Comments

• On the article August Primary: Grosse Pointe Election Guide

  Valerie Kindle - for State Rep District 1

  2:37 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012

  Hello, Everyone. My name is Valerie Kindle and I am a Democratic candidate for State Rep in the new House District 1. The Grosse Pointe Democratic Club has endorsed my campaign.

  Just to clear up a few comments that I see above, I do in fact live on Fleetwood in Harper Woods and in the Grosse Pointe school district (I've lived there 10 years), and am a Precinct Delegate in Harper Woods' Precinct 5.

  I do have a Blog on the GPPatch, which you can find at this link: http://grossepointe.patch.com/blog_posts/district-1-state-rep-democrat-candidate-valerie-kindle#photo-10631538

  I hope to talk with you at my meet-and-greet at the Harper Woods Library, this Monday at 7 p.m.

  Reply

• On the Blog Post Meet-and-Greet Fundraiser

  Valerie Kindle - for State Rep District 1

  10:57 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012

  Thanks everyone for the wonderful turnout at Wednesday's fundraiser, graciously hosted by Mr. Garey. It was a wonderful evening, and I was so pleased to visit with old friends and meet new ones. Thank you for your support of my campaign!

  Reply

• On the Blog Post District 1 State Rep Democrat Candidate Valerie Kindle

  

  Valerie Kindle - for State Rep District 1

  9:41 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012

  Peter, there is something else that I want to tell you about me, something important about understanding each community's needs. Since 2004, I have been a Harper Woods Planning commissioner, am a member of the Ordinance Committee, and a Precinct Delegate -- so I do have a good understanding about Harper Woods and what's going on in neighboring communities as well. As a Harper Woods resident, I've attended school board meetings on occasion; living in the Grosse Pointe school system, I've had occasion to go the GP school board meetings as well. Having lived in this area for so long, I'm well aware of concerns to our city. Having grown up on Detroit's east side, and having been a civil servant in Detroit, I believe I also have an understanding of issues of importance to east siders. In addition to all this, I think ongoing communications are key to developing good relationships, and I plan to maintain and grow my relationships with neighboring communities.

• On the Blog Post District 1 State Rep Democrat Candidate Valerie Kindle

  

  Valerie Kindle - for State Rep District 1

  3:51 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012

  Here’s a blurb re my beliefs about post-secondary education:

  I believe that college degree are in and of themselves not sole qualifications for any job; all education is a preparation for work of some kind. On the job training and real life experiences have been essential to my career and quality of life, and I believe it is the same for all.

  I do believe quality secondary education leads to well-informed individuals that make career choices best suiting their needs and desires; and I believe post-secondary education of any kind should be accessible and affordable for all.

  Of course, many people are not fortunate enough to afford a four-year general education degree, and many don’t see the need for one. (These days, college degrees don’t guarantee jobs, and create great debt that takes years to pay off.) Many careers do not require college degrees, but do require industry-driven training, vocational and apprenticeship programs which offer a direct route into the workforce. (Interestingly enough, a friend of mine knows an auto industry exec and car designer who began his career with a two-year auto mechanic degree! We all come to our careers through different routes.)

  My career goals and actions have been to assist others in achieving success in their careers -- and by default, their lives -- and I plan to continue that work both at the state and local levels.

• On the Blog Post District 1 State Rep Democrat Candidate Valerie Kindle

  Valerie Kindle - for State Rep District 1

  3:43 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012

  What you saw on my campaign web and Facebook sites are indeed accurate statements of my educational, and have been there for all to see.

  To answer your question about my experience with the educational concerns of the Grosse Pointes, I will tell you that I have lived in the Grosse Pointe school district for ten years, and am up-to-date about issues affecting our schools. I have regularly attended school board meetings on many issues, most recently concerning Head Start and outsourcing of jobs. It’s my plan to continue involvement with GP schools, and to work with parents and residents in accomplishing their goals.

  However, your concern is my education, and this is a summary of that:

  I am a graduate of Oakland University’s Career Development Facilitator (CDF) program, a 120-hour certification program by The National Career Development Association. This program was developed to provide standards, training specs and credentialing for career providers.

  I am also a graduate of Michigan State University’s Business Solutions Program, which educates economic, workforce and education professionals on retaining and creating jobs in communities.

  Lastly, I am a graduate of Wayne State University’s Labor Studies’ Labor School’s two-year certificate program. The program’s web site states that it “is a comprehensive labor education center committed to strengthening the capacity of organized labor to represent the needs and interests of workers.”

  Reply

• On the Blog Post District 1 State Rep Democrat Candidate Valerie Kindle

  

  Valerie Kindle - for State Rep District 1

  5:31 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012

  Hi Peter,

  My apologies for taking so long to get back to you.

  First, I am totally opposed to any mandate that takes away local control from our schools. In my opinion, many families live in the Grosse Pointes specificly because the schools are the best in the state, and pay property taxes accordingly. Good schools are a great incentive for residents to live in and support a particular city; without that incentive many communities would be in dire straits.

  Second, I believe that involvement in, and good communications with, each city within District 1 is essential. As a longtime Harper Woods resident involved in my city and the Pointes over the past 10 years, I believe that I have been very much in tune with our concerns -- from schools to City Hall. Also, I grew up on Detroit's east side and was very active in community projects there, and have a history of involvement with different areas of the city -- having worked on a project in the Rosa Parks Blvd area and still volunteering on the east side (most recently an event at the local airport offering free rides for kids). Because of that, I believe I'm also up-to-date on Detroit's concerns. I plan to continue my involvement and communications with these cities/communities regardless of the outcome of this election.

  Thanks for your questions!