By RAUL GARCIA JR | Lansing News Wire
The Lansing News Wire had a chance to catch up with Dedria Humphries Barker, candidate for the City of Lansing City Charter General Revision Commission election slated May 7. Here is what he had to say in Meet the Candidate Q&A
Q: Can you briefly introduce yourself and provide some background on your qualifications for this office?
A: I am a professional communicator with extensive experience in newspapers, and book, online and audio and video for a general audience. The Charter is a document that communicates to residents of Lansing its basic government.
Q: What professional or community experience do you bring to the table that makes you well-suited for this role?
A: I write an analysis and opinion column for the Lansing City Pulse. I taught communication skills for Lansing Community College. I was editor for the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan. I was the journalist of Lansing Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc, a public service sorority. I am a member of the election committee of my Delta chapter. I served six years on the vestry of All Saints Episcopal Church, three of those years as senior warden, and four on the executive committee.
Q: What motivated you to run for this office?
A: The City of Lansing is a poor communicator with residents. I can help the Charter Commission put legal language in the Charter to emphasize communication and hold elected officials accountable for communication.
Q: What are the top three priorities you would focus on if elected?
A: My top two priorities are communication, and access to the ballot for marginalized groups.
Q: How do you plan to address specific challenges facing the city, and what are the relevant issues from your point of view?
A: The city is challenged by a lack of communication from elected officials. Communication is at the base of all interactions with the City. The Charter passed 46 years ago did not address communication as a priority. Today communication in the 21st century offers so many options that the City can use to communicate.
Q: How do you plan to engage with and involve the community in decision-making processes?
A: Again communication is the way to engage and involve the community. The use of 21st century technology will ensure people know when City Council meetings are. The website should be the way to get that information but the web site doesn’t even work! It says a resident can sign up for email alerts on City Council business but then does not show where to do that! The 311 app asks for photographs but then won’t let you load them! Communication is a part of elected officials’ jobs but when they don’t communicate nothing can make them. Adding to the Charter can fix all that!
Q: What strategies do you have for ensuring that all voices in the community are heard and considered?
A: The Charter calls for the announcement of meetings of elected officials such as the City Council. And for appointments by the Mayor to boards and commissions. But how do residents know how to get appointed, or when and where the City Council meets and what they are going to talk about? But who is responsible for approving the different communication methods, such as the website? The Charter can fix that.
Q: Can you provide a brief overview of the current city charter and its key provisions?
A: The City Charter is the constitution of the city and just as the U.S,. Constitution does, the city of Lansing includes amendments. The latest amendment covers the legalization of marijuana within the City of Lansing. The City Charter grants rights and privileges of self-government. It is the document that sets out the structure of government. These include the elected offices, the duties of elected officials, the dates of elections, boards and commissions, taxation and finance, purchase and disposal of property, among other legal matters.
Q: What specific aspects of the city charter do you believe need updating, and why?
A: Though the City Charter has amendments, it has been 46 years since the Lansing City Charter has been reviewed as a whole document. Much has changed in 46 years, including communication. Currently, how the elected officials communicate with residents is woven into elected officials job description. But, that is without emphasis or accountability. I want to see sharing information formally included in the City Charter. Also I want to see access to the ballot reflect the reality of the post-COVID era. Now a person wanting to run for office can file a $100 nomination fee, or circulate petitions and gather 400-600 signatures. Where does one go to collect those in Lansing, especially in a special election when it is cold outside? The nomination process needs to change.
Q: Can you discuss any experience you have had with drafting or amending legal documents, such as ordinances or charters?
A: I have experience with the by-laws of several organizations including the Faculty Senate of Lansing Community College, Lansing Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc., a public service sorority and All Saints Episcopal Church. I have reported on police agencies in the Lansing area for the Lansing State Journal. I am not a lawyer. But I am a writer and author of many publications, including a book titled Mother of Orphans; The True and Curious Story of Irish Alice, a Colored Man’s Widow. My goals include at least two versions of the City Charter: the legal document, and a plain English version for the non-lawyers among residents, which is considerable. Their understanding of the City Charter will be crucial to getting the new revised Charter approved by voters.
Q: How would you approach analyzing the potential impacts of proposed charter changes on the community?
A: My work as a journalist involved me analyzing the potential impacts of elected officials actions. I would approach this analytical work by reading carefully and seeking other resources to inform my thinking. These resources include persons in the City of Lansing.
Q: How would you handle conflicting viewpoints within the charter update committee or the broader community?
A: My experiences include 18-years teaching at Lansing Community College. I have been faced with conflicting viewpoints in the classroom among students many times each semester. In fact, in teaching critical thinking skills I introduce conflicting viewpoints. I handle that by encouraging and modeling listening and challenging viewpoints. And showing how facts, character and feelings affect viewpoint. We tease those out to get at a position that is reasonable and can be defended.
Q: How familiar are you with local government laws and regulations?
A: As a journalist I am very familiar with local government laws and regulations. I reported police and government for the Lansing State Journal. For my City Pulse column, I often refer to government agency regulations on public education finance.
Q: Can you highlight any specific innovations or improvements you would like to see in the updated charter?
A: It has been 46 years since the last Charter Commission reviewed and revised the City Charter. Much has changed. As a member of the new Commission, I will highlight communication and how to effectively share information with residents. I will highlight how it is necessary to involve residents in digital communication and to become aware of how residents want to receive information.
Q: Can you highlight any specific innovations or improvements you would like to see in the updated charter?
A: As a member of the Commission, I will highlight the challenges that poor communication pose to forming stronger community and will urge the improvement of communication, access to the ballot and the ability to read and understand the City Charter.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies:
A: My favorite hobbies are bicycle riding, walking, yoga, and reading.
Q: Favorite Book:
A: I have many favorite books. One is Sandra Cisneros’ House on Mango Street, Jesmyn Ward’s Let Us Descend, Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I love Edgar Allen Poe and William Faulkner. and James Baldwin’s, and especially Zora Neale Hurston’s work. I am an English Major.
Q: Favorite Movie, or TV Show:
A: The Floor is Lava.
Q: What are your favorite notable personal achievement:
A: My first achievement got me started in my professional career. I was in third grade and read a book of 100 pages in one hour. That gave me confidence to pursue my career.
Q: What is your favorite food:
A: I love coconut.
Editor’s Note: All of the candidates on the ballot for the City of Lansing Charter Revision Commissioner have been asked the same questions and have been invited to participate in the Lansing News Wire Meet the Candidate Q&A. The responses will be published as they are received until the election
Tanya Garcia