53rd District candidate Jeff Irwin says education, economy and environment are top priorities
After making his candidacy in the state House's 53rd District race official, Jeff Irwin is promising to focus on tangible results for Ann Arbor and Michigan if elected.
"Using my experience in local government and my knowledge of state government, I will work with all of my colleagues to overcome our challenges," said Irwin, who has served on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners since he was a 22-year-old student at the University of Michigan.
53rd House district candidate Jeff Irwin
“Ann Arbor is a special place and representing this city is a tremendous privilege," he said. “It has been an honor to serve this community for 10 years on the County Board of Commissioners and I look forward to using my knowledge and experience to continue fighting for the priorities that make Michigan a great state.”
After recently helping the county close a $30 million structural budget gap for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years, Irwin said passing balanced budgets in a difficult economic environment is exactly the kind of experience that Ann Arbor needs in Lansing.
He also said his knowledge of state and local government is a crucial qualification for the next 53rd District representative.
He cites his experience with human service and criminal justice programs administered by Washtenaw County, in addition to his time as a legislative aide and environmental advocate.
“Fighting to fund pre-K through college education, building Michigan’s economy and protecting our precious environmental resources will be my top priorities in state government," Irwin said.
Irwin has a campaign website at www.voteirwin.com.
Irwin is one of six candidates seeking the 53rd District seat being vacated by Rebekah Warren, who is running for Senate. Irwin faces Ned Staebler in the Aug. 3 Democratic primary.
On the Republican ticket, four names are on the ballot: Robert Stearns, Gideon D'Assandro, Chase Ingersoll, and Matthew Novetske.
For a complete list of candidates running for office, click here.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
Lisa
Sun, May 16, 2010 : 6:40 p.m.
I have personally known Jeff and his wife Kathryn since 2004 and think he would be an excellent candidate to represent the district in Lansing. @Huron74 and @Thorny maybe it is time for you to meet Jeff at one of his many meet and greets? Does everyone we send to Lansing need experience in the private sector? Jeff is very knowledgeable on the issues of Washtenaw County and Michigan, this includes the myriad of issues that effect business owners and taxpayers. To insult his choice of working in the public sector over the private sector is just ridiculous! Jeff has made himself available to the people of Washtenaw county and is out there everyday meeting and learning from the voters of Ann Arbor. Lastly, I've observed that he is an awesome dad to his beautiful daughter and a good husband! That alone is more than we can say for many politicians.
Jeff Renner
Sun, May 16, 2010 : 6:10 p.m.
If you were looking for an auto mechanic, I imagine you would look for one with a lot of experience. Ditto for a heart surgeon. I don't think there is anything intrinsically wrong with professional politicians. Experience can develop skills for getting people with diverse philosophies to work together. Jeff seems to have done this, and I think Lansing could use his skills.
Huron74
Fri, May 14, 2010 : 11:36 a.m.
I don't dislike Irwin personally, I have never met him. I'm just sayin' that I'd prefer a candidate that did a little more with his life than just politics and paid advocacy jobs. He wants to write laws telling the rest of us how to live and how much tax to pay but who has never actually run a business, or even worked for one himself. How personable or smooth he is, is to me, irrelevant. How I see it.
David Cahill
Fri, May 14, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
Jeff will be a fine state representative. He is already working in Lansing, helping write and pass a bipartisan package of bills that would allow homeowners to finance energy-efficient home improvements by voluntarily using the property tax mechanism, getting access to financing at lower rates than through traditional loans. This is the kind of creative thinking we need in the State House.
Huron74
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 10:55 p.m.
@ Ryan Stanton, I read this guy's resume. No private sector work experience just political advocacy or "public service". Just sayin'...
comm.man3000
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 1:24 p.m.
I once saw this guy - online coverage of the Board of Commissioners - deftly & handily pull together the very odd ends of that board to get a vote through. He's skillful in groups - not heavy handed & doesn't need to take focus. I can't imagine, with these particular skills and the 30 plus spanking new reps coming in next year, that anyone else would do. And oh, BTW - what's wrong with public service as a profession? Listening, learning & doing gets my vote.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 12:48 p.m.
