Candidate Profile: Thomas Kuhn For Oakland County Commissioner

Thomas E. Kuhn, a Troy resident is running for Oakland County Commissioner District 11.

Age: 69
Party affiliation: Republican Party
Family:Married to Sherry, a former special education teacher and university instructor, for over 25 years; three adult children, four grandchildren
Occupation:Attorney for over 35 years
Previous elected experience:Currently, County Commissioner; previously, elected to Oakland Community College Board for 12 years, two years as board chair; 12 years elected to city government. At various times, I have been appointed to different city committees and boards, including the plan commission, master plan review committee, audit committee, and others.
Family members in government:My son works as a law clerk in federal court.
Campaign website: https://votetomkuhn.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
COVID-19 and its impact on our community and economy is the most pressing issue facing our state. PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY IS ALWAYS MY TOP PRIORITY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATED AN INITIAL $219 MILLION TO OAKLAND COUNTY TO OVERSEE THE VAST NEEDS CREATED BY THE PANDEMIC. THE COUNTY CREATED A SPECIAL PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY COMMITTEE. I WAS HONORED BY MY COLLEAGUES TO BE CHOSEN AS A MEMBER OF THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE COMMITTEE. WE HAVE ALLOCATED ALL OF THE $219 MILLION AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY. WE ALLOCATED $35 MILLION FOR OUR CITIES, LIBRARIES, SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. THAT PAID FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND FOR OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS CITIES HAVE TO FIGHT COVID-19. WE ALLOCATED $28 MILLION FOR OUR SCHOOLS, TO HELP THEM BETTER SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN THIS UNCERTAIN TIME. WE ALLOCATED $10 MILLION FOR NON-PROFITS, WHO ARE PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES FOR SO MANY IN NEED. WE ALLOCATED $32 MILLION FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH WERE FORCED TO CLOSE AND WHICH HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE ECONOMIC LOSSES. IN ADDITION TO MY ROLE ON THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE COMMITTEE, I ALSO SERVE ON THE BIPARTISAN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES OVERSEEING EXPENDITURES OF THE FEDERAL MONEY FOR CITIES, FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOR ESSENTIAL COUNTY SERVICES.
I HAVE WORKED REGULARLY WITH OUR CITIES, WITH MAYOR BARNETT OF ROCHESTER HILLS, MAYOR BAKER OF TROY AND MAYOR MCDANIEL OF AUBURN HILLS. I HAVE MADE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO GET THE REQUIRED FUNDS TO FIGHT COVID-19 ON THE LOCAL LEVEL. I HAVE WORKED WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. SO MANY OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE CLOSURES AND DIFFICULTIES OF RETURNING TO OPERATION IN THE FACE OF THE ONGOING PANDEMIC. I HAVE WORKED WITH OUR SCHOOLS, WITH THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND WITH THE SCHOOL BOARDS. THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TASK TRYING TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFE FOR OUR STUDENTS. MY WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT, BUT IT HAS BEEN VERY REWARDING, AND I’M VERY PROUD THAT I COULD BE IN A POSITION TO HELP SO MANY IN THIS TIME OF SUCH GREAT NEED AND UNCERTAINTY.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
VOTERS SHOULD PICK ME BECAUSE OF MY COMPETENCE, MY EXPERIENCE AND MY COMMITMENT TO SERVING ALL OUR CITIZENS, ALL OUR FAMILIES, ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL OUR COMMUNITIES. I HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN UNFLAGGING DETERMINATION TO ASSURE THAT WE HAVE OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE AND ACCESSIBLE GOVERNMENT— A COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT IS TRULY RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS. I BELIEVE I AM BEST ABLE TO DEAL WITH CRISES LIKE COVID-19, WITH THE RESTORATION OF A HEALTHY ECONOMY AND WITH THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF OUR SHERIFF AND POLICE.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I HAVE A STRONG EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND IN GOVERNMENT. I RECEIVED A BATCHELORS, A MASTERS AND A PH.D. IN POLITICAL SCIENCE. I ALSO HAVE A LAW DEGREE AND HAVE PRACTICED LAW FOR OVER 35 YEARS. MANY OF THE CASES IN WHICH I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED ARE RELATED TO GOVERNMENT, SO MY LAW PRACTICE GIVES ME ADDED EXPERIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WE FACE IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
I HAVE BEEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL HERE IN OAKLAND COUNTY FOR OVER 26 YEARS. MOST OF THOSE YEARS HAVE BEEN IN NON-PARTISAN LOCAL POSITIONS. FOR 12 YEARS, I SERVED ON THE OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD, INCLUDING TWO YEARS AS CHAIR. AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ON CITY AND SCHOOL BOARDS, I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF COUNTY SERVICES BOTH FOR OUR CITIES AND OUR SCHOOLS. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT EXPERIENCE TO BEST SERVE OUR CITIZENS.
I HAVE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES. I HAVE SERVED ON MY SUBDIVISION BOARD FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS. I HAVE SERVED IN YOUTH SPORTS, BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS FOR WELL OVER 10 YEARS. I HAVE SERVED ON BEAUMONT’S COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, ON WALSH COLLEGE’S MANAGEMENT STUDIES BOARD, AND JUST A WIDE RANGE OF PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES FOR MANY YEARS.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
Since COVID-19 hit and massively disrupted our communities and economy in March, I have been working hard for you responding to that crisis. I was appointed by my colleagues on the County Commission as a key member of the bipartisan Pandemic Response and Economic Recovery Committee. We immediately provided needed resources for our cities, schools, non-profits, hospitals and small business owners to fight the catastrophic effects of the virus on our economy and on our community.
I serve on the Oversight Committee to help our cities. We allocated $30 million for our cities, and $5 million for our libraries, senior and community centers. I have worked closely with our mayors— Mayor Bryan Barnett of Rochester Hills, Mayor Ethan Baker of Troy and Mayor Kevin McDaniel of Auburn Hills.—to assure that our cities get the funding to deal with the catastrophic impact COVID-19 has had on our businesses and communities.
I also serve on the oversight committee for Small Business Recovery. I participated in two initial rounds of small business grants providing $6 million in April and May. At our urging, the County Commission allocated another $32 million in June for our small businesses that have been closed or required to operate at reduced capacity. In addition, we authorized $10 million dollar grant program for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies and we allocated $11 million in small business aid through MEDC. As part of the oversight committee, we authorized $2 million in grants to our 22 Chambers of Commerce in the County who serve as such a vital link for so many of our businesses, providing critical information and help in our disrupted economy and uncertain times. As with so many of our businesses, our Chambers have also been devastated by loss of revenue and staffing. We have recognized that in providing funding for Chambers to continue their important work.
Finally, I have worked closely with our schools. We have allocated $28 million to help our schools open and operate safely. We have hired 69 new nurses to provide help for our students and teachers. And we have provided free health monitoring for students.
COVID-19 has created a huge crisis for many in our society. But together with my colleagues on the County Commission I have been working to assure a strong bipartisan response to the disruption and uncertainty created by the virus.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, I WAS SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE COUNTY’S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. THIS ALLOWED ME TO WORK CLOSELY WITH SHERIFF MIKE BOUCHARD AND UNDERSHERIFF MIKE MCCABE. THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR SHERIFF BOUCHARD IS IMPROVED TRAINING, AND THAT MEANS AN IMPROVED TRAINING CENTER—SO THAT OAKLAND COUNTY CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ABSOLUTE VERY BEST POLICE RESPONSE ANYWHERE. SO I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY ALLOCATES SUFFICIENT FUNDS SO THAT OUR SHERIFF AND OUR POLICE HAVE THE TRAINING FACILITIES THAT THEY NEED TO BEST SERVE OUR CITIZENS

