Candidates Forum for State Representative District 19 (September 2016)

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 and Education

League of Women Voters asks about Education:  Steve King's thoughtful answers are featured in this blog post.  Laura COX? "Candidate has not yet responded."

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingCharter Schools have not been the panacea the State had envisioned and need to be held accountable moving forward. The Free Press report spells it out very clearly.

I also support the consolidation of districts business operations.We have 552 school districts and that is far too many central office fiefdoms that have little to do with helping teachers teach and students learn. Pushing every kid into college is also a mistake.

Trade and technical education is the smart choice for millions of young people and needs to be supported long before high school. Local control must be returned to local elected officials.

See http://mibrightfuture.org/ for an example of progressive and innovative approaches to education and training focused on the needs of local businesses.

This can fuel business growth.

League of Women Voters: Steve King outlines top three state legislative priorities - Laura Cox? "Candidate has not yet responded."

Priorities: What are your top three state legislative priorities and how would you address them?

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingEducation, Criminal Justice Reform, and Infrastructure particularly as it relates to Wayne County. I unabashedly support Public Education and do not support education tax dollars being funneled to private and religious schools. This is prohibited in the constitution and a violation of separation of Church and State. As an educator that has worked in 10 districts, 80 buildings and over 400 different classrooms I have a wealth of knowledge to address the challenges of educating children. I support the Ban the Box initiative on job applications and restorative justice as it pertains to school suspensions

Steve King Endorsed by hometownlife O&E Media

Voters can’t go wrong with any of these 9 candidates

11:45 a.m. EDT July 22, 2015

A perennial candidate, King is probably best known as the frontman of Steve King & the Dittlies classic rock band. King served on the Livonia school board and ran unsuccessfully for city council and the state House. On the school board, he thought outside of the box and was not afraid to vote against the administration’s recommendation if he didn’t agree with it. A graduate of Bentley High School, King is passionate about the city and says he would work to create downtown space, specifically at Five Mile and Farmington. 

hometownlife O&E Media

Addressing Basement Flooding with Education, Retention & Insurance

Addressing Basement Flooding with Education, Retention & Insurance

EDUCATION
I have attended every public forum afforded me during my run for Council. Unfortunately the forums are structured in such a way to allow for 60 second responses to often complex issues. The following is a more detailed response to the question of the basement sewer backups that affected so many of our neighbors. Events such as the flooding were devastating but also provide an opportunity to educate the public on flood risks, and how to minimize them through the use of sewer back flow valves and sump pumps.

What the city can do: Prepare a map showing relative risk for basement flooding, so residents can determine their own course of action based on their level of risk. Offer local businesses space at city hall to provide information on those products.

RETENTION
Water backs up into basements because the amount of water entering the storm system is greater than the system can move. This water can be managed by mandating low flow gratings on storm drains. This affects the speed at which water enters the system allowing more time for the system to purge. The downside is additional street and parking lot standing water, but water on the pavement beats water in the basement.

What the city can do: Install these grates in higher risk areas. If already installed, monitor them to make sure that they are kept free of debris to help keep standing water to a minimum.

INSURANCE
Flood insurance does not cover water coming up from the drain, nor does standard homeowners insurance. However, some companies offer a sewer and drain endorsement that does. Coverage can be expensive, in excess of $5.000, but losses can be far greater than that.

What the city can do: Research which companies offer this insurance and the cost for an average household. Provide this information to the public via the city’s website and the Livonia Observer. Hold a flood “open house” and offer those companies the opportunity to show residents the policies they have to offer.

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]