Three candidates have a hat tossed in the race for the mayor’s seat in Trenton.
The election is Nov. 5.
Incumbent Kyle Stack is campaigning to keep her seat, and is being challenged by Tom Kinney and Ryan A. Stewart.
All of the candidates were asked to provide background information and answer questions about their leadership and vision for the city.
The following are their responses:
Kinney, 45, was elected to the Trenton Board of Education in 2010 and is currently serving his second term. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 13 years and have three children. Kinney is employed by NSS Technologies, based in Canton. He has worked there for more than 25 years and has served in many positions throughout his employment.
Stack, 62, has served as mayor for the past eight years. She was elected as city clerk in 1985 and held that position until 2011. She has worked for the city of Trenton for 43 years and has resided in Trenton with her husband, Bill Jasman, for many years
Stewart, 30, has served as a commissioner on the Trenton Zoning Board of Appeals and Variances since February 2018. He is employed by Thomson Reuters, based in Ann Arbor, as an account manager. He and his wife, Loren Nikolovski-Amady, are engaged to be married in June.
Q: What makes your leadership ability the best for the city of Trenton?
Kinney: Although I have political experience, I am not a politician. I am just a man who wants to do what he can to move Trenton forward. I lead with open ears, open eyes and an open mind and the nine years I have spent on the Board of Education has taught me the patience and tolerance to encourage everyone to work together. I have an incredible interest in listening to what everyone has to say and learning from them. I believe I have the ability to forge relationships with the necessary people to make Trenton the best city Downriver.
Stack: I believe my leadership ability is the best because we (my administration) have balanced the city budget for eight years. We have been successful with negotiating and settling four union contracts two times during my tenure as mayor. We have organized an Economic Development Committee and have hired a part-time economic development director that has helped with $208 million of new development in our community. My administration has moved us forward on all pending issues, such as the McLouth Steel demolition, Riverside Hospital issue, DTE Energy closure and we are working on train issues in our community.
Stewart: I am proactive, and will always listen to citizens while working hard to build broad consensus for action. I believe in the values of honesty, transparency, and accountability in decision making, and plan to move beyond status-quo thinking to bring a fresh perspective to seeking innovative solutions to challenges while creating opportunities for Trenton. I have a vision for creating an environment in which business owners, citizens and local government work together to make our great community even better; the revitalization of Trenton’s downtown and waterfront can make all of Downriver a better place to live and work.
Q: What Trenton issue is not getting enough public attention?
Kinney: I feel the issue that is not getting enough public attention is the impact our budget will take when the DTE plant closes in 2022. We must be proactive and have a plan in place to make up for the loss of tax revenue we will face. This will take some creative and forward-thinking. I believe I possess those qualities to deal with this issue.
Stack: I feel that I have a superb staff and that we take care of issues as they come to us.
Stewart: The former McLouth Steel property is currently zoned for mixed-use, and the Environmental Protection Agency has publicly stated that a non-residential cleanup standard can enable a wide range of redevelopment possibilities, such as corporate office headquarters, retail spaces, restaurants, parks and hotels. Some people believe the site can only be used for industrial redevelopment, which is simply not true. The city can still work with the new owner to establish environmentally safe and financially viable mixed-use projects, creating sustainable economic development and good paying jobs while maximizing the property tax revenue growth potential of nearly a mile of prime waterfront land.
Q: What are your thoughts on the status of the former McLouth Steel cleanup, as well as its future use?
A: Kinney: I believe cleanup is going well. They are doing their best to keep it safe for our residents as well as the surrounding communities. As for its future use, I will try to work with the current owner to keep it from being I-3 (heavy industrial). I want to keep it a mixed-use property that can leave the door open to many possibilities. I can’t promise what can go there until I get in there (elected mayor) to meet with the current owner. What I would like to see is something that can be used by all of our residents, as well as the surrounding Downriver communities that will draw people and business to our city.
Stack: We worked diligently with the county to move forward on the sale of the property. Warren Evans’ staff worked hard and we were part of the process to choose the right company for the site. I believe that this site will be industrial. Land usually will sit until funding is available for cleanup from the Federal National Priority Listing, which this property has this status. Its future use has not been presented to the City Council, but I believe they are working on a plan. I look forward to working with MSC LTD to provide jobs and bring taxes to our community.
Stewart: I will do everything in my power to ensure cleanup is as thorough as possible, and that redevelopment will not bring a huge amount of increased freight trains, semi-trucks and new pollution to Trenton. I am opposed to redevelopment as an intermodal shipping port. This property’s best use comes from maintaining current mixed-use zoning, and following the Trenton Coast Resiliency Master Plan’s vision, which reflects a consensus of citizens about the high quality of life and clean environment that Trenton wants. Allowing industrial development at McLouth would be a grave mistake – one that would haunt Trenton for generations to come.