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
THE FIRST THING I DID WHEN I GOT ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION WAS REQUEST A SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON INVASIVE SPECIES. THE BOARD CHAIR RESPONDED BY APPOINTING A BIPARTISAN SPECIAL COMMITTEE AND SELECTED ME AS THE REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONER ON THAT COMMITTEE. IN OUR DISTRICT, WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS AND SUBDIVISIONS IN THE STATE. THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE MAINTAINED A VERY STRONG NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. TO ME IT’S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS BY FIGHTING INVASIVE SPECIES THAT THREATEN TO UNDERMINE BOTH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE HOME VALUES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT. TO ME OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY ARE ESSENTIAL TO GOOD GOVERNMENT. SO THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR THIS COUNTY COMMISSION SEAT, IT WAS OPEN. BECAUSE I HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, I WANTED TO OFFER MY SERVICES AGAIN AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE. I SERVED 12 YEARS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THEN 12 YEARS ON THE OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD, AND 2 YEARS AS CHAIR. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY COMMUNITY SERVICES. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO VOLUNTEER MY TIME TO HELP THE COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY I CAN. I BELIEVE I CAN PROVIDE STRONG LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVES TO ASSURE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY DURING THE ON-GOING COVID-19

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT, ABOUT THE COUNTY’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC OR ABOUT MY STANDS ON ISSUES, YOU CAN REACH ME ON MY CELL PHONE, 248 227-2462 OR BY EMAIL TEKUHN@AOL.COM. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ELECTION, YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY TIMES WEBSITE AND VIEW EACH CANDIDATE’S VIDEO PRESENTATION. IN ADDITION, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAS HAD A FORUM FOR THE CANDIDATES WHICH IS ONLINE. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE TROY TIMES HAVE PUBLISHED CANDIDATE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONAIRES. YOU CAN GO TO MY WEBSITE: VOTETOMKUHN.COM