Monica Schafer

• 1. Please describe your qualifications and experiences and explain why you are running for the Ingham County Board of Commissioners.

1. My educational background, work experiences at Delco Electronics, Smith-Kline Beecham, Schafer Raspberries, and an integrated supply management degree from Western Michigan University and an MBA from the University of Michigan, Flint, are the tools needed to be a leader and an effective County Commissioner. Commissioners need to be able to identify an issue, provide a solution and follow it through to resolution.

As a local business owner, farmer, board member, coach, volunteer, wife, and proud mother of six children, I'm running for Ingham County Commissioner because I understand the district's concerns because they are my concerns also.

• 2. What are the priority issues facing the Ingham County Board of Commissioners and how would you address them if elected?

2. The priorities of the Ingham County Commissioners Board should be balancing the budgetary impacts of inflation, fair and equitable distribution of funds and services across the entire county, and considerations of how we can manage services more efficiently by greater use of technology.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed budget areas that need up-dating, such as excess office  space that is not utilized due to a modernized remote workforce.

• 3. Of the many environmental issues facing our world, which do you think are most urgent locally? How do you see the county government helping to solve them?

3. The environmental issues that we face today cannot only be resolved locally. They are to be addressed at the state, federal and national levels to find real solutions.

1. Embrace the Ingham County Conservation District fully. Its mission is to promote and practice stewardship of our natural resources by serving, educating, and empowering our community.

2. Identifying better and more efficient ways to handle drainage issues, such as retention ponds and wetlands.

3. Working with Tri-County Regional Planning Commission. Clinton, Ingham, and Eaton Counties, all partnered together to form the Commission. They believe in developing a sustainable future for our region's economy, natural resources, transportation system, and infrastructure.

Protecting the Saginaw Aquifers natural water supply, which provides for our entire region.

4. The Saginaw Aquifer feeds our entire region, and everything needs to be done to protect our natural water supply.

5. Working  with the Environmental Affairs Commission which is advising and guiding the county with ways to upgrade infrastructure for energy efficiency.

6. 5-R's; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, and Rot.

Education & Experience

University of Michigan-Flint, MBA

Western Michigan University, BBA

Schafer Raspberries, U-Pick agritourism farm

Sparrow Hospital, Covid patient visitation assistant during pandemic

Delco Electronics and SmithKline, previous employers

Previous licensed real-estate agent

N. American Raspberry & Blackberry Assoc., board member Williamstown Estates board member

Michigan Certified Assessing Technician

15+ years community volunteering and coaching