City Council candidates tell why they are the best man for the job

Four candidates are seeking two seats on the Maricopa City Council when citizens vote in the General Election May 20.

One Council candidate from the primary, Marquisha Griffin, earned a seat without going to the runoff election, as did the mayoral candidate, Anthony Smith, who is now Maricopa’s mayor-elect (see “Update: Griffin secures Council seat; Brown, Dunn, Diedrich, Haddad advance to general“).

Each candidate stated in a nutshell why he believes he is the best candidate:

Marvin Brown: I feel that I am the best candidate for this office because I have the widest range of political and private sector experience: namely, 22 years as precinct delegate to Democratic National Conventions; Michigan Representative to the McCarthy/Kennedy New Democractic Coalition; co-chairman of the Robert F. Kennedy for President Committee in the State of Michigan; administrative assistant to chief of police, city of Detroit; administrative assistant to the speaker of the House, state of Michigan; gubernatorial appointment-director of Urban Investment, State of Michigan Banking Commission; director of the Poverty Program, city of Detroit; economic development consultant to two city council persons, city of Detroit; director of Community Development, city of Highland Park, Michigan.

My private sector involvement includes: executive director, Greater Detroit Alliance of Business; chairman of the board, Detroit Non-Profit Housing Corporation; president of the Board of Travelers’ Aid Society of Detroit; Chairman of the Board Michigan Voluntary Unemployment Agency for Non-Profits Agencies; board member of Bank of Lansing; executive director of Urban Investments COMAC Corporation, which was a bank holding corporation.

Councilman Will Dunn: We are in the midst of change in Maricopa. A change in our economy, a change in our mayor and council, a change in our city manager; change abounds. As an incumbent, how can I be about change? Most of the issues our citizens are demanding change about are the same ones I have spoken out against and rallied for during the past few years. Many times in the past I have been a lone voice in the wilderness as the Council passed silly laws like the “anti-balloon” law in Maricopa, or when I demanded transparency and accountability by engaging citizens in all levels of our government. Your voice has joined with mine and that change is happening. Maricopa stands at the edge of a complete turn around and I am proud to have fought the fight when no one was listening and held my ground, until finally, Maricopa’s voice has joined my own and change is upon us. I have led the charge for change in our community and with your support, these changes will take us in the direction all of us want to go.

Councilman Kelly Haddad: I feel that I am the best candidate for City Council because I have been on the Council since the day we incorporated and feel that my experience will play a key role in the near future of the city. The city is in a pivotal position and the decisions that are made in the next few years are crucial. I believe that I understand the direction that the community wants the city to move in and I will do everything in my power to see that we do so.

Carl Deidrich: Candidate declined to comment.

For a collection of stories profiling each candidate and ongoing election coverage please visit our Elections Page under the NEWS link at inmaricopa.com.

File photos