By K.D. Norris
For the Michigan Nov. 2 general election, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from all candidates. If they participated, their videos are linked here. For those who did not participate, either a candidate-provided biography/issues statement, or simply their name is listed. All videos are 5-minutes or less devoted to the candidate, and were not edited in any way by WKTV.
The City of Kentwood Commissioner At-Large, which is one of two commissioners at-large, is voted upon by the entire City of Kentwood.
The non-partisan candidates are incumbent Commissioner Betsy Artz and candidate Leonica Riley Erwin.
Note: Commissioner Artz chose not to record a We The People video.
Betsy Artz – Incumbent
Occupation: General Manager, Celebration Cinema, 27 years
Why did you decide to run for this position?
After serving this city for the last 8 years as a city commissioner, and more than 10 years in other volunteer positions before that, I feel that there is still so much to do. Serving on the Pension Board for the last 8 years, we now have a fully funded employee pension, something that only one other city in Michigan can claim. I want to make sure that our city continues on this fiscally responsible path.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
When I am meeting residents while going door-to-door in our city, these are the three most talked about concerns:
Speeding in the neighborhoods — Our commission has been working on different ways to combat speeding, including the purchase of new devices, and the addition of patrol officers.
Car break-ins — Kentwood, and all neighboring cities, have had a rash of auto break-ins. The Kentwood Police Department has stated that in these break-ins, over 90 percent of the cars are unlocked, and some even have the keys in them. I will continue to push a public service campaign to make residents aware.
Growing homeless population — about two years ago, Mayor (Stephen) Kepley and I began working with local agencies to help identify where our homeless population is, and what we can do to help. Since then, I have formed a Kentwood Coalition to End Homelessness. We are working with school administrators, City of Kentwood staff, the Kentwood Police Department, Kent County commissioners, Community Rebuilders, and private residents to find lasting solutions.
Leonica Riley Erwin — Candidate
Occupation: Social worker, Wellspring Lutheran Services
Why did you decide to run for this position?
I genuinely enjoy helping people and want to ensure that all of my Kentwood neighbors can achieve their full potential in life. I’ve spent my career helping Kentwood families resolve personal crises. That has given me a unique understanding of the issues that prevent families from achieving their goals. I want to help us come together as a community to solve some of the problems our neighbors are facing. Running for office is my way of being a part of the solution and taking responsibility for what happens around me.
Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:
The greatest challenge in Kentwood is creating a sense of community. The pandemic, language barriers, and other issues prevent residents from getting to know their neighbors. I’d like our city to organize more neighborhood associations and social groups with a focus on community empowerment. We can provide residents with more cultural events, neighborhood picnics, wellness activities, volunteer projects, and community celebrations near our homes. We can celebrate each other’s successes and provide support when needed too.
Economic stability is another issue voters are facing. My neighbors are concerned about affordable housing, especially renters. Most landlords require a tenant’s wages to be three times the amount of rent. Rent prices are high. Food security is a related concern because there are only two grocery stores in Kentwood. That’s essentially a food desert for residents without transportation. The best-paying jobs in the city are not on the bus line so we need to expand public transportation. More residents need education about the resources available for entrepreneurship.
Environmental safety is a major concern in Kentwood. Voters want a sustainable recycling program. They want to ensure that there is clean water in EVERY Kentwood home. They want our city to be pedestrian-friendly with continuous improvements to our parks and trails. Voters want ALL Kentwood residents to feel safe in our neighborhoods. Discussions about community policing and mental health services for our community need to be held. Finally, voters want Kentwood to be an environment where everyone has access to high-speed internet.
