‘A sense of obligation? to his community and to his state.
That’s what Joe Kent says is driving him to run for the 46th District seat in the Michigan State House of Representatives.
The 57-year-old Addison Township resident announced his candidacy last week at the Complete Companies Craftwork Complex in Orion Township.
‘A couple years ago, I had a major reordering of priorities in my life,? he said. ‘I just realized I’m very fortunate I’m in a position to do this.?
To Kent, ‘Lansing seems to be running out of people? as term limits have caused a great deal of turnover in the state Legislature and this has led to the election of many younger candidates.
‘Not to take away anything from people in their 30s, or even 20s, but we’re getting a lot of candidates and elected officials that just don’t have the body of life experiences that we would like for the people in Lansing to have. I do,? he said.
Kent is seeking to replace Rep. Brad Jacobsen (R-Oxford), who is unable to seek re-election in November 2016 due to term limits. The 46th District encompasses Oxford, Addison, Orion, Brandon and Oakland townships as well as the villages of Oxford, Leonard, Ortonville and Lake Orion.
Kent has lived in Addison with his wife, Gay, for 24 years. The couple lives in the house built for J.D. Beemer, who played Justice Colt on Detroit/Windsor television from 1950-57. He was the son of Brace Beemer, the Oxford resident who portrayed the Lone Ranger on coast-to-coast radio from 1941-54.
‘We love it (in Addison),? Kent said. ‘There’s no better place on earth.?
He’s passionate about helping small business owners because he founded the Lake Orion-based Padgett Business Services, a professional tax and accounting company, in 1996. Kent, who has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan, sold the company and is now a partner in Kent & Edwards Tax Advisors, a new firm based in Lake Orion.
Over the years, Kent claims to have helped more than 100 family-owned businesses in north Oakland County ‘do a better job? of managing their finances.
He wants to continue helping small businesses by going to Lansing and eliminating all the ‘red tape? that companies must deal with when they want to expand.
‘I want to be an advocate for locally-owned businesses,? Kent said.
He also wants to apply his ‘strong knowledge of finance and taxation? to the state budget. ‘I’ve made a good living scouring the books of my clients,? Kent said. ‘I always find problems and I always find opportunities. I don’t expect that to be any different with the State of Michigan’s books.?
He plans to tackle ‘wasteful spending? and correct ‘wrong-headed priorities? that ‘don’t reflect what the general public wants.?
‘The best way to do that is to shine the light of day on them,? Kent said. ‘You’ll be hearing from me when I find these things.?
Fixing Michigan’s roads is a top priority for Kent and he believes a lot can be done without raising taxes. ‘I’m frustrated like everybody (else) about the roads,? he said.
He noted that last year, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a free market think tank based in Midland, came up with a list of 35 major policy reforms that, if implemented, would save Michigan $2.1 billion.
?(That’s) almost double what our governor says we need to keep our roads properly maintained,? Kent said.
Even if the state was only able to save half or a quarter of that amount, Kent said, ‘It would be a quantum leap in terms of being able to resolve this problem without a solution that punishes the taxpayers that got us through the worst recession in nearly 100 years.?
‘We can certainly do a lot with savings, maybe the whole thing,? he noted.
Kent is upset the Mackinac Center’s ideas were never even considered at the state level.
‘There wasn’t a debate about those proposals,? he said. ‘It really frustrates me . . . They’re a well-thought-of think tank and their ideas are not lunacy.?
To him, there’s ‘too much reactionary behavior in Lansing and not enough analysis and bench-marking of what other states are doing.?
‘We’ve had a lack of leadership on this,? Kent said.
Kent believes he’s different than many of the leaders in Lansing in that he has historically taken a ‘mature approach? to problem-solving.
‘Somebody’s got to be the adult in the room with these things? and tell everybody to ‘take a time-out,? so we can ‘ask ourselves what’s the right thing to do.?
‘I’m not seeing that kind of behavior (in Lansing),? he said. ‘That’s in my DNA. That’s just how I roll. I think I can make a difference. I’m pretty confident that I can.?
Kent wants to see Michigan rely more on itself to solve problems and handle issues as opposed to looking to the federal government for answers. He looks with ‘great suspicion at all federal initiatives? like ‘Obamacare? and Common Core.
‘I know Michigan has some of the best minds in the world,? he said. ‘We can do a better job than Washington can (at) figuring out how to take care of our needy and educate our children. But that’s not happening. We, like many states, have become a satellite office for Washington D.C. I don’t like that.?
Kent plans to fight attempts by the federal government to expand its foothold in the state by reaching out to local leaders for input and to help make the case as to why Michigan can do a better job on its own.
‘It doesn’t do any good to oppose something, if you don’t have a better idea,? he said.
Locally, Kent wants to ensure the townships within the 46th District have all the ‘protection and support? they need from Lansing.
He plans to do this by regularly seeking the counsel of township supervisors and other township officials. He’s already met with many of them and is quite ‘impressed.?
‘These people are smart. They have integrity,? Kent said. ‘They could be earning more money in the private sector, but they have a genuine concern about their community.?
‘We have an opportunity to pull all of these people together as a resource center for input as to what our district needs and also as a pool for ideas as to how to solve (problems),? he continued.
He used Addison Township Supervisor Bruce Pearson as an example.
‘Bruce has 10 ideas for every one problem,? Kent said. ‘He’s just that kind of guy.?
As a representative, Kent would ‘tap into the wisdom, experience and enthusiasm of our township supervisors.? He believes this would ‘generate a lot of great ideas?
By doing this and putting together a ‘block of legislators? that represent north Oakland County, Kent said, ‘I’m confident we can achieve some meaningful results.?
Kent is endorsed by both Pearson and Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett.
‘I’m supporting him because I think he has an expertise in financial matters and I think at this point, our state needs to make sure that our money’s being spent properly before they come and starting asking us for more,? Pearson said.
‘Everybody says we don’t have enough money for roads. Maybe he can go in there and say, ‘Nay, nay, nay. I just found some (funds) that you guys are mismanaging.? I’m hoping that’s the case.?
‘I met Joe probably a year or so ago and since then, I’ve had breakfast with him probably four times, just to try to find out what he’s about,? Barnett said. ‘I didn’t know him from Adam, but I did my research and talked to people that did know him. Everything I’ve heard has been good. I like his accounting background. I think that’s something we need in Lansing.?
Barnett likes what he sees in Kent on a personal level as a voter and in his professional capacity as an elected official.
‘In my role as township supervisor . . . I need to make sure (the state representative is) someone I can work with,? he said. ‘I’m truly confident he’s that guy.?
‘He’s a levelheaded guy and (he) wants to do it for the right reasons,? Barnett added. ‘It made my decision pretty easy.?