My name is Michael Ford and I live in Oshkosh with my wife of 14 years, Allyson, and my two sons, Charlie and John. Our boys attend Emmeline Cook school, and Ally and I both work here in Oshkosh. Since 2013 I have taught Public Budgeting and Financial Management, State and Local Government, Analytic Methods, public-private partnerships, and other classes in UW Oshkosh’s Masters of Public Administration program. Prior to that I had a career in public policy. 

When I am not working you can find me taking advantage of all Oshkosh has to offer. That may be running the trail at Menominee Park, fishing from the shoreline or through the ice on Lake Winnebago, playing tennis at the Y, strumming my guitar and singing off-key at church, trying my best not to make errors at shortstop in summer league softball, or just spending quality time with family and friends. I have a passion for public service and local government, and yes, I sometimes read budgets for fun. If you have any questions about me please shoot me an e-mail at mford3482@gmail.com.

 I have deep community ties that put me in position to serve as an effective bridge between the values of Oshkosh residents and City Government. I currently serve in the following capacities:

• Member of the City of Oshkosh Plan Commission
• Member of the City of Oshkosh Long-Range Finance Committee
• President of the Millers Bay Neighborhood Association
• Board member of Clarity Care Inc.
• Member of the Oshkosh Food Co-Op Site Selection Team
• Member of Oshkosh Area United Way’s Fiscal Health Evaluation Committee

 When considering running, I asked myself, what are the unifying values of the City of Oshkosh? What brings us all together? Am I capable of representing the interests of Oshkosh’s 66,000 plus residents? Oshkosh is growing more diverse. I see this in my sons’ school, my neighborhood, in public spaces throughout the city, and in census trends. Our diversity includes our politics; Oshkosh has residents active across the ideological spectrum. Our unifying value is not membership in a demographic group or political party. I believe our unifying value is a commitment to maximizing the quality of life in Oshkosh. To me this is a goal that everyone, whether they have kids in school, are retired, or live on the north, south or west side, can share.

Resources are finite, needs are infinite, and values are contested. Every resident owns a share of our government, and every resident has a right to be represented and heard. Every voice matters. To me the role of the city council is serving as a bridge between the values of our residents, and the professionals delivering services in our city. An efficient, effective, and equitable local government requires a high-functioning council where voices can be heard, civil debate can be had, and decisions can be made. I am ready to play my part.

 I believe the role of a council member is to serve as a bridge between City government and the values of Oshkosh residents. To that end, what will I do as a council member?

• I will listen and learn. This includes considering formal feedback from residents, as well as simply making myself available and visible.
• I will strive for a more active transparency. I believe a government must be trusted to be effective. I support taking small steps to improve the accessibility and searchability of our codes, policies, and financial documents. We must anticipate what residents want to know, and get that information to them in an accessible format.
• I will encourage the development of a local government accountability statement that ensures council members, city management, and citizens share a common idea of what it means for our city government to be accountable. When we are all on the same page, accountability can become an actionable concept by which we judge our performance.
• I will advocate for continued progress towards controlling our city’s debt-service costs. The city has made progress on this front, and I will work to keep the positive momentum going by exercising good financial oversight.
• Continue the city’s commitment to smart economic development by making Oshkosh a place where businesses want to be.
• I believe the number one economic development tool is a good quality of life. I will always work to improve our gateways, strengthen our neighborhoods, improve our parks, and keep Oshkosh safe.
• I will work to improve our city’s data systems. The more analytics we have to inform decision-making, the better.
• Complex challenges require all hands on deck.  I will work to build bridges between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The City alone cannot solve all problems, but we can coordinate collaborative solutions.

Most broadly, I will exercise a commitment to the governance role played by the council in a City-Manager form of government. I am committed to respecting boundaries, and working collaboratively with other members of the council. 

I have a unique combination of experience and skills relevant to serving on the Oshkosh City Council. I have a clear understanding of the machinery of state and local government in Wisconsin, including extensive knowledge of policy, government structure, and the specifics of local government revenue generation and concepts such as municipal aid. 

My formal education includes a Ph.D. in Urban Studies, which involved extensive training in planning, analytic methods, and the specific of public management. In my current position I teach a variety of courses relevant to local government. My full resume can be viewed at www.michaelrford.com.

Please reach out to me at mford3482@gmail.com, or view my full resume at www.michaelrford.com, or follow me on Twitter at @fordm10 .