Why Is Ken Nelson Running
for Sterling Heights Mayor?
The following Issues will be expanded on my Facebook page.
Issue #1: Leadership Tone and Temperament
Mayor Taylor has demonstrated a temper and a certain amount of arrogance when communicating with residents and business owners. Look back over the years and count how many times he has had to remind the public that he is the Mayor!
Sterling Heights deserves a mayor who listens respectfully and represents all residents with professionalism.
Issue #2: Partisan Politics in a Non-Partisan Office
The mayor and at least one council member have been operating in violation of our City Charter with their partisan politics.
Chapter 3, Section 3.03 of the Charter states:
“The election of all city officers shall be on a non-partisan basis. The general election laws of the state shall apply to and control, as nearly as possible, all procedures relating to registration and city elections except as such general laws relate to political parties or partisan procedure…”
The Charter is clear. Sterling Heights elections are intended to be non-partisan. We need to restore that standard.
Issue #3: Excessive Salary Increase for the City Manager
The mayor supported an exorbitant salary increase for the City Manager during a time of economic instability for residents and businesses in Sterling Heights.
It’s unclear whether there was any negotiation on behalf of the Mayor and Council. Consider this:
- The Governor of Michigan earns $159,300.
- The Sterling Heights City Manager now earns $202,950.
Residents should expect responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. This salary decision does not reflect that.
Issue #4: Disrespectful and Partisan Public Statements
As Mayor, Michael Taylor embarrassed a significant portion of Sterling Heights voters by making disrespectful public statements and writing partisan letters to the President of the United States. His comments have appeared in both local and out-of-state news stories.
Once again, he forgot about the City Charter and the responsibility to represent all residents, not just those who agree with him politically.
Issue #5: Questionable Spending on Marketing and Branding
How much did it cost taxpayers to fund the mayor’s marketing campaign, including a new city logo?
Consider the expenses:
- Reprinting business cards, letterhead, envelopes, and signage throughout the city.
- Promoting the “Golden Corridor” along M-59, which also benefited nearby communities like Utica, Shelby Township, Macomb Township, and Clinton Township. These municipalities were asked to contribute but declined, leaving Sterling Heights to foot the entire bill.
- The “Halo” sculpture (also referred to as the "Golden Buttxxxx"), a $170,000 project that changes colors at night to represent different initiatives.
In my opinion, this marketing campaign was not fully thought out and was a misuse of public funds.
Issue #6: Safe Streets and Recreation Proposals
The Safe Streets and Recreate Recreation ballot proposals have changed the fiscal direction of the city to a “buy now, pay later” mentality.
- The original Safe Streets proposal was presented as necessary due to a large cut in revenue sharing from the state. Voters approved the 2.45 mills for six years.
- In 2019, the Safe Streets Renewal passed after another round of fear-based marketing. Yet we still can’t fund Police, Fire, or road repairs without it.
- If these services are truly essential to the city’s proper operation, the Council should have increased the operating millage themselves rather than making voters decide for them. This is poor fiscal policy.
- The Recreate Recreation proposal was marketed in 2017 as delivering new improvements and a palatial Community Center—all for $45 million. Residents were told it would only cost 1 mill for 20 years. Most of the money has already been spent, but residents are still paying that 1 mill for another 17 years.
- The vote to approve was extremely close, with almost as many residents opposed as in favor.
These ballot proposals may have addressed short-term needs but left long-term burdens on Sterling Heights taxpayers.
More to Come!
Stay tuned for additional issues and updates.
If you have any questions about these issues—or if you’d like to share your concerns—please visit my Contact page or join the conversation on Facebook. I’m ready to listen and ready to serve.
