David Palmer (Michigan)

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David Palmer

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 4, 2020

Education

Graduate

Eastern Michigan University, 2014

Personal

Birthplace

Pontiac, MI

Religion

Agnostic

Profession

Realtor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign X

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

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David Palmer (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 6. He lost in the Democratic primary on August 4, 2020.

Palmer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Palmer was an Independent candidate for District 54 in the Michigan House of Representatives in the November 2, 2010, state legislative elections.

Biography

David Palmer was born in Pontiac, Michigan. He received a master's degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2014. Palmer's professional experience includes being a workforce consultant; realtor; and a kitchen, restaurant, and business manager. He has been affiliated with the Hubbard Richard Residents Association, the National Association of Realtors, the American Association of Political Consultants, the Southwest Detroit Business Association, and the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association.

Elections

2020

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 6

Incumbent Tyrone Carter won election in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 6 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tyrone Carter (D)	100.0	28,161

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 28,161
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 6

Incumbent Tyrone Carter defeated Ivy Nichole Neal and David Palmer in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 6 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tyrone Carter	62.5	8,163
		Ivy Nichole Neal	20.1	2,624
		David Palmer	17.4	2,273

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 13,060
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2010

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2010

Palmer was an Independent candidate who ran for election to the Michigan House of Representatives District 54 in 2010. He was defeated by David Rutledge (D) in the general election on November 2, 2010.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 54 General election (2010)
Candidates		Votes
David Rutledge (D)		18,146
Richard Deitering (R)		9,709
David Palmer (I)		1,363
Clifford McKinney (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)		451

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

David Palmer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Palmer's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

David Palmer is a multi-disciplinary convener, facilitator, grant writer, public speaker, researcher, entrepreneur, and Realtor. He is principal of DC Palmer LLC and is a Michigan licensed real estate Associate Broker. He has invested his time, resources, and passion in Detroit since 1993, and has been a resident of Hubbard Richard, in Southwest Detroit, since 2016.

He seeks to serve the interests of the people of Detroit, Ecorse, and River Rouge in the Michigan House of Representatives.

David directly supported the development, award, and program implementation for over $40 million in federal, state and foundation grants received to conduct workforce training and capacity building in the Detroit region. His work directly supported Detroit at Work, SEMCA Michigan Works and Wayne County Community College District.

He has worked since the age of 13, spending 10 years managing kitchens as a cook and a chef, 10 years managing successful small businesses, and nearly ten years as a Realtor and a nonprofit workforce development researcher and convener of employers.

David Palmer is a graduate of Leadership Detroit, the Michigan Political Leadership Program, and other fellowship programs. He has earned degrees from Eastern Michigan University. As a non-traditional student, he invested 13 years before earning a BS in political science. David also earned a graduate certificate in nonprofit management and a master degree in public administration.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Michigan youth deserve the right to a quality public education. It is currently the policy of the state that students are entitled to something called an education, but the state has no responsibility to guarantee quality or outcomes. The Detroit region, pre-COVID-19, had among the lowest labor participation rates in the U.S. among large cities. Without a right to a quality education, residents in District 6 will continue to be left behind by state education funding priorities.
• Next, we must make meaningful investments in adult education and workforce training to bridge the gap of decades of failed education policy, and to promote in-demand jobs in healthcare, IT, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
• After auto insurance "reform" my quoted rates went up, way up! I will work to eliminate redlining for auto insurance premiums once and for all.

   Featured local question

How would you close the talent gap in this state?

I have spent the last 6 years of my career working on this issue and have participated in the program design and execution of over $40 million in federal and foundation funding. This funding has successfully upskilled thousands of Detroiters and people from around the region.

The talent gap is fundamentally about labor market participation and quality public education that prepares students for post-secondary training. Michigan is one of only a handful of states in the nation that decouples community colleges from management by the State Department of Education. Constitutional remedies are needed to create a truly longitudinal state system of quality public education.

