Wyandotte Election Candidates Answer Patch Questionnaire: Jerry Kupser

The Wyandotte election is rapidly approaching and to help voters make sound, informed decisions, Wyandotte Patch created a questionnaire for candidates seeking election or re-election in 2013.

Election day is set for May 7.

Each of the 15 candidates seeking election or re-election received the same nine questions.

Here are the questions followed by Jerry Kupser's answers:

Office sought?

City Assessor

Age?

60

Spouse/kids?

Married for 32 Years to Carol Bzura Kupser. I also have two children Jeremy Kupser and Alecia Kupser Daunter M.D. I also have one granddaughter the princess Amelia Kupser born 12-5-2012.

How long have you been a resident of Wyandotte? 

40 years

What is your prior political experience?

Served 9 years of the Wyandotte School Board, served as President and Vise President also Treasurer and Trustee.

What is your prior professional experience?

Retired after 35 years with the City of Wyandotte as Journeyman Lineman keeping your electric system in service and up to date. Served as the Superintendent of Electrical Department for the last 5.

My experience working with all City departments gives myself a great heads up of just how City governments work. Budgets and contract negotiations both for employees along with business and purchasing.

Having serviced every home and business in Wyandotte for over 35 years gives me a great knowledge of our housing stock and business stock. I am also Certified by Michigan Association of School Boards.  Having achieved Level of Excellences which included classes of funding, bonding of public school buildings and taxes for school operations and construction.

What made you decide to seek election/re-election?

Enjoying retirement but I still have the desire to serve my home town, to give back if you will. I also do not believe that the Assessor’s office should get paid benefits such as full Blue Cross & Blue Shield, retirement and long term disability. Matching funds on 401’ s or 503’ s which are supplemental retirement funds that usually have employers contributions added to them.

I think that the past Assessor did a wonderful job and should be commended.  But now that she has decided to enjoy time in retirement it is time to change the structure of pay for that position while it is open. Which my opponent does not and will look forward to all of the above mentioned benefits.

What issues do you see affecting Wyandotte?

The City is a living and breathing entity and must change with the times in order to grow and survive. With the actions in Lansing and falling revenues and much less to work with we need every department to work together to reduce cost to the tax payers. We ask citizens to keep up their homes and we as elected officials must work to keep up the city itself is in just as good of shape. 

What is your plan to address those issues? 

Reducing the cost of the Assessors office is first, I will reduce the cost by reducing the cost of benefits to myself first. 

Second is to make sure that all parties pay just their fair share, making file cards on homes are readily available for home owners to check that the file matches the homes entities. 

Banks that foreclose must pay the non homestead rate. Work with the Mayors office and Treasures office to have volunteers if possible in our offices on a limited bases. Absentee landlords are paying the correct rate and the home is declared to the Engineering department for inspection and proper maintenance.  A clean town will speak for it self and all of us together.

God Bless and vote May 7th.   

For the latest Wyandotte news and information, "like" Wyandotte Patch on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our daily newsletter.