Editor’s Note: The following candidate profile story appeared in the July 30 Leader just prior to the primary election.

By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Editor
Brad Jacobsen believes his work is not yet done.
That’s why the 57-year-old Oxford Republican is once again running for the 46th District seat in the state House.
‘There’s still things I would like to accomplish in Lansing, that we haven’t been able to do, to help the State of Michigan,? said Jacobsen, who was elected in 2010. ‘We’ve made great strides toward improving our economy (and) making Michigan more business-friendly (which has resulted in) more investment and more jobs.?
If elected to a third term, Jacobsen wants to really focus his energy on two issues ? improving roads and giving young people reasons to stay in Michigan.
It’s a ‘major disappointment? to him that the state Legislature hasn’t been able to ‘stabilize and improve our road system.?
‘That’s one of the things I really want to strive for,? said Jacobsen, a 1975 graduate of Oxford High School. ‘That’s something that many of us campaigned on four years ago. We’ve made only marginal improvements.?
Jacobsen said state officials have failed to come up with a stable way to generate the estimated $1.6 billion to $2 billion that’s needed annually ‘to get Michigan roads back in line.?
‘It’s estimated that we will need that type of money for at least 10 years to get our roads fixed up (to the point where we have) a good, quality system overall,? he explained.
Although it’s ‘not a popular idea in an election year,? he believes the best way to obtain the extra funding necessary to improve Michigan’s roads is by asking state voters to approve a 1 percent increase in the state sales tax, bringing it up to 7 percent.
‘That 1 percent would be dedicated to roads,? Jacobsen said. ‘That will raise about $1.2 billion a year.?
Jacobsen, who served as a trustee on the Oxford Township Board from 1984 to 2000, believes a tax increase is the only way to solve the road funding problem. ‘We have looked at all of our (existing) internal funding,? he said. ‘There’s not enough money there.?
Increasing the state sales tax would yield a much more stable form of revenue, in his opinion, than simply increasing the gasoline tax. ‘We’re using less gasoline every year (due to fuel-efficient vehicles,? said Jacobsen, who was elected to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners in 2006 and served two terms
He also believes a sale tax hike is a much more equitable way to fund the necessary road improvements than increasing the gas tax, which would have less of an impact on folks who drive fuel-efficient and hybrid electric vehicles, but still use the same roads.
The other issue Jacobsen is passionate about is making Michigan a place ‘where our kids want to stay,? instead of going to big cities like Chicago or other states like North Carolina. He wants to give them reasons to ‘stay here and be proud of their state.?
He believes ‘the advancement and improvement of Detroit? and the state’s other major cities is the key to keeping ‘our kids home.?
‘There’s a fascination with Chicago, Charlotte (in North Carolina), New York, Dallas, Houston,? Jacobsen said. ‘There’s excitement (in these cities). There’s entertainment venues. There’s a draw for young people.?
To convince young people to stay in Michigan, cities like Detroit must be able to provide all the elements of a ‘healthy, vibrant lifestyle? including good jobs, good infrastructure, good schools and easy access to arts and entertainment, according to Jacobsen.
When Detroit ‘went down the tubes,? Jacobsen said ‘one of the concerns that many of us had? was it would drive more young people out of Michigan. That’s why he voted in favor of giving Detroit $195 million to help settle its bankruptcy.
‘If they sold the art in the museum, if Detroit just became a bigger wasteland than it has been, what’s going to keep anybody in southeast Michigan?? Jacobsen said.
Jacobsen is working on reducing the speed limit on gravel roads from 55 to 45 miles per hour for residents concerned about safety, particularly for pedestrians.
‘That is a tough nut to crack because the state police are not terribly interested in changing it,? he said. ‘Nobody other than Oakland and Macomb counties sees it as an issue.?
Jacobsen realizes reducing the speed limit to 45 mph ‘won’t make everybody happy,? but ‘it will be a step in the right direction.?
‘It’s probably the best deal we’re going to get,? he said. ‘We’re hoping for that. It’s not a done deal yet.?
Unlike many candidates who simply want to say ‘no? all the time to every idea, every issue and every proposal, Jacobsen said he’s the candidate who asks ‘how??
‘How can we make it work? How can we make it better? How can we make progress?? he said. ‘Stalling and delaying things doesn’t accomplish anything. We need to be able to work together to move things forward to the betterment of all of our citizens.?
Jacobsen believes that while it’s important for candidates and officials to stick to their principles, they also ‘have to be able to work with people to make progress.?