Elections / Voters Guide / Rob Turner

Rob Turner
for Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners District 1

Republican

Rob Turner

Occupation:
Electrical Contractor
Experience:
Chelsea School Board Trustee 2001-present, President Michigan Chapter of NECA 2002-2004 2008, Currently Governor of Michigan Chapter of NECA, Labor Management Board Local #252 2007-present, Health and Welfare Board Local #252 2001-present, Chelsea Free Methodist Church Delegate 1984-present, Free Methodist Church of North America Board of Administration 1999-2007, Spring Arbor University Board Trustee 2009-present
Education:
Graduated Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, Two years General Studies Washtenaw Community College, Graduated four year IBEW Local Union #252 Electrical Apprenticeship School
Community Involvement:
Liaison - Beach Middle School, chaperone dances at junior and high schools, numerous activities for Chelsea High School Marching Band, Teacher third grade Sunday School, electrical work for numerous functions, this year chaperoned Washington D.C. trip, volunteer electrical work Communidad Aqua Viva -Jackson
Age:53
Marital Status:
Married
Family:
Juli - Wife
Madeleine - Daughter
Molly - Daughter
Endorsements:
Former County Commissioner Joe Yekulis, City of Chelsea Mayor Jason Lindauer, Chelsea City Councilman Rod Anderson, Chelsea School Superintendent Dave Killips, Former Chelsea School Board President Laurel McDevitt

Questions & Answers

QUESTION: Should the county continue to invest $125,000 a year in SEMCOG?

The land bank authority is an issue I will want to study some more before I take a definitive stand. I do not want to do anything to discourage growth within the county, but I am concerned with maintaining the character and quality of life within the county. Should the county continue to invest $125,000 a year in SEMCOG? Washtenaw County standing alone does not have the power to influence the federal of state government on all matters of revenue or unfunded mandates, but by joining together with the other members of SEMCOG it makes itself a greater block of influence. Our membership with SEMCOG facilitates the networking with other southeast Michigan counties, helping us to find ways to share services and cut costs. Yes, I believe the investment pays dividends.

QUESTION: What do you want voters to know about you?

I would like people to know that I am the husband of Juli for over twenty-four years and the father of Madeleine (17) and Molly(14). I also would like people to know that I am a born-again Christian and that I care for all people and from this caring for people comes my passion to serve others. I would like them to know my love for children all over the world. This love is why I have served on my children's PTO and then on the school board. I have worked hard for children with special needs and to keep our schools as free as possible from drugs, alcohol, and bullying. I love to chaperone the junior high and high school dances, making sure that they are safe and fun. As I am 6'8" tall I have an advantage in being able to see that everyone is following the school policies during the dances. My company, Turner Electric Service, Inc. is a third- generation Washtenaw County business. I love my community, my county, my state and my country.

QUESTION: What is your long-term vision for Washtenaw County?

My long-term vision for Washtenaw County is to maintain its leadership in the state as being the place to do business, work and live. I would like to work closer with the University of Michigan to draw more high-tech, research and educational business to our county. I envision a county that supports its law enforcement deputies and local police officers, prosecutors and the courts to ensure the safety of all its citizens. Finally, I envision a county that keeps a balanced budget, streamlines its services to maximize economy of services and to concentrate on mandated services, and maintaining the purpose of the county government. By doing these things I can see that Washtenaw County will be the economic and lifestyle envy of the Midwest.

QUESTION: What is your stance on a county land bank authority?

QUESTION: What is your take on the county's budget situation and what are your priorities in addressing the fiscal challenges facing the county?

My observation of the county's budget situation is that the county is facing the same problems that all local governments are facing in Michigan. I believe that the county will have to work hard to maintain the same amount of services with less support from the state and federal government. The county has done a good job addressing this issue, but will have to continue to work on restructuring itself to make sure it is operating as economically efficient as possible. The majority of the county's budget is its payroll. The county is going to have to work harder with its employees and union leadership to reduce the cost of labor, especially the cost of pensions and healthcare. Finally, cutting costs cannot be the only fix for the county budget. The county must encourage, not discourage business opportunies and growth within the county. With renewed growth of business and residents we wil increase revenue to the county without raising taxes.

QUESTION: What makes you uniquely qualified for the office?

My nine years of experience on the Chelsea School Board has taught me a lot about the duties and what is expected of a member of a government board. I have had to work with my fellow board members and administrators on streamlining structures, reducing the cost of employee healthcare and cutting budgets to offset the decreases in state and federal funding. During four years in my term as a school board member I was the board's treasurer. This entailed working directly with the district finance administrator at which time I learned a great deal about how government finances work. I helped to structure the monthly finance report to help the board track the percentages of the budget spent compared to the percentage of the calendar year completed. In my many conversations with the current county commissioner, Mark Ouimet we have compared notes and found that the issues facing school districts and counties are very similar.

QUESTION: Where do you stand on expanding the Road Commission?

I am not in favor of expanding the Road Commission or any portion of government. We have to maintain our infrastructures, but our priority needs to be growing business in this county, not government.

QUESTION: Why are you seeking office or re-election?

I have been a resident of Washtenaw County all of my life and have enjoyed serving the community in whatever way I can. For the past nine years I have been serving families of the Chelsea School District as a school board Trustee. I have enjoyed getting to know the people of the district better, listening to their positive experiences, as well as their concerns, and doing whatever I can to help their relationship be a more positive and informed one. When the Washtenaw County Republican Party asked me to run for Mark Ouimet's open commissioner's seat I was at first hesitant because being elected would mean leaving the school board. After much thought and counsel I realized that this would be an opportunity to get to know and serve more people and with all I have learned from my years on the school board I will be able to start out of the gate running to help the county board, the people of my district, and the people of the county as a whole.