Kelly Breen

Kelly Breen was born in Northville, Michigan.[1] Breen earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in 1999 and a juris doctor from Wayne State University in 2002.[2][3][4] Her career experience includes working as an attorney.[4] Breen has been affiliated with the Michigan Municipal League, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, the Michigan State Bar, the Michigan Association for Justice, the American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters, Moms Demand Action Against Gun Violence.[2][3]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a mom, an attorney, an activist, an educator's wife, and a Novi City Councilmember.

As a Novi City Council Member, I initiated comprehensive Wildlife & Sustainability studies. I pushed to establish a playground and a commission on aging. I demanded new development protects wetlands and green space. I ushered the passage of an anti-discrimination policy, fought to make voting precincts more accessible, and helped secure funding for fire-fighting equipment. I work collaboratively and reach across the aisle.

I'm tired of partisanship taking away from public service. I'm running because experience matters and I will be ready to work on Day One. I'm running to help us become a leader in business, education, sustainability and healthcare.

My priorities include:

Repair our public-school funding system.

Repeal the pension tax.

Phase in a progressive income tax.

Create "Green and Blue" jobs in emerging sustainable economies.

Confront systemic racism.

Protect LGBTQ+ communities from discrimination.

Expand health care access with a public health care option.

Restart Michigan's economy while keeping our workers safe.

Give communities necessary funding to fix infrastructure and parks.

I believe in collaboration because we are strongest standing together. Let's believe in Michigan.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The first pillar of my platform is: Working Toward a Healthier Michigan. This means protecting the bipartisan Medicaid expansion. It means getting serious about gun violence by enacting weapons restrictions for people with violent histories and enforcing background checks each time someone buys a gun. It means protecting the air and water we have here in the Great Lakes and cracking down on lead and PFAS contamination. The second pillar of my platform is: Helping Michiganders Grow and Thrive. We can do this by restructuring school funding and guaranteeing universal Pre-K for all of our children. We can build better jobs for our communities by creating an environment where "green and blue" industries grow and create sustainable opportunities. We must extend civil rights protections in our state to every member of the LGBTQ communities, repeal the disastrous Right to Work (for less) law, and restore prevailing wage.  The final pillar of my platform is: Improving the Way Government Works. We are able to do this by increasing transparency through the Freedom of Information Act, finding local solutions for local problems and keeping the Legislature's hands out of our city and township coffers by repairing our revenue sharing system, and by utilization a tax system that has everyone paying their fair share. We must also work swiftly to reform criminal justice implement policy solutions recommended by the Jail and Pre-Trial Taskforce led by Chief Justice McCormack and Lt. Gov. Gilchrist.    Featured local question

What’s the best approach for meeting Michigan’s roads and other infrastructure needs?

We need innovation as well as dollars. This goes along with the "green and blue" jobs approach - finding companies with a focus on sustainability. Other countries are using plastics in their asphalt - this keeps plastics out of landfills, and allows roads greater flexibility with the freeze thaw cycle. Bold ideas like that along with appropriate infrastructure funding will put people to work, grow the economy and keep us safe.

Featured local question

What’s your one big idea for improving public schools?

Following the recommendations in the School Refinance Collaborative which have been endorsed by every intermediate school district in the state, and fixing the school funding mechanisms to achieve them. These recommendations show us HOW we can best serve our kids in every corner, and it starts with a base rate. But it costs more to education children with special needs, or have English as a second language. More rural schools have different needs than those in urban areas. This study also shows necessary support staff levels - there should be 1 school psychologist per elementary school, not 1 shared by 3 or more as they are in most districts.

Congress promised in 1975 to fund 40% of Special Education. We get less than half of that now. Districts must then fill that gap with general fund dollars, leaving less to spend on the rest. Fully funding IDEA rests with Congress, but we can shift the tax burden back put less of a burden on individuals and roll back the Snyder era tax cuts that siphoned off funds. Fixing the conflicts between Prop A and Headlee would allow the school aid fund to grow along with the economy.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about local government & giving communities & schools districts the funds they need to grow and thrive. This is particularly important with revenue sharing. Revamping the ways in which we return funds back to municipalities is how we will be able to emerge from an economic crisis & create local solutions for local problems. Michigan has redirected more than $7.5B in revenue sharing dollars--money that should be invested in local services, recreation, & infrastructure to cover state budget shortfalls. Restrictions on local government revenue sources mean that this money is gone and most likely won't be replaced. We require so much from our communities, from public safety to stable property values, but we can't expect the world on a shoestring budget. Let's ensure the money and decision-making power are where it belongs-within our communities.

Fixing the conflicts between Prop A & Headlee will allow school funding to grow along with our economy. We are far short of what we should be spending. Decades of tax policy changes has shifted school funding to the point where it rests on individuals. A better path for our kids starts with a more equitable funding system for schools.

We can bring good jobs to Michigan while being good stewards of our environment. "Blue & green jobs are high-tech positions in emerging economies like clean energy, conservation & sustainable agriculture. Public/private partnerships & MEDC grants can help build & support these.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I have deep admiration and respect for Eleanor Roosevelt. She was an outspoken advocate for people with disabilities, for women and for children. She was also a tireless advocate for People of Color and for refugees. Eleanor Roosevelt fought for civil rights and for humanitarian causes both home and around the world. She stood up for what she knew was right even when it meant publicly opposing her husband.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am empathic and energetic. As an attorney, I have a deep understanding and appreciation of the law - this along with empathy allow me to serve clients and constituents. I am a policy wonk and have a plan for everything. I am an experienced and proven leader. As a local elected official, I have accomplished a great deal by forming creative and commonsense solutions, by collaborating with all stakeholders, and by reaching across the aisle.

What is your favorite book? Why?

"The Brethren," by Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong. This book gives an inside view of the U.S. Supreme Court during the Warren Berger era. It takes a deep dive into issues like civil rights, reproductive freedom, police brutality, obscenity and even antitrust as it pertains to baseball. I've read this book numerous times - the issues are still pertinent, and the insight is unique and impressionable.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

There are several committees that in which I could make a positive impact. I want to be on the Judicial Committee because as an attorney, I love the law. But it's broken, and I want to fix it. As a current city council member, I want to ensure local communities have the resources they need by serving on the Local Government Committee. As the wife and daughter of educators and proud mother, I want to serve on the Education Committee. The Regulatory Reform Committee would allow me to help fix our broken Workers' Compensation System so injured workers can more easily access the benefits they are entitled to without the arbitrary requirements foisted upon them. Natural Resources would facilitate protecting our waters and green spaces.

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What is your political philosophy?

It boils down to three things: (1) Public Service is my calling. (2) I LOVE the law - I understand it, and I know in its purest form it represents all that is fair and just, and I know how to craft it so that it can come as close as possible to that perfect intention. (3) I didn't initially consider running for office, but with the support of so many around me, I ran. I didn’t wait - and I ran for City Council. And I won. And, other than raising my kids, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.[6]

—Kelly Breen[2]