporting
youth enrichments to extending access to
[11:24] food accessibility to giving our kids
the opportunity to explore places like
[11:30] Washington DC.
These investments aren't about building
[11:34] a better tomorrow.
Because when you invest in people,
[11:39] we secure the future of Westland.
Now, let me share some of the progress
[11:45] we made together.
We added 13 full-time firefighters and
[11:51] paramedics, a direct investment in the
safety of our residents and the first
[11:56] responders who protect us.
We renewed our mental health
[12:01] partnership, ensuring Westland Police
are supported by social worker and
[12:07] substance use specialist when it matters
most.
[12:10] We broke ground on a brand new
state-of-the-art fire station with
[12:16] another one on the way. Bringing modern
technology and training facilities to
[12:21] our city. Investing millions into our
parks, upgrading equipment, and creating
[12:27] a safe fun space for everyone to enjoy.
We improved roads, upgraded
[12:36] infrastructures, and launched the Safe
Street for all plan to reduce accidents
[12:42] and protect pedestrians.
This isn't just talk. It's a record of
[12:48] action, a record of service, a record
I'm proud to stand on and ready to build
[12:54] on.
But this campaign isn't just about what
[12:58] we've done. It's about where we're
going.
[13:01] As your councilman, I will continue to
be visible and accessible. My cell phone
[13:08] is always on and always will be on.
Meet and listen to residents. I will
[13:15] continue to be in the community talking
with you, hearing your concerns, and
[13:19] helping solve real problems.
Working for a better infrastructure.
[13:25] Families shouldn't worry about flooding
basement or power outages after every
[13:31] storm.
Stand up for safe neighborhoods.
[13:36] Support policy that reflect working
families. Protect public services. And
[13:43] use your tax dollars wisely.
This election isn't about title. It's
[13:48] about trust. And I hope I've earned
yours. So today, I ask for your vote,
[13:54] your support, and your voice. Let's
continue building a safer, stronger, and
[14:00] more vibrant Westland for your family
and minds.
[14:05] Stay connected with me and see the great
things happening around our city by
[14:09] following me on Facebook at Councilman
Delano Hornbuckle.
[14:14] I'm Councilman Delena Hornbuckle and I
look forward to earning your vote for
[14:19] Westland City Council in this year's
election. Thank you.
[14:25] [Music]
[14:41] Hello, I'm Michael Lando. I'm a lifelong
resident of Westland and have had the
[14:46] honor of serving as Westland's ninth
mayor and as a member of our city
[14:49] council. In the August primary,
residents across Westland showed strong
[14:53] support for my candidacy. That
encouragement motivates me to keep
[14:57] building on the progress we've started
and to continue delivering results for
[15:00] our community. Residents have told me
loud and clear, you want a city council
[15:05] and administration that listens,
collaborates, and delivers results.
[15:09] That's the approach I've always taken.
During my time as mayor, we tackled
[15:14] long-standing neighborhood challenges
with fresh solutions. For example, I
[15:18] remember walking down Hawthorne Street
and hearing from neighbors worried about
[15:21] cracked sidewalks. That's why we
launched the city's largest sidewalk
[15:25] replacement program ever, improving
walkability and safety at no additional
[15:29] cost to homeowners.
We also worked with city council to
[15:32] allocate $1.25 million to update nine
neighborhood parks across every corner
[15:37] of our city. A critical needs assessment
guided those investments, ensuring we
[15:41] prioritized the parks most in need and
delivered real improvements families
[15:45] could enjoy. We brought back curbside
bulk leaf pickup, restoring a service
[15:49] families relied on and asked for in
neighborhoods where speeding was a
[15:53] problem, such as Florence and Hanland
near Rotary Park. We introduced a speed
[15:57] hump pilot program to slow traffic and
improve safety, a program now expanded
[16:02] to more neighborhoods. We also advanced
pedestrian safety plans to make our
[16:06] streets safer for walkers and bikers.
across the city. These initiatives
[16:10] weren't about headlines. They were about
making life safer and better. And our
[16:14] Department of Public Service workers
were key to making it happen.
[16:18] Strong neighborhoods rely on strong
public safety. Police, fire, and EMS
[16:22] deserve more than praise. They need
proper staffing, training, and
[16:26] resources.
