Meet the Candidate for City Council: Jack Downey

Eight candidates are running in the August 6 City Council primary election. 
Below are the candidate biographies provided to the Women's Civic League of St. Clair Shores, and their video introductions are attached to the story:

Jack Downey
Age: 66
Years living in St. Clair Shores: 66
Occupation: Retired from Riggers/Iron Workers Local #25, Detroit, MI, has been a dues paying member 49 years.
Incumbent: No
Previously held elected office: None
Education: Attended Annunciation High School. Completed a four year apprenticeship in the Riggers Union, also attended special classes sponsored by Ford Motor Company and Riggers Union in Dearborn, MI. Accounting, cost estimating and engineering.
Top three things you would like to accomplish if elected:

Please keep in mind I am not out to win a popularity contest, but rather provide an honest service to the taxpayers, something they deserve but have not witnessed to date.

• Transparency: This is one of the most missing factors in the city. I believe the residents deserve better and if it takes exploding someone to accomplish this, so be it. Why are there owners fo businesses doing business in SCS sitting on various boards, commissions and committees where they can direct the award of contracts to their own businesses. It happens repeatedly with no questions asked. This has to stop. Why is Landscape Services handed all the lucrative contracts without question, while the owners sits on at least one or two commissions that has input who the contracts are awarded to. This is maybe a good project for our so-called ethics committee to look into.
• The Rat Abatement and Code Enforcement Programs: These two programs definitely need to be reformed and corrected. The rat problem is worse than ever in this city and all we do is write blank checks to Landscape Services on a monthly basis for services rendered to no avail. I personally believe that there should be a complete investigation into this by an outside agency.
• The Water Meter Program: I believe the charges that the residents are receiving after the new meters are installed are absurd. I know of several people that have complained to the city for the outrageous billings received after the new meters were installed and were told that the old meters were giving false readings and not charging enough. Whose meters were those? Whose responsibility is it to maintain them? I believe that we should get a class action lawsuit against the city and have a complete investigation and satisfy the residents.