Leadership You Can Trust

1. Please tell us about yourself and what skills you believe you would bring to the City Council table. I have lived here since 1979 and been a voter since 1980. I have worked, played, raised a family, joined a church, owned a business, made friends, entertained visitors, volunteered and helped neighbors in our city for over 40 years. Harbor Springs is my home and I care about the people that live here. I served for 4 years on our City Council from 2020-2024. I also was a member of the Tree Board and the Planning Commission during this time. Most of my work life has been in the nursing world which demands team work, listening skills, compromise, collaboration, organization and preparation, all of these will come with me to the Council table. It is very important when serving in city government to understand that you are there for your constituents, not for yourself. You must speak and act for the common good of the people you represent, not for yourself or your personal agenda. 2. What are the biggest challenges you believe the City currently faces? Are there additional long term concerns you have that need to be addressed now-- if so, please explain. Our City is facing a number of challenges, some of them demand immediate attention. One of my concerns is the lack of respect that some people are displaying for our City government, staff and volunteers. It is very difficult to get the business of the City done when so much time, energy and money is being spent on reacting to accusations and incorrect information. Personal attacks and name calling have no place in our City government. Another concern is Harbor Springs’ lack of housing for elders, employees and young families. 3. The City of Harbor Springs has more second homes than year-round residents. As a potential City Council member, how do you feel about this? How would you take this into account when determining budget and policy priorities? Our decreasing number of full year residents is certainly a concern. When someone only spends a portion of their year in a community it gives them a differentperspective on the needs and concerns of the City. Our second homes make up about 2/3 of our total households. I do not think this is in the best interest of the City of Harbor Springs. This has been a major change over the last 40 years. This is reflected in our voter role and in some of the decisions that have been made. Our policies and budgeting must reflect our year round status as a public city. 4. There has been a lot of vitriol in the community over the last few years, with a group of citizens opposing everything from the updated zoning ordinance to the Harbor Springs Garden Club’s plans for a veterans memorial garden in Zorn Park. How would you approach community concerns, disinformation, citizen group demands, and long-term goals for “taking the temperature down” in City-related matters? We have seen a lot of folks speaking out about what the City is doing wrong. I think we need to look at what the City is doing right and focus on what we are FOR instead of what we are against. I will stay informed about the concerns of our citizens by listening to respectful and civil conversations. I will present accurate information and encourage productive and well thought out suggestions. 5. Keeping this in mind, the zoning updates Planning Commission has been working on since the original updates were repealed in 2024 are moving back through an approval process, and will likely come with an increase in disagreement that will ultimately land at the Council table. How as a Council member will you approach this, and approach recommendations from appointed boards/commissions? I will approach this issue as I would any other issue that comes before Council. I will be well informed about the issue and current work being done by boards and commissions. I will attend meetings of our boards and will do my own research to be sure I have a good understanding of what is being discussed. I will reach out to City staff and our consultants to be sure I have the complete picture. I will listen to public comments and my fellow Council members and then decide what is best for our City and vote accordingly. 6. What are some policy opportunities or positive opportunities for the City you would want to bring to the table for discussion? I would want the Council to consider some options for ways to increase the opportunities for employees to live in the City. I would like to explore the possibility of some additional ways of encouraging full year residents, I would like to see Council explore creative ways of decreasing our in-town automobile traffic and I would encourage Council to examine ways to plan for more senior housing. 7. Would you accept campaign funds from undisclosed sources, or would you be okay with outside groups that do not have to disclose donors spending on your behalf? Why or why not? I would not accept funds from undisclosed sources and I am not okay with outside groups that do not have to disclose donors spending on my behalf. Names of the individuals donating money should be public. 8. Would you commit to a transparency pledge, including filing the necessary paperwork if you raise more than $1,000 for your campaign? Absolutely! 9. Because the City of Harbor Springs has more second home owners than primary residents, how would you handle making sure all stakeholder voices are heard? All meetings of the City Council are governed by the Open Meetings Act of Michigan which states that all persons have the right to be heard. Anyone is welcome to attend meetings.Anyone can request to have an e-mail or letter included in the meeting packets. My personal contact information is readily available through the City. 10. Anything else you’d like people to know? It is very important to vote and who you vote for matters. The people you elect to the City Council determine the path Harbor Springs will follow in the years ahead.