By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES -Our second Q&A installment focusing on the candidates running for the position of Niles Charter Township Supervisor focuses on Republican Jim Kidwell.
Kidwell has been a member of the Niles City Police Department for 19 years, according to his website www.electjimkidwell.com.
President of the police union and member of the former Niles Township Police Department, Kidwell is also a certified Red Cross Life Saving Instructor and is a Chair of the Concerned Citizens of Niles Township.
Kidwell was born in Niles and graduated from Niles High School in 1969. He and his wife started the Galaxy Roller Rink in 1980, which has allowed him and his wife to serve adults and youth in the area for over 20 years.
What are the most important issues you see facing the township today?
The township has many areas that I can improve. Many of these revolve around two issues. The first issue is the wasteful spending that I have witnessed from the current township administration. A current example of this is reflected in the police contracts. Currently our board is looking at renewing the contracts with the County Sheriff without taking the time to find bids from other agencies or look at other options. This issue will be further addressed when answering the question regarding my stance on the police millage.
The second issue that I see facing the township is a lack of full time leadership. The township for many years has had a part time supervisor. Niles Township is one of the largest in the state. With the amount of citizens living within its borders, full time leadership is a must. Areas that suffer because of this include code enforcement, Niles Township business districts, and simple communications between township leaders and residents.
How do you plan to combat those issues?
I have owned a business in the township for over 27 years. I know how to manage money and how to keep budgets in line. Both of these skills have allowed me to keep my business operating successfully for all these years. As a supervisor I would keep a very close watch on how the taxpayers' monies are spent to make sure that it is spent efficiently. This is the only way that the township is going to be able to afford to keep up its necessities without raising taxes.
If elected I will be a full-time supervisor. It is my intention to be at the township hall during regular business hours. I am fortunate enough to have a job that allows me to work both my job as a police officer as well as maintain office hours at the township.
Why do you feel you are the best-suited candidate for the job as township supervisor?
As a long time business man and law enforcement officer, I am required to call upon my good judgment on a daily basis. This has taught me to thoroughly investigate and make my own decisions on issues I am confronted with. I feel my opponents cannot offer this same experience. One of my opponents, who is a current board member, has supported many of the decisions that has contributed to the wasteful spending of the township and is now asking the taxpayers to approve even higher taxes with the police millage. My other opponent has never had a successful experience at running a business, nor does he have any experience in effective leadership.
I come into this campaign with the desire to make decisions that will benefit the residents of the township. I do not make agreements that come with strings attached. Decisions that I make will be based on the best interests of the township, not based on friendships or who I know. I am an independent thinker who wants to make the township a better place to live and work.
What is your stand on the police millage?
Our current board, as stated earlier, is not taking the time necessary to find more financially responsible options to this police funding issue. The County Sheriff is the only one that has submitted any financial numbers to the board. They are therefore only looking at the costs of the Sheriff's department when they decided that a millage was needed. I believe that a more responsible way to find a solution, that will also help to save taxpayers moneys, would be to investigate all options before asking to raise taxes. At this time I cannot support this millage proposal until I see that all options have been explored. I have asked the board while attending the June 16th meeting as well as the July 7th meeting if they have had any other bids or proposals and they have told me both times that they have not had the time to do this.
What is your stand on the SMCAS (Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service) assessment proposal?
While this dollar amount is higher than other amounts proposed in the past, the fact that this amount is locked in assures that as gas prices continue to increase and inflation continues to rise that the taxpayer will only be charged an additional $20 for a much needed service in our community.
What do you feel the people of the township should know about the issues facing them/your stance/your opponents' stances that they may not be aware of now?
Running for Supervisor was not something that I have recently decided to do. I have been involved with township politics for many years and decided to run for office nearly four years ago. When the petitions were available, I got the required number of signatures and turned them in immediately. One of opponents, who currently sits on the board, was leading people on via an online forum that he had already decided to run for Niles Township Supervisor when in actuality he had not filed his petitions until very close to the deadline. My other opponent is only running, as quoted in the Niles Daily Star, at the request of others, not out of his own desire to serve the community. These actions show me their level of dedication to serving the residents of Niles Township.