By RAUL GARCIA JR | Lansing News Wire
The Lansing News Wire had a chance to catch up with Julie Vandenboom, 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’ve lived in the Lansing area since the third grade and in the city since 2000, first on the East side and now in the Turner Dodge neighborhood. My son came up through the Lansing School District, graduating from Eastern in 2019. I know the city, the neighborhood, and the residents. I have a professional skillset that involves policy analysis, planning and evaluation, and program re-engineering.
Q: What professional or community experience do you bring to the table that makes you well-suited for this role?
A: The past seven years I’ve been a program re-engineering specialist at the State of Michigan. My work involves anything from behavioral economics, to change readiness assessment, to leading the effort to create a statewide Anti-Racism Transformation Team for Michigan’s child support program. Recently, I’ve been working to ensure that families served by Michigan’s child support program are involved in policy decisions that affect them. This skillset transfers to the charter commission, as we need to ensure that all of Lansing’s diverse voices are represented in the revision process.
Q: What motivated you to run for this office?
A: This is my chance to give back to the community. I’ve thrived here in Lansing and I want others to have that same opportunity.
Q: Can you articulate your vision for the city and the key issues you hope to address if elected?
A: My vision is a Lansing that is a city for all of us – not just for folks who live in the right neighborhoods or have the right connections. Let’s improve access to resources for people in the regular neighborhoods.
Q: What are the top three priorities you would focus on if elected?
A: My top priority is involving the community in robust discussions about charter change – not just 3-minute public comment periods, but opportunities for back-and-forth with commissioners and others. The commission should give serious consideration to what a city manager form of government might look like in Lansing, and should consider moving city elections to even years.
Q: How do you plan to address specific challenges facing the city, and what are the relevant issues from your point of view?
A: Lansing faces a significant housing crisis. The charter commission needs to review and possibly revise the structure and governance of relevant boards and commissions. This is a problem that needs to be solved with a root cause analysis rather than just continuing to fund emergency shelter without additional supports and services.
Q: How do you plan to engage with and involve the community in decision-making processes?
A: The commission needs to go to the people, rather than asking the people to come to City Hall. Groups of 3-4 commissioners should be meeting with Lansing residents in community centers, non-profits, churches, and schools, at all hours of the day and evening, as well as virtually.
Q: What strategies do you have for ensuring that all voices in the community are heard and considered?
A: We need to use data to look for who isn’t at the table – demographically and intersectionally – when decisions are being made about city government. Once identified, we then find ways to reach those communities. This is best done by commissioners starting with their personal and professional networks to identify folks from the populations we want to reach, and then going to those populations for their input.
Q: Can you provide a brief overview of the current city charter and its key provisions?
A: Key provisions of the current charter – weak mayor/council system, city elections in odd years, 4 At-large council members and 4 wards.
Q: What specific aspects of the city charter do you believe need updating, and why?
A: The current charter prohibits an individual who has committed “any felony” within the past twenty years from serving in an elected office in Lansing. This is far more prohibitive than the Michigan Constitution requires. (The Constitution refers to “a felony involving dishonesty, deceit, fraud, or a breach of the public trust and the conviction was related to the person’s official capacity while the person was holding any elective office or position of employment in local, state, or federal government.”)
I see no need to unnecessarily bar returning citizens from participating in city government if chosen by the voters to do so.
Q: Can you discuss any experience you have had with drafting or amending legal documents, such as ordinances or charters?
A: I spent six years as a policy analyst with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, analyzing state legislation related to child support.
Q: How would you approach analyzing the potential impacts of proposed charter changes on the community?
A: For any proposed change, the commission can identify a handful of cities of similar size and demographic makeup that have made similar changes and look for indicators that the changes have resulted in positive changes such as increased transparency, a more representative democracy, etc. The commission should also analyze proposed changes to ascertain that voters are likely to be accepting of the changes.
Q: How would you handle conflicting viewpoints within the charter update committee or the broader community?
A: I am a connector, a facilitator, and a collaborator. I work hard to keep my ego out of decision-making – I don’t always have to be right – I don’t ever have to be right. In most cases, a consensus decision can be reached with enough discussion.
Q: How familiar are you with local government laws and regulations?
A: Fairly familiar – and I have the policy analysis skills to quickly familiarize myself with new material.
Q: Can you highlight any specific innovations or improvements you would like to see in the updated charter?
A: We need to consider moving away from at-large council positions. I understand there may not be a public appetite for that change in Lansing right now, given the popular support for the current at-large office holders, but data shows that typically, at-large Council seats reduce representation for marginalized populations.
Q: What are your favorite notable personal achievement:
A: I think I’m doing it right now – something that challenges me and maybe even scares me a little – running for public office.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies:
A: I’m a voracious reader and an adventurous home cook. I enjoy traveling and watching major and minor league baseball.
Q: Favorite Book:
A: There’s no way I can pick just one. A few favorites from the last year are Matthew Desmond’s Poverty, by America, Sir Patrick Stewart’s Making It So, and Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves
Q: Favorite Movie, or TV Show:
A: King of the Hill and The Office
Q: What is your favorite food:
A: Depends on the season, but pizza is usually a pretty good bet.
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