By RAUL GARCIA JR | Lansing News Wire
The Lansing News Wire had a chance to catch up with Nicklas Zande, 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 Nicklas Zande, and I’m currently an Election Inspector, and a member of the Ingham County DEMs’ Executive Committee.
Q: What professional or community experience do you bring to the table that makes you well-suited for this role?
A: I’ve been speaking to the community for a couple of years, and I want to bring my voice to the Charter Commission.
Q: What motivated you to run for this office?
A: I was the person who brought up changing the City Charter in the first place at a City Council Meeting about a couple of years ago.
Q: Can you articulate your vision for the city and the key issues you hope to address if elected?
1. Increasing the number of wards from four to eight. 2. Abolishing all of the At-Large positions on the City Council. 3. Converting the offices of the City Attorney, Treasurer, and Assessor into elected offices. 4. Term limits for the Mayor. 5. Creating the position of Deputy Mayor as the presiding officer of the City Council, the person responsible for breaking ties, and the person who takes over as Mayor if the current one dies and/or resigns.
Q: What are the top three priorities you would focus on if elected?
A: 1. Increasing the number of wards and abolishing the At-Large positions. 2. Increasing the number of elected executive offices to limit the Mayor’s power of appointments. 3. Giving the Mayor’s office term limits.
Q: How do you plan to address specific challenges facing the city, and what are the relevant issues from your point of view?
A: For the second part of the question, please read the previous two answers. As for the first part, I think I should be able to do whatever it takes to get those issues passed on the Charter Commission, should I be one of the nine elected to it.
Q: How do you plan to engage with and involve the community in decision-making processes?
A: Not just making sure those meetings are open to the public, but also attending Neighborhood Meetings and other major events, so long as I have to do so.
Q: What strategies do you have for ensuring that all voices in the community are heard and considered?
A: Making sure we have a diverse body, not just from their race and nationalities, but also their religious background, gender, sex, class, and even political background, even though our city votes mostly Democratic in most elections.
Q: Can you provide a brief overview of the current city charter and its key provisions?
A: I can’t look at the specifics, as it’s been a long time since I’ve actually read it. But, there are other key provisions I think need to be struck down, such as the one where any elected officeholder being allowed to overrule a section of the charter if they don’t agree with it.
Q: What specific aspects of the city charter do you believe need updating, and why?
A: The reason is because it allows people like the Mayor and even the City Council able to find loopholes in the democratic process, something I don’t support, as it’s the reason many recent mayors have been pretty dictatorial, and why the council’s been powerless to stop them. So therefore, that section needs to be struck down.
Q: Can you discuss any experience you have had with drafting or amending legal documents, such as ordinances or charters?
A: I have experience practicing writing legislation in Michigan’s Youth in Government, where I was taught how to write and amend legislation.
Q: How would you approach analyzing the potential impacts of proposed charter changes on the community?
A: Listening to public comments of course, should they actually be a thing at those meetings.
Q: How would you handle conflicting viewpoints within the charter update committee or the broader community?
A: Either look at both and find a compromise, or, get enough people on my side so that I get a majority backing me.
Q: How familiar are you with local government laws and regulations?
A: Somewhat familiar.
Q: Can you highlight any specific innovations or improvements you would like to see in the updated charter?
A: I will definitely highlight increasing the number of wards from four to eight. It’s the reason I endorsed and voted for opening up the City Charter, and that’s the main issue I’m running on.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies?
A: Running across my neighborhood, so long as I avoid dogs on porches.
Q: Favorite Book?
A: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Q: Favorite Movie, or TV Show?
A: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Q: What are your favorite notable personal achievement?
A: Getting elected to the Ingham County Democratic Party as a write-in.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Either pizza or pasta.
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