Candidate Profile: Melissa Daub For Wayne County Commissioner

Melissa Daub, a Canton Township resident is running for Wayne County Commissioner District 10.

Age: 40
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:I grew up in the Plymouth-Canton community, and my parents still live in my childhood home in Canton Township. After attending college at Eastern Michigan University, I returned to Canton because I knew it was a great community in which to raise my son, Dominic. Dominic is 18 years old, and we recently adopted a senior rescue dog named Toby.
Occupation:I currently serve on the Wayne County Commission, to which I was elected in 2018. Prior to that, I worked in the accounting field, where I had extensive background in both leadership and individual contributor positions.
Previous elected experience:I currently serve as the Wayne County Commissioner for Wayne County's 10th District, which comprises Plymouth Township, the City of Plymouth, and Canton Township.
Family members in government:No.
Campaign website: https://www.melissadaub.com/

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
I believe that the COVID-19 pandemic, and its subsequent economic and mental health impacts, are the most pressing problems facing Wayne County. I have worked hard during this time to provide transparent, fact-based, and easily-accessible information to the public. Each day, I publish the situation report and report on confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. I have also published newsletters with free mental health resources and free resources for small businesses, as we see growing health and economic impacts. I will continue to provide reliable and trusted leadership for my district ahead.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
While I am not personally familiar with my opponent, I believe that my experience - both on the Wayne County Commission and prior to being elected - has prepared me for the task of representing my hometown well. Because the Wayne County Commission is tasked with approving the operating budget for Wayne County, I believe that it is helpful for holders of this office to have a background in budgeting or accounting. Prior to serving as the Wayne County Commissioner for District 10, I personally worked in the accounting field, where I had extensive background in both leadership and individual contributor positions. Having the opportunity to serve my hometown of Plymouth-Canton on the Wayne County Commission is an honor and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. I ran for this office in 2018 on the commitment of increasing transparency and accountability in Wayne County government; that, and my commitment to giving the people of Plymouth-Canton a voice in county governance, is why I am running for re-election.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As a current committee member on the Wayne County Commission's Committee on Audit, my experience as an accounting professional has helped immensely when it comes to reviewing the reports made by the Office of the Legislative Auditor General, which ensure that there is transparency and accountability of public funds for Wayne County taxpayers. I am proud to have voted to approve the operating budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020, totaling $1.63 billion and marking the fifth consecutive year that Wayne County has operated with a balanced budget. Aside from the fiscal achievements, I am particularly proud to have fought for the visual-recording of the Wayne County Commission meetings, which has made the Wayne County Commission more transparent and accessible to the public we serve.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
Small businesses are the backbone of our society, and our leaders (whether on the national, state, county, or local level) must work diligently to bolster economic recovery during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. I am deeply concerned with the direct economic impact the pandemic will have on families and small businesses in our communities. I am proud to have participated in a weekly working group to develop (and later vote for) a $50 million grant program for mom-and-pop small businesses in Wayne County. This program has provided necessary cash-flow to those businesses that need it the most, as they work to recover from this crisis.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
I am proud to have attended the Black Lives Matter rallies in both the City of Plymouth and in Canton Township earlier this summer. I also recently co-sponsored a resolution on the Wayne County Commission, which declared racism a public health crisis. I believe we are fortunate in the Plymouth-Canton Community to have police departments that are willing to work with and hear from the community on the types of reforms that can be implemented to support racial justice.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
Some issues that define my campaign platform are transparency, accessibility, and providing better services for our community. The Wayne County Commission is an incredibly important body of government; however, it often goes unseen and unheard of by members of the general public. Whether it be through hosting coffee hours, town halls (in-person and online), responding to phone calls and emails, or posting my activities on social media, I am proud to have fostered an accessibility between my office and the general public. I am also proud to have advocated for all Wayne County Commission meetings to be visually-recorded and made available online for residents to access freely. If re-elected, I will continue to advocate for better service to my constituents, and further investment in the Plymouth-Canton community.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
As a lifelong resident of Canton, I have seen the Plymouth-Canton community go through incredible growth and change in recent decades. I hope to continue the progress we have made in recent years.