ACCESS CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name:William R. Wild

City/Town of Residence:Westland, Michigan

Office Sought:Wayne County Executive

Occupation:Mayor, City of Westland, Michigan

Education:Attended classes at University of Michigan-Dearborn

Community Involvement:

William R. Wild is a member of the Michigan Democratic Party, a member of the United States Conference of Mayors, serving as the Michigan Ambassador, and as a member of the Transportation and Communications Committee and the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committees. He serves on the Legislative Governance Committee for the Michigan Municipal League, is a member and past chairman of the Conference of Western Wayne, and is a delegate on the SEMCOG executive committee. In 2010, Wild was elected to serve on the board of directors for the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA), and currently serves as chairman of the Central Wayne County Sanitation Authority (CWCSA).

  1. Why should New Americans like Arab, Asian and Muslim Americans voters in your district vote for you? What expertise will you bring to this position sought?

I have a lifelong commitment to diversity, which is reflected in my record as Mayor of Westland: I appointed the first-ever Arab American as a department head in our city’s history.

I’m reaching out to voters all over Wayne County, which has a long history of diversity and inclusion. I’m proud to be part of a county where many Arab Americans, Asian Americans, Muslims, Chaldeans and others have chosen to live, work and do business.

I’m convinced that the way to move Wayne County forward is to work together and make sure everyone has a seat at the table. As Mayor of Westland, I’ve made it a priority to reach across borders and work with surrounding communities, and I’ll take the same approach as County Executive.

  1. Do you believe schools are inclusive and meet the needs of immigrant and economically disadvantaged families? If not, why not and what solutions would you propose?

There are dozens of school districts across Wayne County, so there is not a single answer to this question. In some cases, I think schools do an excellent job of welcoming students from different backgrounds. But there are also situations where more could be done to ensure that every student, no matter his or her background, has a chance to succeed.

My wife, Sherri, is a sixth-grade science teacher, so I tend to view these issues from a classroom point of view. I believe the more we empower teachers to do their jobs, the more success we will have in welcoming all students in every classroom.

  1. Is it important for Michigan to be a welcoming state for immigrants? Please comment. How familiar are you with current “welcoming”initiatives and what else should be done?

Yes, I strongly support Welcoming Michigan and other initiatives to make immigrants feel at home in our state. America is and always has been a nation of immigrants, and there is nothing more American than to welcome a new neighbor and find ways to make new families welcome in our community.

Michigan and Wayne County have experienced a population decline in recent years. Welcoming immigrants is not only the right thing to do—it’s also smart public policy that can bring new talent, new energy and new investment to our communities.

  1. What are your views on ensuring equal access to the pools and voting materials for voters of all communities regardless of English speaking and reading ability?

Equal access to public accommodations – including public swimming pools – is the law of the land in the United States and Michigan, and I believe that law should be rigorously enforced in Wayne County.

Equal access to the voting booth is not only a legal requirement, it is also a core value of our democracy. We should make every effort to accommodate voters who speak and read in other languages, and make available the materials they need to exercise their right to vote.

  1. What are your views regarding access to in-language, culturally appropriate healthcare?

According to a recent study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Wayne County is currently dead last in the state of Michigan when it comes to the health status of our citizens. That’s unacceptable. We need a comprehensive effort to insure that all residents have access to quality health care – and that includes removing any language or cultural barriers that are preventing people from getting the health care they need.

  1. What are your views on preventing discrimination in the workplace? How will you address workplace issues generally?

Preventing discrimination takes more than a law, regulation or written policy; it requires a commitment from all levels of an organization, starting at the top. I don’t tolerate any form of discriminatory behavior in Westland where I serve as mayor, or at the auto recycling business I have owned for 25 years – and I certainly won’t tolerate it as Wayne County Executive.

As a community, we need to go a step further and insure that inclusion and diversity is always part of our agenda. I appointed the first African-American as deputy mayor in the history of Westland; and as noted above, I also appointed the city’s first-ever Arab-American department head. If you don’t make a commitment to searching out talent from diverse communities with diverse backgrounds, you are shortchanging your organization, because talent is not always found in the first place you look.

My general approach to workplace issues is to find ways to work together with employees and their unions. During my years as a planning commissioner, city council member, mayor and small business owner, I’ve found that no one person has all the answers. That’s why a collaborative approach always yields the best results.