Candidate Profile: Padma Kuppa For State House

Padma Kuppa, a Troy resident is running for State House District 41.

Age: 55
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:Husband Sudhakar Tadepalli and two children, Shreekari and Shreyas
Occupation:Automotive and IT professional - over 20 years
Previous elected experience:Former Planning Commissioner, City of Troy; Current State Rep. for HD 41
Family members in government:No
Campaign website: https://www.electpadmakuppa.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
Most pressing issues facing Michiganders are intertwined. Michigan’s education does not ensure opportunity for all; Michiganders’ health is linked to having clean water and air, and access to affordable healthcare and low cost prescription drugs. We must work to revitalize our economy and small businesses, ensure that people are safe and healthy during the pandemic and beyond, and protect our Great Lakes and natural resources for future generations. By investing in education, we create the foundation for our children to succeed from K-12, college or career/skilled trades, and keep good paying jobs in Michigan, to provide a path to the middle class and economic success. We must revise our funding formulas not just for education and school aid, but for roads, revenue sharing to local governments and more, and invest in infrastructure that will help attract people and jobs to Michigan.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I believe it is important to listen to your constituents, provide them information and resources about how state government works, and then act to raise their voices to get things done in Lansing. Based on discussions with my community, they are concerned about education, clean water (the Great Lakes and drinking water), affordable health care, cost of prescription drugs, and revitalizing the economy. I have a proven track record of accomplishments on these issues but there is much work to be done which is why I am running for re-election. My opponent believes in making government smaller in the mistaken hope that by ignoring problems that they will go away. I believe in taking action to solve problems.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Serving my first term as a legislator, I am also an engineer, a mom, and a community builder. My husband and I moved to Troy 20 years ago because of the good jobs, great public schools, and vibrant community. I love the community and want to help it thrive, and volunteered for decades in various community organizations. I served in K-12 PTAs; I was a Troy Planning Commissioner and a Zoning Board member. I serve on the boards of the Troy Historical Society and the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, and worked with multiple civic and interfaith organizations. I have a successful background as an automotive, auto finance and IT professional, with a career that includes working for a local small business to Chrysler.
In the Legislature, I bring my technical background to the Energy Committee, and my municipal experience to the Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee to solve critical problems. Problem solving requires working together; I advocate for and provide resources to my constituents, and have taken on leadership as Co-chair of the Equal Pay Task Force and Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Historian for the Black Caucus. I want to expand on the work I’ve started, because I want to improve how I serve my community - whether it is introducing legislation to protect the vulnerable (HB 4076), ensure that people with preexisting conditions are not denied health care (HB 5432), holding polluters accountable (HB 5452), or restoring paid sick leave (HB 5628).

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
As a legislator, I have been working with small businesses to connect them to state, federal and other resources so that they survive during the pandemic. In addition to advocating for federal government support, I have been working with the Downtown Business Coalition along with my colleagues, holding regional roundtables to learn what the needs are and to create legislation that allows local businesses and their workers to be able to return to work safely. Since 2019, I have sought support and recognition for local small businesses as they are the heart of our economy.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
A 2017 Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards report recommended the diversification of local police forces as a key way to foster and encourage public trust in law enforcement, and I have introduced legislation to do just that - HB 4944 and 4945. I serve on the Board of Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, which works to ensure all people are welcome and treated fairly, and coordinates ALPACT, where law enforcement, community, advocacy, and civil rights leaders work to examine issues affecting police and community relations, and end discriminatory enforcement of laws. I am working with other state legislators, to implement reforms in sentencing guidelines (HB 6213) and other areas of criminal justice reform. Most recently, I have participated in peaceful events/marches in both Troy and Clawson.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
The pandemic has shown the importance of health care and paid sick leave. All Michiganders should have access to affordable health care, and no one should be denied because of pre-existing conditions. I introduced HB 5432 to protect healthcare for those with preexisting conditions and HB 5628 to restore the Paid Medical Leave Act. key to keeping people healthy. I am also an advocate for better prescription drug prices, and was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Prescription Drug Task Force, where I am working to lower the cost of prescription drugs so people don't have to choose between food or medicines. I am a champion for long-term-care infrastructure so seniors can age with dignity, and a member of both the Caring Majority Caucus and the Mental Health Caucus, to engage stakeholders and legislators alike on these important topics. All of this will provide security to Michigan’s working families.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I came to the US for grad school with $250 and two suitcases, and a firm conviction that I could succeed. A decade later my husband and I chose Troy to raise our kids because of its good schools, great jobs and vibrant community. For over two decades, while working and raising my kids, I have been actively giving back to this community serving on PTAs, the Planning Commission and other civic organizations. I co-founded the Troy Interfaith Group and currently serve on the Boards of the Troy Historical Society and the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. I am seeking reelection to continue my commitment to public service.