In the winter of 2023, we laid the
[16:30] foundation for a new fire station to
replace our oldest facility, including a
[16:34] regional training tower for first
responders across the community.
[16:37] Federal and state funding supported the
project, and while construction began
[16:41] after I left office, I'm proud to have
initiated this critical investment. Our
[16:45] police station is aging and needs more
than a remodel. It requires either a
[16:49] rebuild or a major expansion. Updated
facilities mean better efficiency,
[16:54] faster response times, and stronger
protection for residents.
[16:58] Residents have told me Westland needs a
modern recreation center. They're right.
[17:03] A facility that offers year-round
fitness, wellness, and aquatic programs
[17:06] will help retain families and attract
the next generation to our city. From
[17:11] swim lessons to fitness classes, from
youth sports to adult wellness programs,
[17:15] a modern rec center will provide
opportunities for all ages. We also
[17:20] developed plans for the annex at Nankin,
a community space for concerts, events,
[17:25] and outdoor fun. While that project is
set to open this fall under a new name,
[17:29] the vision remains the same. To
strengthen our shop and dine district,
[17:33] support local businesses, and create a
vibrant public destination for everyone
[17:37] to enjoy.
Over the years, I faced baseless attacks
[17:42] intended to distract from real progress.
While many in my position might have
[17:46] responded with criticism, I've chosen a
different path. Listening,
[17:50] collaborating, and focusing on results.
That dedication allowed me to achieve
[17:54] outcomes while maintaining strong,
productive relationships with colleagues
[17:58] and city staff. Relationships I'm proud
to say I still have today. Yes, I have
[18:03] differences of opinion, but that's
healthy because diversity of thought
[18:07] handled with respect leads to better
ideas and stronger results for
[18:10] residents. I'm not here to be an
adversary. I'm here to be a partner to
[18:15] build on the progress we've started. And
that continues even while I've been out
[18:18] of office these past two years.
This election is not about going
[18:22] backwards. It's about continuing
progress with leadership you can trust.
[18:26] You've heard a lot in this election
about unity or a shared vision. I agree.
[18:31] Unity matters. But unity doesn't mean
lining up behind endorsements or one
[18:35] person's agenda. Unity means bringing
together diverse voices, asking tough
[18:40] questions, and making decisions that
serve residents. I'm running as an
[18:44] independent, experienced leader. I've
balanced multi-million dollar budgets,
[18:49] led citywide initiatives, and worked
side by side with residents to solve
[18:52] problems. What Westland needs now is
proven leadership, steady hands, not
[18:57] inexperience or group think. Together,
we can strengthen public safety, improve
[19:02] quality of life in every neighborhood,
and ensure financial stability for the
[19:06] future. I'd be honored to be one of your
four choices this November. Let's bring
[19:10] back leadership with a proven track
record of success. Let's build a
[19:14] stronger, safer, and thriving Westland
together. To learn more or connect with
[19:18] me directly, call me at 7342232000
[19:24] or follow along on Facebook at Michael
Londo4 Westland. Thank you very much.
[19:30] [Music]
[19:46] Hi, my name is Antinet Martin and I'm
running for Westland City Council in the
[19:51] August 5th primary. Thank you for giving
me this opportunity to introduce myself
[19:56] and share why I am running. I have
proudly called Westland my home for over
[20:01] 30 years and have moved here in 1988.
Like many, my life has seen changes.
[20:07] During COVID, I became a widow. I
recently got a new roommate, my
[20:12] 91-year-old mother. It's really been fun
having her with me. And while having my
[20:16] mother live with me has brought a lot of
joy, it's also taught me a lot about
[20:20] resilience and how with the right
support from your community, you can
[20:24] handle almost anything.
Professionally, I hold a bachelor's
[20:30] degree in business administration and I
majored in accounting. I'm a retired
[20:34] financial adviser with 30 years of
experience. And over my career, I've
[20:38] held Federal's license series 7, the
Michigan state license 63 and 66, as
[20:44] well as insurance license, health, life,
and code, and lastly, variable
[20:48] contracts. I've also completed all the
cowork for certified financial planning
[20:54] and my education continued annually for
30 years. With all this experience and
[20:58] education, I will be able to promise you
that I will make sure that the city will
[21:03] always stay s financially sound.
