City Candidate Questionnaire

Name

Office Sought

Party Affiliation

District, Ward or Precinct

Cell Phone Number

Email Address

Occupation

Home Street Address/City/State/Zip

Name of Candidate Committee

Campaign Office Street Address/City/State/Zip

Campaign Website

Campaign Manager

Campaign Treasurer

Previous Public Office Held

Previous Public Office Sought

How many volunteers are actively involved right now in your campaign?

If you have a primary, how much do you anticipate spending in the primary election? How much do you anticipate spending in the general election?

As of your last campaign filing, how much has your campaign raised and how much cash does your campaign have on hand?

List endorsements from other organizations you have received to date:

How much will/have you personally contributed to your campaign?

Would you welcome financial support and/or endorsement of the REALTORS Association (RPAC)? If yes, do you have a maximum amount (other than established limits) that you will accept from any single contributor or PAC?

Describe the history and current status of your electoral contest and your campaign.

Why should REALTORS support you?

1. As a candidate, what are your priorities?

2. What are your thoughts on your municipality’s budget? (a) Are there specific program budget cuts, increases, or funding of new initiatives you support? (b) What services could be delivered more efficiently and what would be your plan to make that a reality?

3. Given widespread dialogue about changes to current public safety programs, property owners have expressed concern about the effect this will have on the security of their properties as well as their property values. What proposed changes have you supported in the past? Are there changes you would like to see in the future? If you feel changes are necessary, what would the impact be on municipal operations and protecting real estate in your jurisdiction?

4. The shortage of housing inventory and affordable housing are big topics among REALTORS and affiliate business partners across our area. During the downturn, many single-family homes lost to foreclosure were converted to rental investment properties and new home construction was non-existent, both impacting supply. The number of new homes under construction today continues to fall well below pre-recession rates, and the permit fees and zoning restrictions, such as minimum frontage and/or lot sizes for new home development, prevent the builder from constructing ‘affordable’ housing. (a) Does local government have a role to play in this realm? (b) If so, what do you think they can reasonably do to address housing supply concerns? (An example might be designated areas of higher density to leverage the cost of the land.)

5. Land use continues to be a highly debated issue, including those elements centered around planning and zoning. The problems being addressed vary from environmental policy, such as the promotion of brownfield redevelopment of our urban areas and industrial properties, to the preservation of green space itself and how to merge needed development with this preservation. (a) Are there specific policies or zoning restrictions you support or oppose dealing with planning, zoning, regional coordination and/or issues affecting urban, commercial, industrial, residential and agricultural property use? (b) Should local governments use zoning to prohibit rental of a residential property on a short-term basis?

6. Michigan currently requires the Sellers Disclosure Form in most residential transactions. This form is an easy way for sellers to communicate with buyers about the known conditions of the property before a sale. In addition, buyers have the opportunity to conduct voluntary inspections and/or investigations, as provided for in the standard West Michigan Regional Purchase Agreement. Government mandated inspections and testing can add significant cost and delay and even prohibit real estate transactions, often with little benefit to buyers or sellers. What is your position on ordinances that would mandate testing for the presence of radon or lead-based paint, or that would mandate inspections such as sidewalks or smoke detector compliance at the time of sale of property (commonly referred to as Point of Sale mandates)?

7. Do you feel that local units of government should be held accountable if local ordinances not related to health or safety are adopted that result in undue fees, fines or restrictions of private property?

8. Do you support the concept behind purchase of development rights (PDRs)? Should the government fund PDR programs? Why or why not?

8. How and on what issues would you utilize GRAR’s input?