Carolyn Belaen of Highland, Bob Hoffman of Highland, Brian Howe of Highland and Mark Venie of Davisburg are campaigning for votes in the May 3 election, running to fill the Oakland County Commission District 2 seat, left vacant by the election of Bill Bullard to county clerk.
District 2 includes Springfield Township, as well as Holly, and Highland, Holly, and Rose townships.?
All four candidates were provided questionnaires by The Clarkston News. Only Belaen responded:
Carolyn Belaen, 44, moved to Michigan 23 years ago, and to Highland 10 years ago. She and her husband David Belaen have two children, Sean and Jessica.
Important issues/priorities facing the county include jobs ? create/sponsor/develop micro LinkedIn network, where landlords with property to rent meet potential business owners while interacting with lending institutions to better facilitate the reinvestment in our community while creating jobs, thus shortening the process to get a business up and running.
In the budget, she would evaluate the return on $737,900 allocated to the Health Department for AIDS counseling.
‘Perhaps some of that money would be better spent in the mental health sector, where we have zero dollars allocated,? she said.
In education, create a financial credit system between colleges/universities within Oakland County and the county itself. Students donate time/work within county departments, saving the county money, while earning financial credit towards their education.
“I am getting into politics, as a candidate, to serve our community and not to become a politician,” Belaen said.