A Marion Township electrical engineer is seeking a spot on the Livingston County Commission. Paul Giessner, 29, says he is running to bring a focus on problem-solving and community engagement to the county commission.
“I believe that local government should be focused on the everyday issues that affect Livingston County families, not partisan issues,” Giessner said in a release. “The people of this community have so much more in common than we think. I want to bring a listening-first leadership style and hard-working attitude to the commission so that we can address the real issues that confront our residents.”
Giessner is the only Democrat who has filed to represent District 5, which covers the City of Howell and Marion Township.
Giessner laid out three issues he will address as a commissioner.
“I see the real issues impacting Livingston County families as infrastructure, clean air and water, and child and elder care,” he said.
“On infrastructure, the commission needs to ensure that Livingston County’s built environment is meeting the needs of all residents. This includes everything from maintaining roads and bridges to building accessible transit infrastructure, including buses and safe crosswalks.
“On the environment, we should be prioritizing the health of our residents and the conservation of the nature that makes our county so special. This includes working with localities to expand access to park and nature areas and ensuring that our county commission works closer with the state to address PFAS and other water contamination issues.
“On family care, child and elder care is prohibitively expensive. The county should work to address the supply side of this issue and encourage the development of facilities and workforce training.”
Giessner is employed by Anza Renewables as a power systems engineer, working on grid energy storage systems across the country. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Giessner has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a bachelor’s of musical arts in pipe organ performance, and master’s degree in electrical engineering.
Raised in Saint Joseph, Mich., Giessner lived in Washington, D.C., after college, but his love of nature and community drew him back to Michigan in 2021 where he settled in Marion Township with his wife, Ali.
Outside of his engineering career, he keeps his love of music alive with his wife through attending concerts, musicals, and playing piano and singing together at home. The couple also started volunteering at Be Our Guest Adult Day Service in Howell, which hosts people with Alzheimers and dementia. Geissner plays the piano while his wife sings.
People looking for more information can visit Giessner’s website and his Facebook page.
