Candidate Profile: Melanie Hartman For Oakland Co. Commissioner

Dr. Melanie Hartman, a Rochester Hills resident is running for Oakland County Commissioner District 15.

Age: 60 yo
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:Gary Abusamra, 57 yo
Francesca Grace Abusamra 23 yo
Sophia Marie Abusamra, 20 yo
Gary and I have been married for 28 years. After 28 years of experience with GM and Delphi, he founded Oxus America; an Oakland County medical device manufacturing firm. Oxus is on the front lines at the moment manufacturing oxygen machine and ventilator parts. Both of our adult daughters are graduates of Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills. Francesca is a professional violinist and earned her Bachelors of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music in 2019 and is now continuing her Masters of Music studies in violin performance at MSM. Sophia is a junior at the University of Michigan in the LSA Honors College majoring in Neuroscience and she is a James B. Angell Scholar.
Occupation:Former physician, pharmacist and research scientist- 17 years
MD, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI
BS of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
Previous elected experience:Precinct Delegate, Rochester Hills, Precinct 21- 2012 to present
Family members in government:No
Campaign website: votemelaniehartman.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
The current COVID-19 pandemic and resulting effects are the most pressing issue facing our state currently. I will work with the Oakland County Health Department, County Executive and fellow County Commissioners to provide widespread testing and tracing of the COVID-19 virus as well as immediate distribution of an effective treatment when it becomes available. I also will work to ensure continued grants and loans to small businesses and partner with universities and trades program in the state to provide education and training to those who have lost jobs.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I am a scientist with MD and Pharmacy degrees and I also have worked in the field of Neuroimmunology doing research. I will bring my knowledge and critical analyzing skills to the County Commission to protect and provide optimum healthcare to the county. I also have been highly involved in the community on the Rochester Community Emergency Response Team, Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic Staff Volunteer which provides free medical and dental care, Stoney Creek High School Executive Board Member and Green Schools Chair, board member of the Oakland Youth Orchestras and The Tuesday Musicale and understand the needs of and have worked with our community members. In addition, I will work diligently to protect our green spaces and water and have been endorsed by the Sierra Club and League of Conservation Voters. In contrast, my opponent voted NO to include the proposal for our County Parks on the current ballot in his current position on the County Commission.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Over the years, I have gained experience and developed skills in a number of areas which will serve me well in the position of Oakland County Commissioner in District 15 for Rochester and Rochester Hills. My training and work as a physician as well as my research in Neuroimmunology as prepared me to think critically, analyze data and understand and provide information to my patients in an empathetic and understandable manner. This will be particularly useful in providing leadership to our community in response to COVID-19. As a staff pharmacist and retail pharmacy manager, I was able to gain managerial skills as well as an in-depth understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and the challenges of retail business operations. My involvement in the community has allowed me to interact with residents on many levels- school, businesses, charitable organizations and with elected officials. In my position as the Green Schools Chair for Stoney Creek High School, I was instrumental in obtaining several Recycle Bank grants whose funds were used to place water bottle refill stations in the school as well as provide reusable grocery bags made of recycled water bottles to students, faculty and the community at large. While working with and serving on the board of the Tuesday Musicale it was an honor for the group to be able to provide scholarships for students of the Oakland Youth Orchestras, funding for the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and musical playground equipment to be placed in the near future in the Innovation Hills Park in Rochester Hills. And in the course of home educating our daughters, I helped to develop curriculum, assist with partnerships with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University to implement new classes for home educated students and organized community resources with museums, opera, theatre, dance and orchestra to create learning opportunities. Above all, I view my greatest accomplishment as the raising of our daughters into successful, contributing members of our society in a manner that makes them happy.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
Small businesses are the backbone for local economies, especially here in Rochester and Rochester Hills. Research shows that for every $100 spent at a local business roughly $68 stays within the local economy. The county can support "buy local" campaigns. I support "Buy Oakland First" policies that gives preference in Oakland County procurement needs. The county and the state need to work together to convince Washington DC to increase COVID-19 aid to support small business, our local economy and our local communities. The county and state should bolster our economic recovery to maximize the containment and control of the COVID-19 virus by ensuring adequate PPE equipment supplies and public health measures. Oakland county's efforts to help 10,000 local small businesses has been incredible thus far. We need to continue the effort into the next year to make certain small businesses are able to get through these tough economic times.
Long term, an economic strategy is needed that creates good-paying jobs, increases our workforce skill attainment so that 80% of our workforce has a post high school degree, certificates or skilled trade and support efforts to insource and restore manufacturing in Oakland County.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community and we need to do more to ensure justice is available to all. I support increasing community policing initiatives and I believe the use of body cameras in law enforcement is an important tool to provide greater accountability and transparency. We have an obligation to improve and fund training for police officers so they can better succeed in protecting all of us.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
In addition to my priorities with the COVID-19 pandemic response and protecting our water and environment as mentioned previously, I will help us to get back to work and school safely as well as increase access to mental health care. During the current pandemic, the incidence of anxiety and depression have increased in part due to PTSD in our frontline and essential workers, families who are juggling working at home and home educating at the same time as well as parents who have returned to work and daycare options are limited and also for those who have lost jobs.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Now more than ever, we need leaders who care about us, know our communities and will put our residents' best interest first. I will use my experience as a medical professional, parent and long time volunteer in our school and greater community to guide us through unprecedented times. I have the experience, integrity and heart to make the right decisions for our district. I want to ensure our residents' voice are heard and our priorities are taken seriously. Most importantly, I want to help us REBUILD and REINVENT ourselves and fight through uncertainty towards an amazing future.