User:Ouderkia/sandbox

Mayor of Ann Arbor[edit]
On November 4, 2014, Taylor was elected Mayor of Ann Arbor, winning 84.21% of the vote as he easily defeated independent candidate Bryan Kelly. Andrew Cluley of WEMU described the result as one that would not bring any major changes to Ann Arbor's municipal government, opining that while "a few names may be changing...most of the policies are expected to remain the same". Taylor was sworn in on November 10, 2014, at the city clerk's office. In a December 2014 interview, he outlined some of the most pressing issues facing the city and his administration: among them, the need for greater residential density downtown, making the city more affordable for the working class, better supporting the arts, and determining the future direction and development of Liberty Plaza, a downtown park.

Ann Arbor Observer writer James Leonard described the similarities between Taylor and his predecessor, Hieftje, as "striking"; Michigan Daily reporter Emma Kerr noted that Taylor's philosophy echoed Hieftje's on several key issues, including development, infrastructure, and the relationship between the city and the University of Michigan. More specifically, Taylor expressed his intentions to individually evaluate construction projects and amend then-current zoning regulations, maintain and repair local roads (although he acknowledged that much of this work was being done at the county level), and meet with University President Mark Schlissel. Both Taylor and Hieftje consider transportation to be among the most important and impactful of the city government's responsibilities, including its local bus service and a proposal for commuter rail.

Leonard also noted what he perceived to be key differences between the two mayors, describing Hieftje as "at heart a salesman who truly loves his product" and Taylor as "at heart an attorney who persuades through reasoned discussion"; he added that Taylor's "cooler approach could accomplish as much while alienating fewer people".

In preparation for his 2022 midterm election, Taylor sat down with the Michigan Daily to talk about his contributions as a mayor and the plans for the future. Mayor Taylor plans to improve roads with a road bond that was passed through prior to this midterm election. He also talks about parks, affordability in housing and land use. Taylor mentions sustainability and even how their 10 councilmember will affect these changes.

In 2022 elections, Mayor Taylor won his re-election and his party gained control of the 10 member city council. Taylor is optimistic and looks forward to working with this new council. Taylor is also optimisitc due to the Democratic state House and Senate along with a Democratic governor, he believes this will give many opportunities for the future.