Livonia City Council Campaign

I am in the race for council with 12 other candidates. Primary is August 6th and I will be participating in all of the forums.

Candidates Forum for State Representative District 19 (September 2016)

Economy: What policies do you support to increase jobs and help Michigan residents improve their economic positions? Steve King answers. Laura Cox? Candidate has not yet responded.

Economy: What policies do you support to increase jobs and help Michigan residents improve their economic positions?

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingI support trade schools and apprenticeships for building and technical skills.

Over the next decade trillions will be spent on infrastructure and there is already a shortage of workers to operate the equipment to do those jobs.

Skilled machine operator is another job that goes begging. Many trades are experiencing shortages and it takes years to fill the pipeline so those jobs will go to non residents or the work will be shipped overseas.

We have to stop the treadmill to college that no longer guarantees a job but does result in huge student loan debt. This debt is now in the trillions and bigger than all consumer debt for the first time in history.

Work is the most important vehicle to a better life and that is why the process of background checks forces so many to go into the underground economy.

When childhood indiscretions follow you for the rest of your life it is time to re-examine the process.

Economy: What policies do you support to increase jobs and help Michigan residents improve their economic positions? Steve King answers. Laura Cox? Candidate has not yet responded.

Economy: What policies do you support to increase jobs and help Michigan residents improve their economic positions?

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingI support trade schools and apprenticeships for building and technical skills.

Over the next decade trillions will be spent on infrastructure and there is already a shortage of workers to operate the equipment to do those jobs.

Skilled machine operator is another job that goes begging. Many trades are experiencing shortages and it takes years to fill the pipeline so those jobs will go to non residents or the work will be shipped overseas.

We have to stop the treadmill to college that no longer guarantees a job but does result in huge student loan debt. This debt is now in the trillions and bigger than all consumer debt for the first time in history.

Work is the most important vehicle to a better life and that is why the process of background checks forces so many to go into the underground economy.

When childhood indiscretions follow you for the rest of your life it is time to re-examine the process.

League of Women Voters asks What actions or policies do you support to meet Michigan energy needs while protecting our water, air and land for current and future generations? Steve King answers. Laura COX? "Candidate has not yet responded.."

Energy & Environment: What actions or policies do you support to meet Michigan energy needs while protecting our water, air and land for current and future generations?

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingI support energy independence for the State. Currently we import billions of dollars of energy every year. It is time to fully embrace alternative energy that comes in many forms.

The State is embracing wind but needs to add much more solar and bio fuels to the mix. The future is electric and the very long process of transitioning from fossil fuel has already started.

There are millions of miles of pipelines transporting oil and natural gas throughout the country. This is an efficient way to move large volumes of materials but it is unwise to run pipelines through the great lakes, our most precious resource.

More must be done to protect this resource - Great Lakes Water - from an environmental catastrophe or from the drought weary regions of the country.

Our recycling efforts must be improved and a carbon tax is inevitable so we must prepare for the greening of our industries by leading. Many States are way ahead of the curve and they along with other countries are going to seize the new green collar jobs.

Steve King wins 19th District Michigan State House Primary - Was endorsed by Detroit News

"In the 19th state House Democratic primary, Steve King defeated political newcomer Jon Smith 2,606-1,881. King, a former school board member of Livonia Public Schools, will now move on to the general election in November, where he will go against current Republican state Rep. Laura Cox, who is looking for her second term in Lansing."

- Livonia Observer 8/2/2016

District 19 (Livonia): Democrat Steve King is the better choice in this race. He believes the current taxation level is too high, and would examine the budget closely for waste, fraud and other inefficiencies.

- Detroit News 7/15/2016

Steve King shares his ideas with hometownlife (Livonia Observer)

Excerpts from 16 Livonia City Council candidates share their views  (published 7/28/15) 
What is your specific plan to help bring more residents, especially young families, to the City of Livonia?  


King – Young families are most interested in vibrant neighborhoods and good schools. The city and school district must do a better job of working together. The city stood on the sidelines while the district closed schools and lost thousands of students. I believe the city could have played a stronger role in preventing this and must be more involved moving forward. I would like to start a program I call operation renovation that would purchase foreclosed and dilapidated homes turning them into showplaces. A downtown at Five Mile and Farmington similar to Kellogg Park in Plymouth could be the anchor for new family friendly development.

What can be done to continue business development in the city, especially along the industrial corridor along the railroad tracks, as well as Plymouth Road?

King – Livonia is not small business friendly and that needs to change. A culture of service has to permeate all departments in the city with the new mayor leading the charge. As a city we need to decide what industries we want and then actively pursue them. Oakland County went after technology and biomedical and is the most successful county in the country. That is what we need to emulate. We need to consider vertical farming, 3D manufacturing, bioengineering and alternative energy companies to enhance our current industrial base.

What do you think of the idea of creating one downtown or several smaller downtowns in Livonia? How would you go about doing that?

King – I spoke about a downtown during my last campaign and I think it sparked some interest that led to a field trip and fact-finding mission of sorts to a far away city that someone thought was like Livonia. I believe the outcome was, as it is with most government initiatives, a consultant would have to be hired and endless meetings would take place that would not result in much. That will not happen if I am elected. I will do the ground work to make sure it’s right and actually make it happen by getting our citizens engaged in the process.

What would you like to see changed about city government?

King – I would like to transition to an open-source government. That is that any idea from any source and anyone is given a hearing. I would like us to implement a mindset that every program or proposal have a technical and sustainability component. For instance doing things digitally as opposed to using paper. And always looking for a way to use less finite resources and energy. I think Dave Varga’s position as chief of staff or whatever it is called should be retooled to be an ombudsman. The first contact for any issue a citizen may have and the follow-up to make sure the problem has been solved.

Steve King reminds Livonia residents to vote this Tuesday, August 4th.  Vote Steve King!

Press Release: Steve King Endorsed by Home Town Life - Vote Steve King for Livonia City Council - Tuesday 8/4/2015

Livonia Observer: Voting records, cutting waste discussed at council forum

Eight candidates for City Council highlighted their voting records as well as how they would work with their council colleagues and cut waste from the budget in a candidate forum sponsored Thursday night by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce at City Hall. ...


King said he will listen, learn and lead. He also read a quote taken from a Chinese proverb to reflect his philosophy on the council.


“A man who asks a question is a fool for a minute; the man who asks no questions is a fool forever,” he said. ...


Candidates were also asked about cutting waste in the budget.


King said he didn't look at studying the budget as cutting waste, but more of what he called a “more effective use of resources.” He thought the city should look at car usage. 


King questioned the purchase and installation of a new boiler in the old courthouse. “I thought we built a new courthouse because the old one was so bad,” he said. “And here we are, putting money into the court.” [more]

Steve and Friends

Fighting for Livonia's future with "Wolverine."

Press release: Livonia City Council Candidate Steve King launches blog

Welcome to my blog

As a school board trustee I was the only member that had a blog that allowed for open communication with stakeholders. This is a continuation of that transparency as I seek a seat on City Council. As in the past feel free to post or comment on this blog.

Steve King Livonia School Board closing remarks