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Harper West (Library Board Rochester Hills, Michigan, candidate 2023)
Harper West (Nonpartisan) ran for election to Library Board Rochester Hills in Michigan on November 7, 2023.[1]
Elections
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Harper West completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by West's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Harper West is a psychotherapist and previously worked in journalism and as a corporate communications executive. Co-author of a bestselling non-fiction book on psychology. Active leader at Birmingham Unitarian Church, currently heading Civic Engagement activism projects. Active in forming the Rochester Hills Solid Waste Committee in the early 1990s that recommended an innovative single trash hauler and recycling plan. Named Rochester Hills Environmentalist of the Year. Volunteer in numerous community and professional organizations for over 45 years, including Voters Not Politicians and President of the International Association of Business Communicators Detroit Chapter. Member of a monthly book discussion club and avid reader.
- The library should offer products and services for everyone in our diverse community and a minority of users should not dictate limitations.
- Free public libraries in the United States are a public good and a hallmark of liberal democracy.
- will serve as a non-partisan representative of the whole community without pursuing a religious or political agenda.
Protecting democracy and the free expression of ideas has driven me from my teenage years when I first began working as a journalist during the Watergate era, through college and my career as a journalist, to today where I see efforts to divide and label members of the community using limitations to free speech. I have worked since 1975 on environmental issues, when I helped support the Michigan Bottle Bill, and later on advocating for a solid waste and recycling program in Rochester Hills. I was very active in the Voters Not Politicians effort to successfully end gerrymandering in Michigan. As a psychologist, I have written extensively about the dangers of authoritarian personalities and how they harm democracy.
Hostess at Big Boy Restaurant, 1 year at age 14-15
Vietnam War protests at university near me, 1968, age 8
My mother was very active as a community volunteer, political volunteer, and environmentalist. She helped women with breast cancer, helped clean roadsides, led 4-H and Girl Scout troops, volunteered at church, and was a grassroots worker in many, many ways throughout her life, giving back to the community.
Residents are welcomed to attend Library Board meetings and agendas, minutes and packets are posted on the library's website. Residents can also submit comment cards at the library at any time.
The library building is 30 years old and will continue to face maintenance and upgrade issues that will need to be budgeted for appropriately and thoughtfully.
Not relevant.
Not relevant
Not relevant
Not relevant
I plan to represent the community in a non-partisan manner, without a political or religious agenda, using an approach that emphasizes tolerance, compassion and acceptance toward everyone.
The library board and director review all communication from residents and library users at each monthly meeting. Budgets and strategic plans are reported regularly and the public has access to this information.
The size of the library budget and the size of its staff and volunteer operations are likely larger than many people recognize, giving the board of trustees more responsibility that might be expected.
It would be beneficial, but not important.
Trustees should be able to detach from personal agendas, especially religious or political agendas, and represent the entire community as equitably as possible. As a psychotherapist who works with a very diverse population, I have been trained in compassion-based practices that emphasize tolerance, patience, and equanimity and I hope to bring these attitudes and skills to the library board. I also have experience in budgeting and strategic planning from my days as a business executive.
Trustees should be able to detach from personal agendas, especially religious or political agendas, and represent the entire community as equitably as possible. As a psychotherapist who works with a very diverse population, I have been trained in compassion-based practices that emphasize tolerance, patience, and equanimity and I hope to bring these attitudes and skills to the library board. I also have experience in budgeting and strategic planning from my days as a business executive.
To ensure the mission of the library is implemented through sound fiscal management and upholding the policies and protocols of the library as a resource for the entire community.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
External links
[1] ↑ Submitted to Ballotpedia's candidate survey in 2023.
