Some young voters got their first taste of politics in Tuesday’s general election. Jeremy Moss, who at under age 30 could still be called a veteran politician, got a taste of it as well Tuesday.
“It was bittersweet,” said the Southfield city councilman.
Moss, a Democrat running for the 35th state house seat, knew his heavily partisan district was secure and so spent much time campaigning for other Democrats throughout the state. Just one day before the election, Moss was confident that the Democrats could swing the five seats needed to take control of the House.
While he easily won his bid for the House, Moss was disappointed with the Republicans returned to the House, a phenomenon seen nationwide.
“We did not take back the House and we did not advance in the governor’s office,” he said. But Moss is not deterred, promising to find “common issues we can work on.”
No matter what town a legislator is from, Moss said, there are common concerns regarding roads, the personal property tax for business and state revenue sharing.
“There is room to create good policy for municipalities,” and that will take a bipartisan effort, Moss said.
Road legislation
Moss called the need for a comprehensive road funding reform – and the street bond proposal also approved on Tuesday – “a mandate from people in distress,” one that cuts across party lines and municipal boundaries. He noted that road millages were passed in other communities, such as Royal Oak and Farmington Hills.
“We all drive the same roads,” Moss said. He called for state road legislation that is predictable in revenue, fair and that will serve for the long term.
While Moss said that no tax pledges by other candidates across the country have hurt, he would “look at all options on how to pay for” roadwork.
The measure approved by Southfield voters provides for $99 million bond issue over 11 years, but Moss called in “responsible,” because if state funding became available, bonds would not have to be sold.
“We’re not going to double team” taxpayers, he said, adding that roadwork can be an economic driver.
Moss pointed out that Southfield’s reconstruction of Evergreen Road now under way has resulted in four mixed-use commercial projects being initiated along its length. It is a story he says he will carry to Lansing.
There is another story that Moss says he will take to Lansing, and that is what he says is the need for an expanded civil rights law that protects the LGBT community.
Human rights ordinance
One of the things Moss brought before the Southfield City Council last spring was a request for an ordinance that offered human rights protections for LGBT community.
The requset was forwarded to the city attorney to write a proposed ordinance, but no date was set for bringing it back up. The proposed ordinance received opposition in discussion at the council table from council President Sylvia Jordan, who sets the agenda, and from Councilwoman Joan Seymour. Both said they wanted the state to act first.
Moss said he hopes to still have success at the council table in getting such an ordinance passed before the final council meeting for the year on Dec. 15, but that he will also carry the subject to Lansing.
“Southfield is a community that embraces diversity,” he said. “I don’t want us to be the last community in Michigan to embrace protections for LGBT.”
When Moss finally submits his resignation letter before heading to the state House, the six remaining council members will have 60 days to appoint his replacement whom he said will serve the remainder of his term, which expires in November 2015.
