By Staff Writer: Alexis Klask
Although he announced that he was running for the 47th District House seat back in November, Howell mayor, Phillip Campbell, has been doing a lot in order to ensure that he is a strong candidate. With voting day approaching on August 7, Campbell has a lot to tackle this summer.
After being a mayor, he has realized that the problems that people face are much bigger than he had first assumed.
“There are bigger challenges to tackle and problems to face and I want to do my part,” says Campbell on one of the incentives as to why he wanted to run.
Campbell has strong roots to Howell, given that he graduated with the Howell High School Class of 1998 and had also attended Northwest Elementary and Highlander Way Middle schools. He currently attends two parishes, with one being St. Joe’s church located right in downtown Howell.
Right now he works as a teacher at a private school in Ann Arbor, alongside with being the mayor.
“I devote my adult life to working with young people, and want to help with the education and formation of young people,” says Campbell.
I was given the chance to sit down with Mayor Campbell and to ask a multitude of questions about his political spectrum. While it is important to choose a candidate based on the promises they make and the accomplishments they may achieve during office, it’s also important to understand their spectrum and where they fall. Knowing a candidate’s platform helps citizens to identify with him or her.
I first asked about the Common Core, an education system being implemented throughout the United States. Campbell opposes the Common Core for four main reasons. He feels it is a violation of local and state control, and he knows that larger corporations are putting a lot of money into it.
“There is an unhealthy corporate influence behind the Common Core,” states Campbell.
He also said that the curriculum in states has proven to be confusing and that the Common Core neglects literature and liberal arts.
On the topic of same sex marriage, he feels that the whole gay marriage issue is being incorrectly viewed as a civil rights question.
“This is not about civil rights, but about whether individuals can define reality any way they want and use force of law to compel society to accept their definitions,” says Campbell.
Campbell realizes that the state is fragile and with that feels there should be a more simplified tax code and should use fewer exemptions.
“There should be no tax benefits allowed to one sector that aren’t allowed to all sectors,” says Campbell.
The mayor realizes that all four of his competitors, Wendy Day, Dr. Hank Vaupel, Ted Ring, and Harold Melton, are serious candidates running. While being the mayor of Howell for three years, he demonstrated “aggressive leadership”.
He is committed to localism and wants to promote growth at local levels such as helping families and small businesses and churches. He realizes a principle of strengthening fundamental small structures that make up our society.
“Things are handled best by the people closest to them and laws should reflect principle. For me, that is responsible government,” states Campbell.
If Campbell were to be elected as the Republican candidate and were to beat Jordon Genso (Democratic candidate), he would serve a two-year term.
“Because political terms are so short there seems to be a tendency for lawmakers to get something done quickly,” says Campbell.
This normally happens in a state’s legislature because representatives want to be able to have their name on a document that helped to shape some sort of reform.
They want to be able to benefit their constituents right away.
“I want to work methodically to build long term solutions about 20 to 5o years out,” says Campbell.
If you’re interested in helping with Mayor Phillip Campbell’s campaign, click this link to see what can be done and to learn more about him. http://electphilcampbell.blogspot.com/p/home-page.html
