By RAUL GARCIA JR | Lansing News Wire
The Lansing News Wire had a chance to catch up with Monte Jackson, 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: My name is Monte Jackson. I’m a lifelong resident (30 years) of Lansing, currently residing downtown. I graduated from Holt High School, Michigan State University, and Cooley Law School. I currently work as a real estate appraiser and attorney. Given how much the Lansing area has given to me – personally and professionally – it feels appropriate that I do my part by participating in shaping Lansing’s future.
Q: What professional or community experience do you bring to the table that makes you well-suited for this role?
A: I have served on two city boards/commission: (1) the City of Lansing Planning Commission and (2) the City of Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals. Serving on each board has given me great insight on what residents of Lansing actually care about – efficient dispensation of the issues, responsiveness, and quality housing. Additionally, I am an attorney and my legal training has given me powerful tools for accessing effective legal drafting, which will be important for any proposed revisions to the charter. Most importantly, the city charter is a legal document. As such, the commission should be comprised of members that have the ability to discern what proposals will constitute good law.
Q: What motivated you to run for this office?
A: My decision to run for the Lansing City Charter Revision Commission reflects my commitment to being an active participant in shaping the future of Lansing. I seek to streamline bureaucratic processes and address new issues facing our evolving community. I aim to modernize structures where appropriate, aligning them with evolving community values, while also preserving the aspects of the city charter that have been effective. Advocating for charter reform signifies my dedication to civic engagement and the pursuit of a more responsive and resilient urban environment for Lansing residents.
Q: Can you articulate your vision for the city and the key issues you hope to address if elected?
A: If elected, I seek to work with fellow members of the board and members of the community to create a document that is both accessible to all members of the public and functional for city operations. In reading the city charter, I get the impression that many of the nuts & bolts of government are addressed, but the content of the document does not yet address the full scope of the issues that face a growing city. Over the next 10 to 20 years, Lansing will undergo population growth, implementation of new technologies, and redevelopment of the skyline. Our city charter must provide a healthy scaffolding for government, business, and residents to ensure that we are in a position to capitalize on the new opportunities that change will bring, while also preserving the culture of the city that we value.
Q: What are the top three priorities you would focus on if elected?
(1) Government Structure, (2) City Council Structure, and (3) the city budget
Q: How do you plan to address specific challenges facing the city, and what are the relevant issues from your point of view?
A: Not all issues facing the city can be solved through revisions to the city charter. However, I do believe we can make our government more effective through requiring greater tracking of information. For example, requiring quarterly budget disclosures by the mayor.
Q: How do you plan to engage with and involve the community in decision-making processes?
A: It is important to note that the revision to the city charter is not the sole province of the elected members of the City Charter Revision Commission. Members of the City Charter Revision Commission are a conduit for enacting changes that reflect the current needs of the city. Members of the commission should foster a healthy discourse with the public through a combination of old fashion grassroots outreach, while also leveraging technology to reach more people. In my mind, this looks like a combination of regular public forums for members of the public to speak directly with members of the commission. Additionally, tools like Google forms are great tools for enabling mass surveys of the public. I’m providing a Google Form on my website, www.vote4montejackson.com, which allows people to send me their thoughts directly.
Q: What strategies do you have for ensuring that all voices in the community are heard and considered?
A: Heavily publicize public forums to provide opportunities for people to share their concerns.
Q: Can you provide a brief overview of the current city charter and its key provisions?
A: The city charter functions as the constitution for Lansing. It is a legal document that describes the structure of the local government and powers of government officers.
Q: What specific aspects of the city charter do you believe need updating, and why?
A: I think the language in the charter should be crafted to be more accessible by non-lawyers. Additionally, provisions should be added to address evolving issues including housing, demographic changes, and emerging technologies.
Q: Can you discuss any experience you have had with drafting or amending legal documents, such as ordinances or charters?
A: I am an attorney and my legal training has given me the ability to discern whether legal provisions create better functionality or worsen ambiguity.
Q: How would you approach analyzing the potential impacts of proposed charter changes on the community?
A: A big piece of the analysis will be talking to members of the public, community professionals, and members of the government to determine the secondary effects of prospective changes.
Q: How would you handle conflicting viewpoints within the charter update committee or the broader community?
A: Conflict views is to be expected on a commission of this size (9 members) and within a community as diverse as Lansing.
Q: How familiar are you with local government laws and regulations?
A: I have done a full review of the current city charter. In addition, I have reviewed the city charters for other cities throughout Michigan for comparison, as well as model city charter documents provided by the Michigan Municipal League.
Q: Can you highlight any specific innovations or improvements you would like to see in the updated charter?
A: I would like to add a provision requiring a quarterly financial report from the mayor, which shows the relationship between estimated and actual income & expenses.
Q: Can you highlight any specific innovations or improvements you would like to see in the updated charter?
A: An expanded explanation of the role of boards & commissions.
Q: What are your favorite notable personal achievement:
A: Graduating law school with honors and no debt.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies:
A: Computer programming, hiking, and listening to music.
Q: Favorite Book:
A: “Antifragile” by Nicholas Nassim Taleb
Q: Favorite Movie, or TV Show:
A: Love & Basketball
Q: What is your favorite food:
A: Omlette
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