Vote For Joe Harris

My Bio

Why I'm Running for Battle Creek City Commissioner At Large and the platform I'm running on: The answer is actually pretty simple. I want to help people. I'm not a politician. I'm an everyday person, just like most of the people who call Battle Creek home. My wife and I have been married for 30 years. Together we raised three children, all of whom graduated from Lakeview High School. I drive a 2018 Nissan Frontier that I purchased after losing the pension I had expected to receive from a company where I spent much of my career. Like many people in Battle Creek, I understand what it means to face challenges. I know what it's like to search for work in a competitive job market. I know what it's like to try and make ends meet. I know what it's like to care for family members while managing the responsibilities of everyday life. I know what it's like to worry about rising costs, utility bills, and the future. When I say I understand the struggles that many Battle Creek residents face, I truly do. That understanding is what led me to develop what I call the TURN Platform. TURN stands for: Transparency. Understanding. Responsibility. Neighborhoods. These four principles guide how I believe local government should operate. T — Transparency Transparency means that government operates openly, honestly, and in full view of the people it serves. From the Mayor and City Commissioners to the City Manager, Police Chief, Fire Department leadership, and city employees, the citizens of Battle Creek deserve to know how decisions are being made and why. Transparency means being open about where every taxpayer dollar goes. It means clearly explaining how funds are spent, what projects are being funded, and what priorities are driving those decisions. I believe residents should have access to the information they need to hold government accountable, which is why I believe the FOIA process in Battle Creek needs to be re-examined. In many cases, I believe FOIA Fees are not in alignment with everyday citizens ability to pay, thus restricting access to information. Transparency also means avoiding unnecessary secrecy. Personally, I do not support the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDA's) that prevent the public from understanding decisions that affect their community. Government works best when it operates in the open. U — Understanding Understanding begins with listening. One of the first things I would advocate for is expanding opportunities for public participation at City Commission meetings, in particular, extended public comment times. Citizens should have their opportunity to speak, be heard, and engage with their local government officials. Understanding also means protecting First Amendment rights and ensuring compliance with Michigan's Open Meetings Act. One of my first actions would be to confirm whether or not the City Commission has been acting in compliance with the Open Meeting Act, as there has been a past question in regard to a "grey area" in how the Commission has operated their Meetings. I would seek an opinion from the Michigan Attorney General for clarification. We will not always agree on every issue. In fact, disagreement is healthy in our Constitutional Republic. What matters is how we handle those disagreements. Respect, dignity, and professionalism should always guide our interactions, even when opinions differ. Understanding also means recognizing that every decision made by city leadership impacts real people. Whether it's water rates, utility fees, public safety policies, housing decisions, or economic development projects, residents deserve leaders who understand how those decisions affect everyday families. R — Responsibility Responsibility means accountability. Those entrusted with leadership positions must be accountable to the people they serve. That accountability extends to elected officials, department heads, city employees, Police, Fire and every level of city government. One of the concerns I hear often is disconnect between members of the community and the Battle Creek Police Department. I believe the overwhelming majority of police officers are honorable public servants who work hard to protect our community. At the same time, public trust is strengthened when accountability systems are effective, independent, and transparent. That is why one of my priorities would be to restructure the current Community Oversight Board and model it more closely after the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners. A stronger oversight board with meaningful authority would improve accountability, strengthen public trust, support good officers, and create a better relationship between law enforcement and the citizens they serve. This is what I call Positive Police Reform—reforms designed not to weaken the department, but to make it stronger through transparency, accountability, and public confidence. N — Neighborhoods Strong communities begin with strong neighborhoods. Neighborhoods mean neighbors looking out for one another, which is why I would like to see renewed support for Neighborhood Watch programs and other community-based initiatives that bring residents together and strengthen public safety. Neighborhoods also mean building trust between citizens and law enforcement, which is why I believe we need to examine opportunities in how Officers can positively interact with local citizens within the neighborhoods they serve. Effective communication and cooperation are essential if we want safer streets and stronger communities. Housing is another important neighborhood issue. Battle Creek has vacant buildings and underutilized properties that may present opportunities for creative housing solutions. We need to think outside the box and explore ways to provide affordable housing while revitalizing areas of our city. Neighborhoods also mean protecting our senior citizens. I believe that residents who are 67 years of age or older and have lived in Battle Creek for at least 20 years should receive meaningful property tax relief. Our seniors have spent decades contributing to this community, and they deserve support that allows them to remain in their homes. Additionally, I believe landlords must be held accountable for maintaining the properties they rent. Homeowners are expected to comply with city ordinances and property maintenance standards, and rental property owners should be held to those same expectations. Every resident deserves safe and well-maintained housing. Many of these ideas didn't come from political consultants or campaign strategists. They came from everyday conversations, talking with friends, family, neighbors, attending meetings, and listening to the concerns of people throughout our community. At the end of the day, I am running for one simple reason: I want to help and serve the people of Battle Creek. I want to be someone residents can call, talk to, and rely on when they need help navigating an issue or finding answers. I want to work toward practical solutions, bring people together, and help make Battle Creek a city that we can all be proud of. Not just for today, but for future generations. Together, through Transparency, Understanding, Responsibility, and Neighborhoods, we can TURN Battle Creek toward a greater future

My Key Issues