Candidate Profile: Mary Starr For Plymouth Township Supervisor

Mary Starr, a Plymouth Township resident is running for Plymouth Township Supervisor.

Age: 56
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:I'm married and have 4 children who were all raised in Plymouth Township.
Occupation:I have been an educator for 34 years. I have worked in higher education, as an author, consultant, and small business owner. I am currently the Executive Director of a non-profit.
Previous elected experience:None.
Family members in government:No
Campaign website: https://starrforsupervisor.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
The budget challenge due to the pandemic. I am going to review the entire Plymouth Township budget to better understand what spending is currently occurring. Then we will need to make sure that we are spending effectively - prioritizing public safety and recreation. I will make sure that all citizens have mechanisms to learn about this accounting and understand decisions that need to be made to be sure Plymouth Township is fiscally sound.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I am respectful of all Plymouth Township residents and visitors and I know that all their voices should be heard. I bring a wealth of management experience to this position that is equally respectful of experience, time, and background. I do not have political ties to the Township system or to Wayne County and am able to work effectively without being indebted to anyone.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I serve my community through leadership. This is how I envision the role of Township Supervisor. As a non-profit leader, I worked collaboratively to bring Michigan to the forefront of science education and to assure that students across our state have the opportunity to learn in effectively taught science classrooms. I have taken this work to the national and international levels. To be successful, I have collaborated across multiple stakeholder groups, asked excellent questions and listened to answers, and collected, analyzed, and acted on data.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
All indications are that the economic recovery is slow and we need to attend to this to support businesses. Since March, several legislative changes have helped support restaurants and other small businesses. We need to start by focusing on public health. The primary way to bolster the economy is to encourage public health measures (mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing) and increase testing. Plymouth Township should be working harder to bring fast and accurate testing and contact tracing to our local businesses and residents so we are always working with current data. This will help keep small businesses open and keep residents healthy.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
Data indicates that BIPOC have different experiences with police than white people. It is important that we work as a community to analyze Plymouth Township data in this regard and make that data public to identify and effectively address areas of improvement. To be ready at the highest standards, our police and firefighters should be nationally accredited and should engage in professional learning to keep that accreditation. As a Township we should accommodate their schedules to make sure that this learning is not burdensome.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
Ultimately, we need a government that will listen and care when people voice their concerns. We need a government that is responsive to individuals' and business' needs. I am concerned about transparency in government. Back-door deals are not appropriate ways to effectively steward public funds. Discussions and decisions should see the light of day and residents should be able to find this information easily. You should know where the taxes and fees you pay are going and what they are supporting. And this information should be very easy to find. From day one, I will remediate the lack of care provided to our parks for the last 4 years. Then I will work to expand the parks to include more linear park walk/bike options. I will also value balancing development with preservation. Just because we can develop land does not mean we must and we should attend to our past while we are managing the future. When development is appropriate we need to preserve our natural resources in the process. As we vote this November (or before!), we should imagine the Plymouth Township we want 25 years from now, for our children, and recognize the candidate who is most interested in serving the community to get there.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
This is my community and I bring my unique professional and personal experiences to making the Township run smoothly and be accessible to all residents and visitors. Plymouth Township is more than a plaque at the Township Hall or welcome signs on major thoroughfares. It is the place that people choose to live and work, send their kids to school, and enjoy a safe community. We must work respectfully with all stakeholders to maintain and build on that experience.