Jon Mallek, Running for Ann Arbor City Council, Ward 2
2024 Election Pride Source Candidate Survey Response
The 2024 Pride Source Media Voters Guide Candidate Survey sought the responses from Michigan candidates running for office in the Nov. 5 election. We asked candidates to respond to key issues impacting the Michigan LGBTQ+ community and about their visions for the future. Visit vote411.org to learn more about the candidates and issues on your ballot.
Candidate: Jon Mallek
Running for Ann Arbor City Council, Ward 2
Incumbent? No.
Campaign Contact Info
(715) 630-9498
[email protected]
Facebook: votejonmallek
Instagram: malleka2council
Candidate background
Education:
St. Norbert College, Bachelor's in Political Science, International Studies, French; American University, Masters in International Economic Relations.
Professional experience:
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Researcher, 2017 to 2019;
USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, International Economist, 2019 to 2022;
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Policy Director, 2022 to present.
What is your affiliation with the LGBTQ+ community?
I identify as a gay man.
Tell us about your top priorities and how you plan to achieve those goals.
I am running on four main priorities:
1. Good, reliable city services: I intend to dedicate the bulk of my time on council to ensuring Ann Arbor continues to provide exceptional core city services such as infrastructure maintenance, clean water, timely trash, recycling, and compost pickup, and snow removal.
2. Climate Forward Policies and Sustainability: I support Ann Arbor's ambitious A2Zero plan and intend to champion many of the policies outlined in the plan to move Ann Arbor to carbon neutrality.
3. Affordability: I intend to support an "all of the above" approach to housing policy in Ann Arbor to provide relief to one of Ann Arbor's biggest challenges. Simply put, more housing is needed throughout the city, including affordable housing where it makes sense and additional density in areas that can support it.
4. Transparency and Accountability: I intend to make myself available as much as possible to the residents of Ward 2 to take their input and ideas to the council table. I hope to communicate effectively and frequently so residents stay informed.
Why are you the best candidate for this position?
As a younger gay man, a recent first-time homeowner, and relatively recent resident to Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, I hope to bring a fresh perspective to council. I believe government can and should play a positive role in the lives of everyday citizens and I hope to make Ann Arbor one of the best places to live! .
How do you plan to represent and advocate for the needs of LGBTQ+ community members?
I plan to represent Ward 2 and Ann Arbor in the best way I know how: authentically and proudly. I moved to Ann Arbor because I wanted to live in a vibrant and welcoming place, and I intend to work hard to continue making Ann Arbor even more welcoming and inclusive. I hope to work with fellow councilmembers to advocate for LGBTQ+ spaces in the city and promote the best Ann Arbor has to offer.
State your position on transgender rights and how your office would work to protect this vulnerable population — particularly Black trans women, who are overrepresented in stats related to violence, the judicial system, homelessness, substance abuse and other serious issues.
I will work with the current council to protect and advance transgender rights while in office. This can and will include identifying specific issues facing our local trans population and working with a coalition of partners to implement comprehensive solutions.
Homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth and young adults is a persistent issue in Michigan. How would your office make a positive impact for young LGBTQ+ people facing housing insecurity?
The biggest thing that Ann Arbor's city council can do to protect unhoused and vulnerable LGBTQ youth, and one of my top priorities overall, is work to address our housing crisis. As a recent first-time homebuyer in Ann Arbor, I've navigated the challenges of our housing market, and I’m open and eager to explore solutions to keep costs down in order to make Ann Arbor accessible for people from all walks of life. Those who work here should have the opportunity to live here, and finding ways to create more affordable housing and increase development in a climate-conscious and sustainable fashion will be critical.
I believe that part of this comes through continuing the policy that council has already been enacting as of the last two years, including ending exclusionary zoning, allowing more density along transit corridors in responsible and sustainable ways, and eliminating parking minimums. In addition, working to educate and protect renter's rights through enforcing Ann Arbor's recent leasing ordinance will be crucial.
State your position on abortion and other issues related to women’s reproductive health.
I am committed to protecting and advancing reproductive health, rights, and justice. Every person should have access to quality, comprehensive reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion—regardless of where they live, how much money they make, or how they are insured. I believe that reproductive freedom is core to people of all genders’ health and well-being.
How do you feel about drag queens?
I am very supportive. Not only do drag queens present joyful entertainment, they also express a very open, vulnerable, and unique art form. Drag queens, along with trans leaders, have been at the forefront of every major LGBTQ battle, often leading the way and breaking barriers for the rest of us.
On Marriage Equality: After the overturning of Roe v Wade, many question if the U.S. Supreme Court will revisit their 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision. Would you support any legislation that undermines the rights of same-sex couples to marry? (Yes or No — feel free to elaborate)
No.
On K-12 School Curriculum: States such as Florida have passed legislation preventing teachers, counselors and coaches from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with their students, dubbed "Don't Say Gay" bills. Other states have passed legislation requiring LGBTQ+ inclusion in K-12 curricula, often determined by the local school district to determine how to effectively integrate learning materials throughout.
Michigan currently has neither a ban nor a requirement. Would you support legislation requiring Michigan schools to teach about LGBTQ+ people and identities in history and social sciences? (Yes or No — feel free to elaborate)
Yes.
How would your office help people struggling financially?
One of my main goals in running for Ann Arbor City Council is affordability. I will work to ensure that taxpayers in our city are getting the biggest bang for their taxpayer buck by working with the current council and city staff to continue providing world class city services. I will also do everything in my power to avoid raising property taxes, already some of the highest in the state of Michigan, by being a good steward of existing public resources. Finally, I will work hard to implement programs as intended in the city that aim to help lower income folks, such as Ann Arbor's new affordable housing program. .
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I look forward to representing the Ann Arbor and LGBTQ communities!
Visit vote411.org and michiganvoting.org to learn about the candidates and issues on your ballot and to make a voting plan.
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