Ive enjoyed knowing and working with Jeff and his family for almost 20 years. Jeff is the ideal candidate to represent Ann Arbor in the State Legislature and I strongly endorse his candidacy for four main reasons. 1) Jeff is a fiscal conservative who cares deeply about social causes and protecting those who are most at risk in our community *He balanced a $30 million projected budget deficit at the County by building consensus around cutting out what wasnt necessary while enhancing & preserving important social and environmental programs. *He brought together county management and the unions to reduce the number of staff and to lower wages and benefits for both the senior administration and staff workers. *Jeff and his wife Kathryn understand the financial pressure that many Michigan families are facing. He knows that investments in infrastructure like transit and great public schools can make the difference for families trying to make ends meet. 2) Jeff is a strong proponent of back office mergers between local units of government. * He led in the merger of the citys and countys back office computer and IT centers. * He strongly advocated for the successful merger of the city and county Community Development Departments & 911 emergency dispatch services. 3) Jeff is a strong advocate for wider regional cooperation among units of government. *He gained substantial regional experience through his involvement in South East Michigan Council Of Governments (SEMCOG), the most important regional coordination agency, and knows the political leaders throughout SE Michigan. *He strongly advocated for regional transit at both AATA and to establish regional commuter rail and secure the funding to make it happen. 4) Jeff is able to work across party lines to get things done. At the county commission he has been a consistent voice of reason and has a close positive working relationship with the Republican members of the county commission. These four qualities are important qualifications to bring to Lansing and if implemented on a state-wide basis would go a long way towards solving the myriad of problems that our state has.
Andrew Wright
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 11:17 a.m.
I have known Jeff for several years ever since he served on Student Government at the U of M. I was in a different student government than Jeff was but I was always aware of his innate since of politics and his service on the County Board. I have been out of Michigan since graduating at the University myself, but have "followed" Jeff's carrer from afar. I agree with the comments that term limits were a disastorous failure for the State and should probably be repealled; but since they are in effect and even the best legislatora are forced out (or upward) I think Jeff would be an excellent choice. Jeff knows that I am pretty much a conservative Republican, but there a few democrats I proudly support. I can definitley say that Jeff Irwin is one of them.
Glendenning
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.
Go Jeff!!!
Chuck Warpehoski
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.
Given the mandatory inexperience laws for state legislators (also called term limits), I think Jeff's experience in government is a real plus.
politica
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 7:40 a.m.
We're lucky to have Jeff running for this seat. He understands that investing in quality education is key to building our economy in the long run. It's important that the 53rd District continues to represent progressive goals, and Irwin has proven he has the necessary experience and the spirit of Ann Arbor at heart.
Priya
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 7:40 a.m.
I'm very impressed by Mr. Irwin's dedication to his work. If anything, getting involved in politics from an early age shows the attachment he has to the Ann Arbor community. More than anything, as a student at Michigan, Irwin's emphasis on education really resonates with me. The few times I have met him, he's made a genuine effort to listen and to address the concerns of students and other Ann Arbor citizens. Good to see this article up!
thorny
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 9:33 p.m.
Ryan, please, you are obviously drinking the Kool-Aid. Have you checked the Vegas odds on this one?
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 9:19 p.m.
Click here to read the story we did on Jeff Irwin's campaign when he announced his candidacy in November. We noted in that story that he has spent a majority of his years since college working for nonprofit agencies involved in environmental advocacy, including the Washington, D.C.,-based League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. He also served as executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, a group working to get pro-environment lawmakers elected at the state level. He stepped down from his full-time environmental advocacy job in 2007 when he became chairman of the county board. Though being a county commissioner was the lesser-paying job (little more than $15,000 a year), he said he wanted to focus his energy on being a public servant. We'll have full information like this in stories leading up to the election.
Huron74
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 9:05 p.m.
A pol since he was 22? His website doesn't mention him ever having had a job other than in politics. This guy looks like he wants to become a permanant professional politician.