A Common Agenda for Our County and State

Michigan has entered a new era with Rick Snyder as our governor. As the executive of Michigan’s largest county, I’m truly excited to work with our governor and our legislature in a bipartisan manner to address our region’s most difficult challenges. We are ready to lead as a county government and work with Governor Snyder to implement changes that will ensure the long-term economic vitality of our county and state.

While it appears that the whole of Michigan has survived this recession and is on its way to recovery,

there is much more we need to do to get our citizens back to work and our families back into their homes. There is still tremendous work to be done in diversifying our economy, creating a fairer tax structure, and supporting our residents as they seek work. We must capitalize on the spirit of cooperation exhibited by the auto companies resulting in a new relationship between business and labor, and we must explore how we work with the private sector in making regional economic investments. I know that Governor Snyder is committed to forging a new economic model for our state to continue our recovery. Wayne County is committed to helping our companies grow, and to helping our workers acquire the skills and resources to fill open positions.

I also realize Wayne County must continue looking for efficiencies with our local units when delivering services, ensuing public safety, and planning our region together. With tightened budgets, we must not only realize the economic benefits of regional cooperation, but we must operate as a region in order to compete with other regions around the world. We do not want to add to the list of the unemployed, but the cost of our economic recovery has forced all of us, in the public and private sector, to readjust to the reality of the times we live in. I look forward to working with Governor Snyder to explore best practices and new models to help us work closer with our local units, and the private, and nonprofit sector, to deliver critical services to our citizens.

I was particularly encouraged by the Governor’s promise to create an office dedicated to the specific urban challenges of the city of Detroit. Mayor Dave Bing has already led the way in exploring new ways to support Detroit’s citizens and shape its economic destiny through the Detroit Works Project and other reforms. Governor Snyder realizes he must be innovative to help Detroit grow and to ensure that Detroit’s citizens are directly involved in the planning process to address its unique challenges. Wayne County is eager to add our support to a new partnership between Governor Snyder and Mayor Bing to help Detroit and Michigan flourish.

Finally, I am encouraged by the Governor’s decision to support the construction of a new border crossing with Canada. A new border crossing will not only benefit Wayne County and our economy, but the economy of our region and state. Wayne County is fortunate to have so many world-class transportation assets, including our borders and Detroit Metro Airport. Yet, I realize in order to truly realize the value of these assets, we must find ways to connect our region and economy internally as well. We must identify ways to formally institutionalize cooperative transportation and economic planning in our region, and raise new revenues to invest in roads and mass transit. We cannot compete with other regions in the world unless we operate as one region. I look forward to working with the Governor, the rest of the Big 4, and other government and business leaders in planning our region together and investing in shared economic assets.

For too long, we have fought with one another at the expense of progress and our common economic goals. We must put politics aside and embrace new models to support the citizens of our county and our state. The governorship of Rick Snyder presents a clean slate for our elected leaders to work in a bipartisan manner for the common good of our state, and it is an opportunity for our region to come together to make choices on our common economic future. Let’s show our young people that Michigan’s leaders can come together in support of a common agenda, and leave with them a legacy that demonstrates our determination to confront our challenges through cooperation and innovation.

I wish Governor Snyder luck and offer Wayne County’s support and partnership in forging a brighter future for our citizens.