On the Ballot: George Gomez, City Commission

Age:  56

Family:  Sean, graduate of Royal Oak Kimball High School.

How many years as a Royal Oak resident:  20 years

Occupation:  34 employee of Detroit Edison. My current position is Regional Supervisor Planning and Design.

Previous civic experience:  
Royal Oak Dream Cruise Committee, planning commission of R.O.

I worked with the City to build a skate board area at Memorial Park.

I worked with the fire department to expand the “Safety Town” project and to raise money for their mobile fire house.

As a R.O. Historic Society member I led a project to raise the funds to cover 7 of the steam radiators at the fire station to protect the children from injury. When not driving others in the holiday parades I can be seen as a cook with the historic society memorial breakfast.

Presently I’m an active member of the Optimist Club of Royal Oak for over 10 years. 

I’m a past “Spirit Award” winner previously given by the Women’s Club of Royal Oak and now by the Chamber.

For many years I’ve participated in the YWCA and South Oakland Boys and Girls auction team fund raiser.  Last year I added the Judson Center.

Currently involved with the Kiwanis Club with youth ability bowling and the South Oakland County Boys and Girls Club youth abilities baseball.
Currently I plant trees with the Greening of Detroit.  I’m proud to say they created a new position to allow volunteers lead teams in planting.

Answers to Key Issues

Here are Gomez's answers to questions asked at the on Sept. 28.

What is the right retail/restaurant mix for downtown?

"The downtown serves its purpose. You can’t legislate percentages. You do that by what you participate in. When there was shopping, did you go to it? If you don’t it doesn’t come back. We have to stop fighting the fact that we have created an entertainment district."

How do you feel about the Fresard Property/Kroger issue?

"I believe that Kroger had more than ample opportunity and I believe that the Planning Commission took a just route in falling back to the rules that we’ve all given to them. It was not my preference for them to be here, but it is also not against my premise that they try. We need to ask ourselves what do we want here and send that message out."

What is your opinion of the non-motorized plan?

"The non-motorized plan works hand and hand with what we did 10 years ago when we created the Master Plan. It creates a walkable community, which everyone can enjoy. How can we do it? We have to sit down and get some professionals involved. They already are exercising those ideas in a lot of other cities, so we don’t necessarily have to invent it. I hope to see us widen some of the sidewalks downtown. With all the bumpouts from the eateries, as it stands right now you couldn’t walk downtown with a friend."

Here are responses to questions from the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee.

What compelled you to run for the City Commission and what issue would you like to address first if elected?

I've always served the community, but the moment that made the difference was at a commission meeting where a commissioner asked "why should he have to talk to the Chamber of Commerce?" I felt if he had to ask than he shouldn't be there. One of the first issues I'd like to address is how we're going to pay our City's bills. The issue of money has dominated every discussion for too long.

Everyone agrees that it is important to bring jobs to Royal Oak. What three specific changes would you propose to implement job creation? 

1. I believe we have to acknowledge that businesses bring jobs to the community and our role is to support their needs to do so but not at the expense of the City. We need to evaluate value to costs.
2. Secondly, related to the first idea, we need to determine our staffing levels and personalities in meeting those needs and when creating City jobs.
3. Third, we need to review the layout of the City by reviewing the master plan. Possibly we need more zones supportive of jobs versus homes.

It is important to stimulate all business corridors, including those outside of the downtown area. What specific actions would you undertake to accomplish that?

The question assumes the City is responsible to provide this versus the business community. I've seen enough of the City trying to be a developer at this point and believe our focus should be on health, safety and welfare.

Contact Information

Email: electgeorge.gomez@gmail.com