MEET THE CANDIDATES: Chuck Moss
Thank you to the Birmingham Republican Womens’ Club for inviting me to talk about why I’m running for Oakland County Commissioner. The BRWC has always been the heart and soul of our local GOP, and I’m grateful to all the help and support you’ve given to me and all Republicans over the years.
--WHO: I’m Chuck Moss, former County Commissioner, State Representative, City Commissioner and Mayor of Birmingham.
--WHAT: I’m a candidate for Oakland County Commissioner—District 12.
--WHERE: Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills City, and Bloomfield Township, except for three precincts in the far south and west Township.
--WHY: Our current Commissioner is our good friend Shelley Taub, who has served our district well for many years and is now retiring. We all owe Shelley a big debt of gratitude, and I’m sure she’s not going anywhere, and we’ll still be seeing energy and contributions for some time. So, the seat is open, and the GOP has to keep it Republican.
--WHY ME AND WHY NOW? Simple: the County Commission has a vital role to play; that was true before the Virus Crisis and is doubly true now. The Commission is the Legislature of the County. Its most important job is like all legislatures: budget, spending, and power of the purse—which keeps Oakland a great place to live, work, and raise a family. For years that didn’t seem too important, during the long reign of Brooks Patterson, whose financial team was the best in the nation. Oakland County achieved a AAA Bond rating and defended it though ups and downs, and even the Great Recession. This keeps costs down and taxes down.
Oakland has been iconic for honest, clean, well-managed government, the jobs magnet and the jobs engine. When people have jobs and are working and earning money, families do well, communities thrive, the schools and cities, villages, townships provide services we all need. The path is upward.
But these wonderful things don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of hard work and vision and they weren’t easy. I know the behind-the-scenes work it takes to keep things humming. because I served as County Commissioner, from 2001 through 2006, and as chair of the Finance Committee.
With the death of Brooks Patterson and the change in Commission majority, Oakland’s future becomes uncertain. The Patterson financial Dream Team Hall of Famers have left the bridge. At the Commission level, the New Majority has abandoned the strict financial procedures that ensured transparency and discipline. Even before the Crisis, both the new administration and Democrat Majority were floating ambitious spending plans. How much? Where will the money come from? Mere details, they say! Well, we’ve seen in communities all around us, that’s the way to insolvency and worse.
This is no time to be sending a Progressive newcomer for on the job training. MY so-far opponents on the Democrat side have NO, repeat, NO experience in working with budgets and money that come from taxpayers’ pockets. They have NO, repeat NO experience serving as elected Board representatives, and NO, repeat NO experience as stewards of the people’s money. None.
I do have the experience, and the record to show it. I’ve served on the Transit Authority and the Birmingham 2016 Plan. I’ve served as elected Birmingham City Commissioner and Mayor, Oakland County Commissioner. I served as Chair of the Finance Committee in 2003 when we had to cut budgets and keep services. I served as your State Representative during the Great Recession and Chair of Appropriations as we rebuilt our finances and the state’s Recovery. With the administrative uncertainty and now the shock of the Virus Crisis, we need experience and a proven record now more than ever.
VOTE CHUCK MOSS FOR COUNTY COMMISSION:
--Honest, Competent, Experienced.
--Proven record of balancing budgets without raising taxes.
--Proven record of pro-jobs and economic growth.
--Proven record of upholding Republican principles.
