Elections 2023: 6 candidates vie for 3 seats on Milan City Council

Voters in the city of Milan will head to the polls Nov. 7 to make a decision in multiple city races.

Three of the six seats on the city council are up for election this year. There are six candidates on the ballot vying for those four-year terms.

Councilperson Mary Kerkes is the only incumbent seeking reelection. Current council members David Baldwin and Jesse Nie are not seeking reelection.

A field of eight candidates was cut down to six in August's primary election. In addition to Kerkes, the others on the ballot in November are Cliff Franklin, Laura Russeau, David Snyder, Matthew Stafford and Matthew Tomecek.

Milan’s mayor position is also up for election this year. Incumbent Mayor Ed Kolar is being challenged by Danette Talbot. That race will be profiled in a separate story.

Voters also will elect three candidates to the city's library board – two for six-year terms, and one for a two-year term. The three candidates for the two six-year terms are Matthew Barbour-Kier, Larry Biederman, and Vicki Zilke. Robert Chidester is running unopposed for the two-year term.

Each candidate on the ballot for the city council was asked to respond to a questionnaire about their candidacy and what they would bring to the city if elected. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Cliff Franklin

Age: 47.

Occupation: CPA working in corporate tax.

Family: Wife, Jodie; son, Evan, 11.

Government experience: None.

Volunteer/community service experience: Aid in Milan board member and treasurer for five years, current board member and treasurer of the Milan Area Chamber, current board member and co-treasurer of Moving Milan Forward.

Why are you running for this position? Community involvement is important to me and my family. I see this as an extension of the work I have done with other organizations in Milan over the years. I think we can and should do a better job overseeing the city’s finances, and I have the background for that.

What do you think are the main challenges facing the city of Milan, and what should be done about them? Like any city, maintaining infrastructure is a challenge for Milan because it is so costly. I think we are on the right track, we are developing an inventory of our assets and are putting in place long-term plans for maintenance or replacement. We just need to be diligent and keep on it. We also need to grow the tax base and be willing to offer incentives to companies that want to invest in Milan. We should be willing to temporarily forego property tax revenue to attract investment and get a permanent addition to the tax rolls for the future.

Why should people vote for you? With a background in finance, tax, and economic development, I believe I can offer a unique skill set to city government. I think we should budget and monitor results for each period like you do in business. Variances identified should be investigated, and, if necessary, corrective measures implemented. I also want to promote Milan as business-friendly and grow our tax base. I have experience being on the other side of the table representing companies I worked for negotiating incentive projects. I want to be a forward-looking voice on council and promote investment in my community.

Mary C. Kerkes (incumbent)

Occupation: Photographer.

Family: Husband, Rick; daughters, Ashley (Thad St Clair), Kelsea (Jesse Nie); five grandchildren.

Government experience: Eight years on Milan City Council. Two years as Milan mayor pro-tem.

Volunteer/community service experience: I am currently on the Planning Commission. I have served on the Seniors for Healthy Living Board. I served on the Fair Board years ago. My primary volunteerism is that of photographer for Milan events. My intention with my volunteer photography is to drum up excitement and publicity for local events.

Why are you running for this position? I really, really love this city and its people. We have an amazing team with our administrator, city staff, Mayor Ed Kolar, and the city council. I want to remain part of this very efficient team of forward-thinking folks. I believe I am uniquely qualified with my experience and state outreach.

What do you think are the main challenges facing the city of Milan, and what should be done about them? Our tax base is not diversified enough. The burden is disproportionately on residents instead of industry. We have 500 acres zoned and ready to be developed or changed. We must court business and industry to fill the city in. When we create a stronger industrial tax base, that will unburden our citizens and help with our infrastructure needs. We have spent the past two years working hard toward that goal and have had a number of successes. We also felt it was important to make cuts from our city budget and managed to cut upwards of $335,000 from our annual expenditures."

Why should people vote for you? I am passionate about Milan and about making positive change. I am honest, driven, optimistic, and experienced. I am constantly asking myself what's next and how can I help. It was that mindset that had me initiate the Wabash Boardwalk Project in my first term. I will continue to advocate for a safer Milan by investing in ADA-compliant infrastructure, stroller-friendly pathways, and strategic investment in our police and fire departments. I made the Senior Center a priority by listening to concerns and helping solve building issues (mold remediation, windows). I will continue to build the relationships that make positive change happen.

Laura Russeau

Age: 54.

Occupation: Licensed builder, musician.

Family: Married with one child.

Government experience: Not yet.

Volunteer/community service experience: Organizer of 2022 and 2023 Milan Pride Parade, other community events and special-needs nonprofit fundraisers. Active member of Moving Milan Forward.

Why are you running for this position? Taking an active role in my community is important to me. I want someone, like me, with a unique perspective, passion and a willingness to stand up for others to help balance our local government.

What do you think are the main challenges facing the city of Milan, and what should be done about them? Engaging the whole community and finding ways to activate enthusiasm about our civic duty to vote is a huge challenge. We need more voices, engagement, and innovative ideas if we are going to creatively shape a direction that will benefit the most people in profound ways. Milan is a great place and it could be a benchmark city. We have a city clerk that is passionate about voting and the League of Women Voters has a great presence. There are individuals creating pathways for students to become informed and involved. I would support all of these efforts and more.