The city council race includes many
[21:09] candidates with advanced degrees like
myself, but I believe my background
[21:13] stands out because it it's backed with
real world experience. I didn't just get
[21:17] my degree recently. I've had it for
decades. I built my own business from
[21:21] the ground up and successfully sold it
in 2018. Currently, as a retirement
[21:27] position, I work at the Rouge plant for
the Henry Ford Museum, where I'm
[21:31] surrounded by hardworking UAW members.
And I am honored to recently have
[21:36] received the endorsement of the UAW.
I talk about my sense of community and
[21:41] it's and how it sets me apart from
candidates. I didn't start doing charity
[21:46] work because I decided for to run for
council. I've been doing it for years. I
[21:51] was honored to be named Westland Citizen
of the Year and recently received
[21:56] multiple service above self awards from
the Westland Rotary. Sometimes this
[22:00] meant staying up till 2 am working a
charity poker night to raise funds for
[22:05] scholarships for Westland schools and
also sponsor the Salvation Army summer
[22:10] camp for children. I've served on many
boards and commissions, including the
[22:14] library board and the Brownsfield
Redevelopment Board. While serving, we
[22:18] were able to keep the budget under
control, which later led to the
[22:22] expansion of our library. The tax
exemptives from Brownsfield helped bring
[22:27] new businesses to Westland, including
MJR Theater and Tim Hortons.
[22:33] As president of the Westland Rotary, one
project I'm especially proud of was
[22:38] leading a partnership with VOTE, which
built Rotary Park Pavilion. I've
[22:42] established partnerships between the
Westland Rotary and the Chamber of
[22:45] Commerce for the annual Tastefest event.
And I was also part of the investment
[22:50] team that helps secure Rotary's
financial future so we can continue to
[22:54] do good work in our city.
Now, I'd like to share why I'm running
[22:58] for city council. I don't just live in a
city. I live in my home, my
[23:03] neighborhood, and my community. I want
to see Westland, my community, continue
[23:07] to thrive. Recently, after watching city
council meetings, it's clear to me that
[23:12] city council needs stronger leadership,
more focus, and better direction. I
[23:17] won't say much more about that, but if
you haven't been watching, I encourage
[23:21] you to go to YouTube, search Westland
City Council, and draw your own
[23:24] conclusions.
I am also running because I strongly
[23:29] support Mayor Coleman and his
administration. I believe there's a lot
[23:33] of talent in city hall, and it's time we
empowered the talent to do its job. I'm
[23:38] not here to be a rubber stamp. I am here
to bring my financial expertise to do
[23:43] due diligence necessary to make informed
decisions and keep our city moving
[23:47] forward.
As a city council member, I can promise
[23:52] you this. I will work as hard as I can
and I will use all my skills and talents
[23:56] to make the city better. And as my
husband would say, let me repeat. I will
[24:01] use all my talents and skills to make
the city better. Thank you for your time
[24:06] and vote for Anwinet Martin on August
5th.
[24:11] [Music]
[24:27] I'm Lisha Maxwell, a candidate for
Westland City Council. I'm committed to
[24:32] progress and committed to community. For
the past 15 years, I have been proud to
[24:37] call Westland home. I have dedicated my
time to serving others through
[24:42] leadership roles in our city. I am
running for city council because I
[24:47] believe in the power of strategic
leadership, financial responsibility,
[24:51] and communitydriven progress.
I bring decades of experience in
[24:56] budgeting, finance, and project
management to city government.
[25:00] As an appointed official in Westland, I
have worked to create opportunities for
[25:04] families. I remain committed to making
this city a better place. My goals
[25:09] include economic development to create
jobs and support local businesses,
[25:14] enhance job training for youth and young
adults, supporting our veterans and
[25:19] their families with access to essential
resources, and enhancing community
[25:24] engagement to foster a stronger sense of
unity. I am ready to bring fresh
[25:29] perspectives, sound financial
decision-making, and a deep commitment
[25:33] to Westland's future. I ask for your
support, your ideas, and your vote as we
[25:38] shape a brighter future for Westland.
Live well, be well, vote Maxwell.
[25:47] [Music]
[26:03] Hello, my name is Josh Pal and I'm
running for Westland City Council. I'm
[26:07] running to serve the residents of
Westland because I think our city is in
[26:10] dire need of revitalization. Like you,
I've seen the slow creep of our property
[26:14] taxes, the everinccreasing cost of
utilities, and the unacceptable number
[26:18] of empty buildings and lots in our
business districts. As a veteran of the
[26:22] Army, a small business owner, and a
leader in our community, I have the
[26:25] knowledge and experience to advocate for
a better future for a city and to make
[26:29] our city a more desirable destination
for our children and grandchildren. We
[26:33] are at a critical time in our city's
history where we can either manage the
[26:36] decline or remake ourselves into a city
for the future. With that in mind, I
[26:40] would like to present to you my plan to
revitalize Lewin for the 21st century
[26:44] and beyond.
First, let's address the elephant on
[26:47] Warren Road, the Westland Mall. It is no
secret that the Westland Mall is not
[26:51] what it used to be. And changing
shopping habits have affected malls all
[26:54] over the country. But plenty of malls in
our area have survived and even thrived
[26:57] in this new environment. And our
historic mall has a unique and
[27:00] significant history in our city that I
believe is worth preserving.
[27:03] I have a plan for the city to partner
with the ownership of the mall to make
[27:06] it a destination for the community again
by converting one of the empty anchor
[27:10] stores into a community center that
residents have been missing for so long.
[27:15] This plan would drive more traffic and
visitors to our shop and dine district
[27:18] while at the same time saving the city
money on building a community center by
[27:22] utilizing existing infrastructure. And
instead of costly loans, we could pay
[27:25] for it by giving them all the property
tax breaks it has so long been asking
[27:28] for it to repair and update the
facilities it already has. This plan is
[27:32] both fiscally responsible and good for
the business community long term.
[27:37] Second, we've got to make Westland more
competitive to new investment by
[27:40] bringing our property taxes under
control and creating a more competitive
[27:42] regulatory environment. While cities all
around us attract new businesses and
[27:46] investment, Westland continuously loses
out to those cities where the property
[27:49] is actually more expensive but who have
lower millages and less ownorous
[27:52] regulations. We should have an advantage
in attracting new investment, but we are
[27:56] holding ourselves back and I want to
help get the city government out of the
[27:59] way. Third, we must reduce utility costs
and make the city more livable for us
[28:04] residents and current business owners. I
have long been a strong advocate of
[28:07] building a water tower and water storage
infrastructure for the city which would
[28:10] allow the city to buy water when it's
cheaper at night to disperse the
[28:14] residents and businesses when they
actually use it during the day and give
[28:16] us all the peace of mind that we can
provide clean water for our residents in
[28:19] an emergency. This is something
surrounding communities have done
[28:22] successfully and save the residents
millions of dollars a year in proven
[28:24] costs. So, it's a proven plan and
there's already a known blueprint we can
[28:28] follow. You may be asking who is Josh
Powell? Well, before I became the
[28:33] candidate for Westland City Council,
I've worked in IT for 16 years. I
[28:36] started a company called GLP Computer
Solutions, which I later sold when I
[28:40] took a job offer at a Fortune 500
company, and I have one son who recently
[28:43] graduated from John Glenn High School.
Prior to that, I used the GI Bill at
[28:48] Lynwood University where I received my
degree in information technology. I
[28:51] served as a military police officer in
the Missouri Army National Guard and the
[28:54] Michigan Army National Guard after
relocating here in 2010. My life has
[28:59] taught me to pay attention to how people
are treated. And in 2020, I decided to
[29:02] go back to school at Purdue University
and graduated with a degree in criminal
[29:05] justice and then attended law school in
an effort to help people in my community
[29:08] I felt had been treated wrongly. And it
was then that I saw a need to get more
[29:12] involved in my local government. I want
to see my son and future generations in
[29:16] Westland have even more opportunities
than I do, not less, as I'm sure all of
[29:19] you do as well. I'm afraid that won't
happen with the current trajectory we
[29:22] are on right now. I feel the city is
just managing the decline, but we can do
[29:27] better for ourselves and we must do
better for our children.
[29:30] The city needs fresh faces with new
ideas in the government to shake out
[29:34] things up. And I believe I'm the right
person for the job. And I'm asking for
[29:37] your vote for both the partial term and
the full term so we can get started
[29:40] right away. Do you have questions for
me? You can go to my website at
[29:44] powellforwestland.com.
That's pwl the number for westland.com
[29:50] or call or text me directly at
7342348135.
[29:55] Thank you for your time. Thank you for
your vote and together we can revitalize
[29:59] Westland.
[30:03] [Music]
[30:20] Hello fellow Westland residents and
thank you for taking the time to watch
[30:23] this program to become a more informed
voter in this year's city council
[30:27] election. I would first like to tell you
a little about myself and my experience.
[30:32] My name is John Sullivan. I am a
husband, father of three, and
[30:36] grandfather of two. All three of my
children are now adults and college
[30:40] graduates. I have been married to my
wife Sharon for 30 years. Sharon has
[30:46] been a school teacher in the Wayne
Westland School District for the past 27
[30:49] years, and she serves Westland on the
Parks and Recreation Board and on the
[30:53] Westland Historical Commission.
I am a 30-year licensed and practicing
[30:58] attorney and local small business owner.
I was elected four times to serve on the
[31:03] legislative body of our county, serving
as a Wayne County Commissioner for eight
[31:07] years.
I currently serve the city of Westland
[31:11] on the youth assistance advisory board
as a youth mentor on the city's tax
[31:16] board of review and on the local
development finance authority board. I
[31:21] am also a member of the Westland
Historical Society and I have spent
[31:25] countless hours volunteering at our
historical village and at many events
[31:30] throughout our community.
I am running for a seat on your city
[31:34] council because I want to bring positive
change to our city. Throughout my career
[31:39] as an attorney and in public service, I
have always worked hard to make sure
[31:44] that everyone has a voice and that all
people are treated with fairness,
[31:48] honesty, and dignity.
Because of my experience and dedication
[31:52] to our community, I have earned the
support of many local leaders and
[31:56] organizations for my campaign, including
Mayor Kevin Coleman, City Council
[32:01] President Mike McDermott, State
Representative Peter Hersburg, County
[32:06] Commissioner Glenn Anderson, the
Westland Firefighters Union, and
[32:10] numerous other unions, community
leaders, former mayors, and
[32:14] organizations. I invite you to visit my
website at www.sullivan4westwand.
[32:19] sullivan4westwland.com
to see full list of endorsements.
[32:25] I would also like to take a minute to
tell you about some of the things that I
[32:28] find important and would like to work on
as your next city councilman.
[32:33] First, I would like to invest in all of
Westland's neighborhoods to improve our
[32:37] infrastructure and increase property
values for residents across the
[32:41] community. We need to continue the work
of repaving neighborhood roads,
[32:46] upgrading water and sewer systems, and
ensuring pedestrian safety and
[32:50] walkability by fixing broken sidewalks
and connecting sidewalk gaps. Second, I
[32:56] want to ensure that we adequately fund
our police and fire departments to make
[33:00] sure that they are fully staffed with
the newest technology and equipment
[33:04] available. These services are vital to
decreasing crime, increasing property
[33:09] values, and making sure that we as
residents are safe and receive proper
[33:13] response times to our emergency calls.
Also, I would like to see the city of
[33:19] Westland invest more in its parks and
recreation programs. I know that
[33:23] amenities like beautiful, well-kept
parks can go a long way in attracting
[33:27] new residents to our community and
improving the quality of life for
[33:30] everyone who lives here. We need to
increase investments in our parks and
[33:35] recreation department to make sure that
we maintain proper upkeep and cleaning
[33:39] of our parks and to continue to add new
recreational opportunities for our
[33:44] residents.
I also plan to work with the city
[33:47] administration to explore opportunities
to bring back a city recreation center
[33:51] and public swimming pool for residents
to enjoy. These are just a few of the
[33:56] many things that I would like to work on
to improve our community and quality of
[34:00] life here in Westland.
And again, please go to my website at
[34:04] www.sullivan4westwland.com
[34:08] to learn more about me and my plans to
help make our community a great place to
[34:12] live. Thank you again for taking the
time to better inform yourself about the
[34:16] candidates running for city council this
year. And I humbly ask you to provide me
[34:21] with the opportunity to help improve our
community by casting one of your votes
[34:25] for John Sullivan.
[34:30] [Music]