Saying Livingston County needs a more inclusive vision, a Green Oak woman has filed for a seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners.
Mary Witalec said more points of view are needed on the commission.
“There have been too many cases of decisions made by the commissioners that reflect a disinterest for policies that would expand opportunities for the marginalized within our county,” she said. “Our county has a large minority party that supports programs for the marginalized, but are effectively kept out of county-level decision making.”
Witalec is the only Democrat who has filed to represent County Commission District 9, which includes all of Green Oak Township and southeast Hamburg Township. She cited three issues that will be her priorities on the commission:
• Affordable housing. “Far too many of the people who work in Livingston County are unable to live here. These people are the lifeblood of our economic growth, and they deserve to be able to find housing in Livingston County. There is also a need for an expansion of support for agencies that deal with homelessness in our county.”
• Public transportation. “I would like to see an immediate expansion of the current LETS program, as well as an exploratory committee to research an intra-county scheduled bus route between major shopping districts and public-facing governmental offices.”
• Mental health support. “Community Mental Health (CMH) needs an expansion of resources in order to serve the needs of our community. Especially in the justice system – too many persons who would benefit from the Intensive Therapy (IT) Court are denied access due to lack of resources.”
Witalec, 66, is retired from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business where she was project lead for development of the Ross School intranet used by students, faculty, staff, recruiters, and alumni.
Her community activities include:
• Membership in the Pinckney Community Congregational UCC since 1989, here she is chair of Christian Education and a member of the Diaconate and Open and Affirming Committee.
• Finance manager and a member of the leadership team of the Farley Hill Food Pantry in Pinckney.
• Member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Livingston County.
• Former treasurer and a member of the founding committee of Pinckney CROP Hunger Walk
• Former registrar for the Hamburg Soccer Club.
• Past co-chair of curriculum enrichment events at Country Elementary.
Witalec has three grown children, all of whom attended Pinckney Community Schools. She has a bachelor’s degree in math and computer science from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has lived in the county for 35 years.
Contact Witalec at mewitalec@outlook.com or go to her Facebook page at https://Facebook.com/ElectMaryWitalec.
