Skip to main content

Legislative Task Force kicks off next month – And they need your help!

Michael Spence

Michael Spence

Michael Spence is the Government Affairs Manager at SEMCOG. In the 2000s, while earning his master’s in public administration, he supported SEMCOG's communications and local government operations work. With a newly-minted MPA in-hand, he worked as a local government manager in Northern Michigan. In 2015, he returned to Southeast Michigan – and SEMCOG – to lead the region's legislative advocacy and government finance/operations work.

In the months preceding this year’s presidential election – just as the national dialogue becomes even more politicized – a nonpartisan group of local and regional leaders will meet to develop policies to benefit their communities and Southeast Michigan.

Led by Task Force Chairperson Frank Viviano (left), Macomb Township Supervisor, and Vice Chair Robert McCraight (right), City of Romulus Mayor, SEMCOG’s Legislative Policy Platform Task Force will begin development of the region’s 2025-2026 federal and State legislative policy platform next month. The task force is comprised of members from cities, villages, townships, and education institutions from the seven-county Southeast Michigan region.

headshot of Frank Vivano Headshot of Robert McCraight

The SEMCOG Legislative Policy Platform is SEMCOG’s basis for engaging with Congress, the Legislature, and State and federal regulators to advance the region and its communities. As the task force prepares to convene, all SEMCOG members have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the platform’s issue areas. Please share your priorities and comments on legislative and regulatory issues important for your community from the brief survey below:

Share your thoughts here

Your input (from the survey above) will fuel the task force’s discussions in July, September, and November. Ther work will culminate with the recommendation of Executive Committee adoption of the 2025-2026 Legislative Policy Platform – just in time for the start of the new legislative session.

I always look forward to the kickoff of SEMCOG’s Legislative Policy Platform Task Force. As fatigue from election year politics sets in, we can all take comfort knowing that SEMCOG is a place where divisiveness is set aside and “locals” take the lead to forge regional consensus on policies that help realize our shared vision for a connected, thriving region of small towns, dynamic urban centers, active waterfronts, diverse neighborhoods, premiere educational institutions and abundant agricultural, recreational, and natural areas.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *