Candidate Profile: Joe Pittel For Rochester Community Schools

Joe Pittel, an Oakland Township resident is running for Rochester Community School Board.

Age: 41
Party affiliation: N/A
Family:Married to Katie for 15 years. Proud Dad of three RCS students, ages 11, 9 and 6.
Occupation:Attorney - 15 years
Previous elected experience:None
Family members in government:No
Campaign website: www.joepittel.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
The single most pressing issue facing our state is a complete lack of trust in our government and other institutions. I intend to restore faith by being open, transparent and responsive.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have a unique background that other board members frankly do not have. In my legal career, I worked as a government lawyer and now I am the head lawyer for a major corporation. This has given me the right mix of experience to help guide our Board.
I have many years as a business manager and have worked extensively with corporate boards, so I am well suited to give the administration the guidance and support it needs most. A strong Board is a strong partner to the administration -- strong enough to question and fully vet the administration's decisions.
Some of my proudest days are those spent as a public servant. I can bring a broad understanding of how State and local government works. I served as a lawyer for the county of Oakland and was proud to serve our citizens as an Assistant Attorney General. This prior government experience will be valuable in service to the Board.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I received my law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy where I also got an MBA. I have bachelor degrees in political economy and finance from Michigan State.
I know how business works. I have moved up quickly in large, multinational corporations. I have advised companies on procurement issues and sales contracts, so I’ll be an engaged supporter of the district’s procurement and capital teams. I handled, personally, HR cases in a union environment and I understand HR and personnel issues. And I am used to dealing with and speaking to power; I will be an advocate for our parents and students with the administration.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
This is beyond a school board election, but immediate support is needed for small businesses. I would defer tax payments (and deadlines). I would gather private and public funding for SBA-type loans so that small businesses have access to capital once the stimulus funds run dry, as they surely will. As well, I would redeploy other community-based funding sources if available (like Community Development Block Grants). Small businesses will need capital infusions to survive as it is likely it will take a long time for economic activity to return to pre-Covid levels.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
The recent protests in our country have shown that we still have a long way to go on social justice. A school district that fully promotes diversity, inclusion and respect is a district that will better prepare our children to, finally, create the open, fair and welcome society we all deserve. I want a school district where everyone is welcome, no matter where they are from, what their socio-economic or family background is, how they look, who they pray to or who they love.
On the topic of police reform, as a former assistant attorney general (who used to represent the State Police), I know how difficult it is to be a police officer. We need more community outreach and more training (for citizens too). Our police and the community they protect must have more opportunities to understand and listen to each other.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
Some of the positions I am advocating for are:
- A return to in-person education
- Smaller Class Sizes (particularly at the younger classes)
- An IB Program at RCS
- More practical applications for STEM classes, getting students into the field
- Protecting the Arts, which are vulnerable in austere times.
- More mental health screening, support and education (these are stressful times for students!)
- More support for our special needs students, and their parents!

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I am willing to ask the hard questions and hold others accountable. Our government needs citizens to stand up and do that. And now, more than ever, our society requires responsible people to engage in, and serve in, government.
Transparency and accountability are my campaign’s cornerstones. Many parents feel left in the dark. I will restore their faith by being honest, open and responsive. I will bring strong corporate experience to help the Board during these difficult times. Most importantly, I always remember something I learned as an assistant attorney general: The People are the reason we serve. Their best interests and the interests of their children will always come first.

This article originally appeared on the Rochester-Rochester Hills Patch