Information on each of the candidates running for Charlotte City Council District 2 is listed below in alphabetical order — Brand Johnston and James Wyszynski.
Brad Johnston
Age: 39
Occupation:
Family: Wife and three children
Why are you running for this position?
Charlotte has provided a safe and enriching environment to grow up in. I want this to continue for generations to come. Giving back through service to this community gives me a sense of fulfillment and pride. I am running for this position because I want the future of this community to be brighter than ever.
What makes you qualified to represent the citizens of Charlotte?
I have served on the council for nearly a year now. Previous to that I, served on the planning commission. I believe that my experience in service makes me the most qualified candidate. I also believe that my voting record exemplifies the will, desire, and values of the citizens that I represent.
What are three key concerns facing your district and how can they be addressed?
- Clearly roads are the key concern. It is a hot topic and it is brought up frequently. This concern for road/infrastructure repair needs to be addressed head on. I think the city and council are going to have to dedicate more resources at the expense of some other projects/ventures in the next budget.
- Public Safety is also a concern. Our police staff is not as big as it has been in the past. They have adapted very well and taken on additional responsibilities and should be commended for their efforts. I feel it is critical that our police/fire departments have all the resources they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently. Continued support from council will insure our police and fire departments have the capacity and means to keep us safe.
- Economic growth would also be a concern. I feel that there are several factors that play into growing our local economy. Some things we have done well. I think the concerts at the square, Celebrate Charlotte, and Frontier Days do a good job brining revenue into our city. Marketing our city more aggressively, improving our public education, and increased activity at our fairgrounds would help this city in my opinion. Above all of that, I really think what we are missing is a stronger manufacturing/industrial presence. With OI gone and nothing to replace it, the job market in our community leaves much to be desired. We have lots of space at the industrial park for industry to set up, until that happens Charlotte will be a bedroom community by necessity.
How can people learn more about you and your campaign?
Visit me on facebook@ Brad Johnston for city council.
James E. Wyszynski, III
Age: 32
Occupation: Food Service Worker at Olivet College
Family: Single
Why are you running for this position?
The main reason I would like to serve on city council is to give back to the community. Growing up, I saw first hand the value of this. My dad served Grand Ledge as both mayor and councilman. I first moved to Charlotte in December of 2012 and I soon fell in love with city. I love Frontier Days (which I had never before attended), the parades and the great sense of community. Charlotte also gave me the opportunity to purchase an affordable home in a nice neighborhood in May of 2013. I have decided to start my adult life in Charlotte and I couldn’t be happier here. Because of all of these great experiences, I would like to give back to the city that welcomed me with open arms.
What makes you qualified to represent the citizens of Charlotte?
I have a unique set of experiences that I can bring to the council. I chose to live in Charlotte at the age of 29. I can bring in the perspective of a relative outsider, though one who moved here voluntary and truly loves this city. Having that perspective could really be new insight for the city. I plan on eventually starting a family here in Charlotte. Therefore, I will look ahead not just for next five years but the next 50.
What are three key concerns facing your district and how can they be addressed?
First, the roads need to be addressed. I travel on State Street daily. I know how bad it truly is. Most people drive in a swerving pattern to avoid the potholes and that isn’t safe for anyone. I want to address it by spending more money on road funding. I know there are available funds and I think we need to spend them now, not later.
Second, I think we need to do more to bring people to town. This will help my third concern, bringing more businesses to downtown. By bringing more people into town they will have more opportunities to spend money here. That will help businesses already here and hopefully bring new ones into Charlotte. I think one of the best ways to do this is work with the recreation co-op and start bringing recreation programs to Charlotte. Softball and Kickball are becoming tremendously popular with adults these days. Potterville and Delta Township have capitalized on this and bring people from the tri-county area to participate in their events. We can do the same here and by doing so people will see what we have to offer and hopefully spend money at local stores and restaurants. This increase in traffic will hopefully lead to more people starting businesses downtown.
How can people learn more about you and your campaign?
People can email me at jameswys@hotmail.com or James Wyszynski III on Facebook or Jameswys on Instagram or @Jew3_ on Twitter