Why should people vote for you? I believe people will vote for me because I am genuine. My interests and challenges are, at least, similar to most people. The cost of living, the day-to-day struggle of surviving but, also, striving for a quality of life for myself and my family is something I deal with every day. Do I have the time and energy for the due diligence required to represent those people on city council? Yes, I do, because it’s important.

David Snyder

Age: 73.

Occupation: Semi-retired working at downtown development.

Family: Father of three adult children.

Government experience: none.

Volunteer/community service experience: Aid in Milan Board, Moving Milan Forward officer, Milan Main Street/DDA board, experience leveraging state and federal funds for Milan, and Creative Washtenaw Board.

Why are you running for this position? It takes innovative and experienced leadership to get good things done for Milan. As a former teacher and small business owner with experience leveraging federal, state and local funding for building a better Milan, I believe that I have the skills to serve our community effectively in city government.

What do you think are the main challenges facing the city of Milan, and what should be done about them? Excellent city services: Our city government needs to provide excellent city services at an affordable cost. That means balancing the budget, ensuring efficient service delivery, and maintaining access to greenspace. … Development: Growth is important to Milan, providing job opportunities, spreading out city operating costs and creating a more vibrant place to spend time. We also need to protect our city’s most important asset: its friendly and family-oriented culture. … Quality infrastructure: We need to make sure that Milan’s infrastructure is up to date. This includes road repair, renovating Milan’s water treatment plant, replacing lead water lines and repairing sidewalks that are deteriorated.

Why should people vote for you? When I moved to Milan, I joined a downtown community that was struggling with empty storefronts and a lack of vibrant activity. Through collaborating with federal, state and local organizations, I’ve worked to fund and develop projects designed to revitalize downtown. Together, we’ve turned downtown into a space where businesses, residents, and visitors alike want to spend time, all while restoring buildings and public art that give Milan its charm. Through this work, I joined governmental and charitable bodies that serve the community — Aid in Milan, Moving Milan Forward, Milan Main Street, among others.

Matthew Stafford

Age: 54.

Occupation: Mechanical designer.

Family: Wife, Jessica Stafford (married 27 years); sons, Maxwell, 23, and Benjamin, 20.

Government experience: U.S. Navy 1987-91, Milan Zoning Board of Appeals, 2022-present.

Volunteer/community service experience: U.S. Navy 1987-91, volunteer football coach (four years), volunteer baseball coach (seven years), Milan Cares (four years), Milan Main Street (three years).

Why are you running for this position? I am a lifelong resident of Milan and I am running for city council to help our city to keep moving forward. I served in the U.S. Navy and now I want to serve my community here in the city of Milan on the city council."

What do you think are the main challenges facing the city of Milan, and what should be done about them? The city is making great strides in bringing our infrastructure up to date and I would like to see that continue during my time on council. If we could encourage more housing developments to come to Milan, we could bring in more young families to help strengthen our schools and provide more tax base for the community. If we are able to bring in more industries to Milan we can further diversify our tax base.

Why should people vote for you? I have lived in Milan most of my life. I grew up in this community, got married and chose to raise my family here. I am here to do whatever needs to be done for this city. I served during the Persian Gulf War with the U.S. Navy and now I want to serve the city that has been such a large part of my life. I do not have an agenda that I am trying to push. I just want to see our city prosper and be a beacon for all the others in this area to look to.

Matthew Tomecek

Age: 50.

Occupation: Electrical senior project lead designer, Black & Veatch.

Family: Wife, Kristi; son, Gavin.

Government experience: Board member, city of Milan Zoning Board of Appeals; board member, city of Milan Brownfield Development.

Volunteer/community service experience: President of Milan Masonic Temple Association, Past Master and current Worshipful Master of Milan Lodge #323 F&AM, volunteer coach for the Milan Youth Soccer Club (13 years), team manager for Southeast Michigan Storm soccer team, 2023 MSYSA Boys Recreational Coach of the Year, team leader for Milan Cares.

Why are you running for this position? I have no agenda in running for city council other than to help our city to continue progressing forward with residential and commercial growth.

What do you think are the main challenges facing the city of Milan, and what should be done about them? Our city roads and infrastructure are two of the top concerns. With many of our water mains leading to expanding neighborhoods being undersized, we need to be looking at more Rebuilding America grants and any others offered by the federal and state governments. This will help offset taxation on citizens. Growing our commercial tax base is also a top priority in alleviating burdens from the citizens.

Why should people vote for you? I look forward to working as a team and keeping divisiveness out of the conversation. I want to work with those who work best together. I’ve had a lifelong connection to the culture and the citizens of Milan. In talking with people around town, we have our own true identity as a strong independent city with a small-town feel, where Third Thursdays are cool! … I look forward to working with the mayor, city council, the administrator, the departments and the citizens of Milan. Working to improve our city from streets to parks, from south of downtown to uptown and the surrounding area.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Elections 2023: 6 candidates vie for 3 seats on Milan City Council