Massey Wants to Continue on Council in Farmington Hills

member Ken Massey thought about running for mayor in this election. But he said choosing to run for re-election turned out to be the better decision.

"I originally anticipated I would serve eight years on council and then run for mayor, and then step back and let somebody else step up," he said, but work commitments left him short of time. Massey is managing director of LifeLine Ventures, a new investment company with a focus in the life sciences industry.

"With the multiple things we're trying to do, my travel schedule is pretty intense," he said.

"And as it turns out, with what went on with Graham, it was the right decision," he said. the day after Mother's Day this past spring. Massey and his wife, Katherine, have created a memorial fund to support the work of the , which Massey helped create before Smith's death.

The task force is high on the list of things Massey wants to continue working on if he's re-elected Nov. 8. He also wants to make instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) a graduation requirement for seniors in .

supporting the life-saving instruction, which has since been passed by both Farmington Hills and Farmington city councils. 

Also focused on building the economy in Farmington Hills, he believes property values will improve as more jobs are brought into the community. Massey said his involvement with LifeLine Ventures, which is based in the West Tech Park, and , a business that received a city tax abatement, "allows me to reach out with confidence to recruit businesses to our city."

He's also confident that Farmington Hills is a "well-managed city. The (city) government has always looked out for residents," he said. "We have excellent city services. We have very low tax rates. ... I couldn't be more proud of where I live and what I'm doing with the city."

Massey also acknowledges that officials will be challenged to continue providing the services residents deserve, given steadily declining revenues as property values continue to fall. As a strong advocate for public safety, on the Nov. 8 ballot to fund police and fire services.

Officials debated asking voters for 2.0 mills, Massey said, but "I'm satisfied with where we ended up. We still have work to do with cutting (the budget). We have to look at everything and assess it. If our economy gets worse, we're going to have to make bigger cuts."

The small millage will allow the city to tread water, he said. "As we move forward ... we have to make sure the city's in a good financial position, and then back away from taxes," Massey said, noting that officials can always opt to levy an amount less than what is authorized. "I believe in asking people. I believe we will spend every dollar as efficiently as we can. That's something the city has done for years."

While "nice to haves" such as community policing initiatives can and have been cut, he said, "what we need are police officers on the street, interacting with residents. That's community policing."

Massey said the city also has to make road maintenance a priority, although officials will continue looking for "small efficiencies" in operations.

He's also open to looking at what more can be shared with the . The two cities are forming a ; they already share a cable commission, library system, recreation and senior services, among other things.

"I would like to see us back on solid ground, so we can add back some of the programs that add to quality of life," he said. "I would like to see (Michigan) become a destination for young people to move their families here ... and I want us to be right in the middle of it."