Senate District 15, Pam Jackson

Updated: Tuesday, 20 Jul 2010, 11:25 AM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 20 Jul 2010, 11:25 AM EDT

Pam Jackson
Democratic
State Senate
District 15
Oakland County

Why are you running for office?

I am not a career politician, but a professor at Oakland Community College teaching mathematics, construction and concrete construction management. I have taught Mathematics in the West Bloomfield, Huron Valley, and Pontiac Schools. My educational background is diverse with a BA in Mathematics, MA in Mathematics, MS in Industrial Technology/Construction Management, and a PhD candidate at Wayne State University finishing my dissertation and working in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Corrections to obtain my PhD. in Educational Policy Studies.

I use to own a construction company and having vision that the construction industry was more than just hammer and nails, I created the construction and concrete construction management programs at Oakland Community College. Creating technology classrooms, a Russian Language program, and online coursework in mathematics and concrete construction, has expanded educational opportunities for others.

There are 29 out of 38 senators term limited. I am ready to go to Lansing and work with fellow hardworking public servants of the State of Michigan Senate to create policies that empowers and fosters entrepreneurship and small business, protects the elderly, educates our youth, retains the rich human capital our great State produces, and ensures the State of Michigan will always remain and continue to remain a desired place of business for corporations to call home. With my ability to be innovative and creative along with my diverse educational and small business background, I will hit the pavement running in January. And I would be honored to be your next State Senator.

What is the biggest problem facing Michigan residents today and how would you solve it?

The greatest problem facing Michigan today is unemployment. Without jobs, there is no income for food, essentials, mortgage payments or rent, or to send your children to college.

The road to rebuilding our economy requires us to move swiftly and more importantly wisely. Any road map to recovery has to protect taxpayers and champion our local businesses. Secondly, fostering job creation involves creating and promoting incentives for businesses to make Michigan their home and ensuring small businesses and entrepreneurs have access to credit, expertise, and a strong partnership with local government. We need to stop the brain drain and find a way to keep our talented people here in Michigan making commuting to work easier creating an effective and efficient mass transit system to stimulate economic growth.

We must diversify our energy portfolio to create jobs and energy in Michigan, rather than sending our energy dollars out of state. With the number of Michigan’s vacant plants and our proud manufacturing history, we can lead the nation in manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines that can be used across America and across the globe. Instead of 90% of our nation’s wind turbines manufactured overseas, there is no reason why we cannot entice these companies to manufacture them in Michigan. In my own senate district, the transformation of the old Ford Wixom Plant into an energy park/ development is an example of how the State of Michigan is working with the private sector to remove roadblocks and promote economic growth and green technology.

What's a better solution: finding revenue or cutting costs to meet Michigan's public education budget? How would you do it?

We need to increase funding for Pre-K, K-12 so that all students have access to quality education, and maintain affordable higher education. Class size is imperative for success. I have taught in both urban and city school districts. Class size matters! More attention and time is needed to stress ideas and concepts. It is difficult when you have 35-45 students that all need extra help.

Public education must be funded from pre-K, K-12 through affordable post-secondary training or college. We must invest in our people. School funding was changed with Proposal A and it worked for awhile. Other alternatives to funding education need to be explored. Along with this, curriculum must be developed to actuate students' maximum potential whether they are college bound or want to learn a skill at a training facility in a particular area to obtain a job.

In its inception, Proposal A appeared to be a good way to reduce property taxes. It raised our sales tax to 6% from 4% where the 2% went toward funding schools. Others taxes like the rise of the cigarette tax from $0.25 to $0.75 cents with the $0.50 difference going to funding as well as other taxes were implemented. Michigan has reduced its reliance on local property taxes to fund schools, and our educational system has improved funding disparities between districts while making home ownership affordable for its citizens. Part of the tweak to improve school funding may be to let local school districts put milages back

on the ballot to raise more dollars (with a cap). I believe that Proposal A needs to be analyzed to see if it fits today’s economic educational needs.

There might be other options to increase revenue to school districts. It is possible a for high school or middle school that is not up to 100% capacity to utilize a wing dedicated to an elementary school located on its campus so the school district can maximize its space allocation and shut down one school which will save money on the upkeep, heating, cooling, cleaning, etc. There appears to be many schools that are closed around the state. These schools could be retrofitted as training centers for emerging technologies, health care, or the film industry. These schools could also be reconstructed into a living facility for the elderly so they don’t have to leave the community they love.

What's the best way to create jobs for Michigan residents?

There are many ways to create jobs, but there must be policies in place for current small businesses to grow and we need to create incentives for entrepreneurs and other businesses to make Michigan their home to “hire Michigan first”. Of course our state is hurting desperately with many issues, but getting our people back to work is imperative as it affects the family, local business, and the overall economic future of Michigan. With that said, our tax structure for small businesses needs to change for their survival and prosperity. The MBT needs revamping or elimination. The 22% tax surcharge needs to be eliminated as this is strangling small businesses. For entrepreneurs or businesses that would like to come to Michigan or start up in Michigan, there are over 36 business tax incentives defined in Michigan law: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for employers to provide health care for their employees, HIRE Act (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment), which provides relief from the employer's share of matching Social Security tax, the Start-Up Abatement, MEGA Credit Extension, Michigan Film Incentives, to name a few. These really need to be advertised.

We could create a viable effective and efficient regional mass transit authority that would allow our communities more mobility, save money, create jobs, and build prosperity. Cooperative, responsible regional development will relieve traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, alleviate the need for more parking structures/lots, and reduce gas consumption. A mass transit system would attract businesses and industry to the entire region, creating more jobs.

Developers can create urban communities with green spaces. There could be five builders with five elevations (types of homes) to choose from. The developer would give a lot to the buyer using it as the 20% down payment toward the mortgage. The buyer would then pay reduced property taxes over a given set period of time. By creating incentives for businesses to come to urban cities, fixing the tax structure for existing small businesses, diversifying our energy and agricultural portfolios will improve Michigan’s economy within four years. In 2-6 years Michigan will have diversified businesses; less reliance on auto manufacturing; giving our college graduates reasons to remain (employment opportunities, plus vibrant cities with efficient and effective mass transit for mobility and job creation). Strong cities and metropolitan areas are critical to restoring a prosperous Michigan.

After you leave this earth, what will they say about you?

She made a difference.