FeedsDecision 2006
Newcomer brings fresh ideas
Chanetta Franklin may be the youngest person seeking to represent the citizens of Inkster in the state legislature, but she said that’s one of her greatest strengths.
“I’m young, and I look at things differently than my opponents,” she said. “I have a lot of new ideas and a different perspective. I’m a fresh voice.”
Franklin, a resident of Inkster and a Democrat, is competing against four other candidates for the open District 16 seat, which is being vacated by State Rep. Jim Plakas (D-Garden City), who is term-limited. She said her candidacy is built around education, jobs and creating economic opportunities in the often-sidelined older communities that make up the district.
“I’m all about education,” she said. “Not only do we need to stress subjects that are important, we need to make sure students understand the real world. They need to have a plan and understand what they will face out there. There are too many students that don’t know what to expect.”
An exact roadmap – what Franklin calls an “action plan” – would be a requirement for all graduating students in high school. Students would need to prepare an outline of the steps they would take to secure higher education opportunities and gainful employment. Teachers would also coach students in interview and interpersonal skills, Franklin said.
Franklin is also a proponent of the K-16 concept, which would continue secondary education offerings beyond traditional high school.
Working families and their needs are also a cornerstone in Franklin’s campaign.
“There are so many people that are losing their jobs and the state needs to provide a way for those people to retrain,” she said. “I’m also an advocate of raising the minimum wage. I believe we need to help families that are struggling, but also offer solutions.”
The best solution for problems like joblessness and the cost of health care lie in creating an environment conducive to business creation and retention, Franklin said. She is in support taking the Single Business Tax off the books once a viable alternative is found to replace lost revenue, and would like to see “Renaissance Zones” – or districts that are deemed eligible for tax incentives, if a business would like to locate in the area – expanded in District 16.
She said she would not support any plan that would individually tax residents.
“The last thing we need right now is new taxes,” she said.
Other issues Franklin would like to see addressed or expanded are the possibility of a state-sponsored healthcare plan for small businesses and individuals. She would also like to see the practice of basing home and automobile insurance rates on zip codes outlawed.
“A person’s driving record is all that should matter,” she said.
Franklin is also against further outsourcing of manufacturing jobs and privatization of governmental services.
A Certified Public Accountant, Franklin graduated from Wayne Memorial High School. She went on to earn a bachelor’s of business administration and finance from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. She said being an account gives her an inside track to the many budget issues faced by the state.
The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 8.
