User:Maddiealleman/Tim Greimel

Education and Background
Tim Greimel attended the University of Michigan, from which he received his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science, master’s degree in public policy and juris doctor degree. Tim Greimel was admitted into the State Bar Association of Michigan on November 15, 2000. He has a focus in labor and employment law and civil rights law.

Early Political Career
In May of 2005, Tim Greimel was elected to serve on the Rochester Community School District Board of Education. Greimel received 7,817 votes, the second largest amount of votes behind Michelle J. Shepherd, who received 7,989 votes. During his time on the school board, Greimel briefly served as president of the board. In August 2008, and again in 2010, Tim Greimel was elected as County Commissioner of the 11th district. At the end of 2011, Greimel won a special election for Michigan House of Representatives District 29. Following the special election, Tim Greimel won the election for a full term in 2012. Greimel served as the Democratic Leader for the Michigan House of Representatives until 2018, when he lost the Democratic primary to Haley Stevens by 4,636 votes. Most recently, in 2021, Tim Greimel ran for Mayor of the City of Pontiac.

Mayoral Powers
The city of Pontiac operates under a strong mayor system. Tim Griemel, as mayor of Pontiac, serves as the chief executive of the city while holding all responsibilities of the cities’ executive branch. These responsibilities include proposing a state budget, ensuring that all laws are followed accordingly, as well as delivering a state of the city Address. Griemel delivered his first state of the city address for Pontiac on September 29th, 2022. The Pontiac Mayor also is responsible for appointing several positions in office including Deputy Mayor as well as overseeing the Law, Financial, Police, and Fire Departments.

Views
The following is a description of Tim Greimel's views towards multiple subjects. The following are not necessarily actions he has completed, but rather wants to complete or views as the solution to public issues.

Minimum Wage
Tim Greimel believes that "everyone with a job deserves to be in the middle class" and has supports raising the minimum wage to meet the index of inflation.

Healthcare
Greimel supports expanding Medicaid and, during his time in congress, has passed legislation expanding Medicaid to upwards of 650,000 Michigan citizens.

Education
During his time in Congress, Greimel supported legislation to expand/support technical career education. One of Tim Greimel's main campaign goals is the improvement of Pontiac public schools via hiring liaisons and recreation coordinators, as well as partnering with the Pontiac School District, the Oakland Intermediate School District, local charter schools, and non-profits to improve recreation, after school activities, enhance early education, and increase technical education.

Infrastructure
Most of Tim Greimel's views and work regarding infrastructure has manifested in the roads. Greimel introduced legislation to refund Michigan drivers with a tax credit for car damage from damaged roads. According to his campaign website, Greimel plans to invest more into Pontiac's roads, specifically the Woodward Avenue loop to improve access to downtown. His campaign goal towards non-road infrastructure includes increasing access to Wi-Fi and investing in water and sewer repairs. During his time in Congress, Greimel was also the only Michigan legislator to call on former Governor Rick Snyder to resign after the Flint Water Crisis.

Strengthening Neighborhoods
Tim Greimel believes that enforcing anti-blight policies, as well as code enforcement for the appearance of buildings, will help to strengthen Pontiac's neighborhoods. Additionally, he believes in implementing adopt-a-highway and adopt-a-block programs, as well as re-establishing Community Development Block Grant.

Crime Reduction and Public Safety
Tim Greimel believes that working alongside the Sheriff's Relations Team and the Oakland County Sheriff Office’s Pontiac Substation Command via maintaining lines of communication when violent crimes occur will increase public safety. He also campaigned the idea of holding meetings with the Pontiac Substation Command, the Community Policing Team, and the Pontiac School District’s Chief of Security to reduce violence. He also wants to reduce response times from emergency services.

Job Expansion and Economic Opportunity
Overall, Greimel believes it will be important to make downtown a one stop shop, and make Pontiac an easier and friendlier place to do business. This includes consistent and accessible permits, moving the Farmer's Market downtown, facilitating free entrepreneurship classes, implementing more Pontiac-specific policies, and promoting women and minority owned businesses. Greimel has acted on this and developed a Downtown Redevelopment Plan (see below).

Downtown Redevelopment Plan
As mayor, Tim Greimel in collaboration with Oakland County officials sought to re-develop Pontiac's downtown area to increase foot traffic. Tim Greimel is seeking to demolish the Phoenix Center and replace it with a walkable recreational space that will serve as a city center. Tim Greimel described the Phoenix Center as a “Dilapidated eyesore of a derelict parking structure.”

Oakland County purchased two buildings to be used as office space in downtown Pontiac. Tim Greimel Is expecting that the increased foot traffic from county employees and the new city center will boost economic activity in Pontiac's downtown area. The redevelopment project is expected to cost around $120-130 million dollars. A majority of funding for the project will come from the state and Oakland County as well as the American Rescue Plan Act. Tim Greimel said the downtown redevelopment plan “Will ensure the city owns A large space that can facilitate outdoor concerts and serve as a town square and public place for the community.”