Elections / Voters Guide / Rodney Nanney

Rodney Nanney
for Ypsilanti Charter Commission

Rodney Nanney

Occupation:
Local Government Consultant and Owner of Building Place Consultants (http://www.buildingplace.net/)
Experience:
Extensive professional experience working with local government on long-range planning, economic development, and organizational improvement.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Earth Science/Historic Preservation
Master of Science in Geography/Urban and Regional Planning (EMU)
Community Involvement:
Community activist since 2003; volunteer for the 2007 Stop the City Income Tax campaign; former candidate for 54th district state representative; CoPAC Representative from the Midtown Neighborhood Association.
Age:44
Marital Status:
married
Family:
three children (17, 15, 13)

Questions & Answers

QUESTION: What do you see as the most critical issues?

The system of elections in the current City Charter could and should be fixed. The current ward system disenfranchises certain neighborhoods, and the partisan election arrangement moves the real decision-making mayoral/city council election to the August Democrat primary ballot, disenfranchising even more. Moving local elections to the non-partisan ballot would do much to restore balance and maximize participation. Unfortunately, because of the looming payments on the $30 Million debt from the Farmer/Gawlas Water Street Redevelopment debacle, the city really doesn't have the time or the money to spend on this right now. For this reason, I am recommending a "No" vote on the proposed Charter revision. However, should Ypsilanti voters authorize the revision and elect me as a Charter Commissioner, I will work to ensure that we focuses on protecting police, fire, and other key services; preserving free and fair elections, and promoting fiscal prudence in city spending.

QUESTION: What do you want voters to know about you?

Here are my personal notes on the City Charter Commission Questions for Election Day: 1. VOTE "NO!" on the proposed general revision of the Charter. Now is not the time to waste $40,000+ on a new City Charter! 2. VOTE FOR Karen Quinlan Valvo as a Charter Commissioner. 3. WRITE-IN Kim Porter-Hoppe, Rodney Nanney, Karen McConnell, James Fink, Robert Doyle & Peter Fletcher as Commissioners. Should the "general revision" pass, these fiscally conservative homeowners, long active in the community, will ensure that any Charter revision focuses on protecting police, fire, and other key services, preserving free and fair elections, and promoting fiscal prudence in city spending. 4. GIVE THE REST OF THE CANDIDATES A PASS! Farmer & Gawlas ran up $30 Million plus in debt from the failed Water Street redevelopment scheme. Don't give them another chance to do more damage!

QUESTION: What makes you uniquely qualified for the position?

Community activist since 2003; CoPAC Representative from the Midtown Neighborhood Association; and extensive professional experience working with local government on long-range planning, economic development, and organizational improvement.

QUESTION: Why are you seeking office or re-election?

On Election Day, voters in the City of Ypsilanti will choose whether to authorize a general City Charter update (adopted, 1994). Further down the ballot, Ypsilanti voters will have the opportunity to select up to 9 Charter Commissioners. However, not all of the declared candidates are listed on the ballot. Rodney Nanney, former candidate for 54th district state representative (http://www.VoteRodney.com), has joined a group of "write-in" candidates for Charter Commission that also includes Mr. Peter Fletcher, one of the authors of the current City Charter. Other declared write-in candidates include Kim Porter-Hoppe, Karen McConnell, James Fink, and Robert Doyle. To vote for write-in candidates, simply add their names by hand on one of the blank lines, and then vote for them by filling in the oval next to their name. Votes for declared write-in candidates will be counted the same as if their names had been originally printed on the ballot form.