The state makes almost no general fund investment in impactful adult workforce training. Hundreds of thousands of adults were denied a quality public education under both emergency and local management of schools. It is nearly impossible for most low-wage workers to stop earning income to improve their skills with short-term, high-demand training yielding portable and recognized certificates. I would look to other states for successful policies that allow for low wage workers to quit their jobs to enter training programs and to be able to collect unemployment for up to 26 weeks while they transition to a new opportunity.

   Featured local question

In a time of strained resources, what should be the state’s spending priorities?

Education, health care, critical infrastructure, local market resiliency with access to community capital, and rapid transition to renewable green energy generation.

   Featured local question

Michigan has among the weakest ethics and transparency laws. How would you improve them?

Mandate donor reporting for any political or education spending by IRS designated 501c4 organizations.

Immediately make all branches of state government subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Establish a commission to recommend campaign finance reform for the State Constitution that incorporates "best in class" systems of reporting and transparency from around the U.S., and put that constitutional amendment to a vote of the people in a next available general election.

   Featured local question

Michigan’s budget has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 virus shutdown. How would you address the deficit? Do you prefer spending cuts or tax hikes?

I do not believe austerity alone is the proper response to budget shortfalls caused by COVID-19. We need to finally update the State Constitution to include a graduated income tax. I would support tax relief for families making less than $150,000, maintaining the current income tax rate for families making less than $300,000, and increases for those making over $300,000, and $1 million, respectively.

In addition, I would propose to study of the impacts of taxing stock trades and capital gains at the state level, and concurrent off-setting tax breaks for community capital investments in local businesses and entrepreneurs. This tax law change would support and sustain secondary liquidity markets for small business debt and equity offerings, and promote Main Street for retirement investments rather than exclusively trusting investments to bad actors on Wall Street.

   Featured local question

What’s the best approach for meeting Michigan’s roads and other infrastructure needs?

Roads need dedicated, predictable and sustained funding. It is time to consider tolls on our U.S. interstate highways. It is also time to lower the weight limits for trucking. Further, it is time to implement meaningful regional mass transit to allow for the movement of people freely for work and recreation throughout and between metropolitan regions in Michigan.

   Featured local question

What’s your one big idea for improving public schools?

I will work to add a quality component to the State Constitutional right to a public education. If every student were to have a clear right to a quality public education, then we would have to spend and allocate investments accordingly. Further I would seek to end faux-competition with charter schools who have no better outcomes in aggregate than do public schools. Diversion of resources from public schools is a fundamental flaw in our current system, especially as our school systems adapt to fewer and fewer children due to declining birth rates.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am running to support real systems change. This focus is on policy and governance reform that is being demanded at protests in (District 6) Detroit, Ecorse and River Rouge, and all over Michigan: equity, insurance & justice reform, education.

Change begins with a right to a quality public education. Not something called an education, but a true quality engagement rather than being unjustly punished and labeled "under performers." Education needs to move away from the systems designed in the early 1900s, and grow into a the life-long learning that 21st century occupations increasingly demand.

Michigan needs to invest in meaningful adult workforce training programs. This is one way to address generations of adults who were robbed of a quality education by politics. Perhaps we to other states for inspiration, ones where an adult can leave their low-paying job to enroll in a high-demand occupation training program and collect unemployment during that training period. We need to encourage the up-skilling of adults into high-demand occupations in health care, IT, and manufacturing with short-term certificate programs.

Last but definitely not least, my neighbors and I are literally dying from the air we breathe. Toxic emissions from petroleum refinement and industrial manufacturing that occurs in District 6 make it among the most polluted zip codes in the U.S. We need to invest in the oversight authority of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I have strong appreciation for all of those who speak truth to power, and work tirelessly for access to peace, prosperity, education, and opportunity for all people.

I follow in the example of the leaders who are not called out in history, who did the work and moved systems to benefit common people. I appreciate the leaders whose names we know and celebrate, but the people in their stead that did the work-work for progress are the ones I seek to emulate.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. He writes, "know yourself and know your enemy, and fight 100 battles without disaster." The enemy is not necessarily a literal person. You could be your own worst enemy, or the enemy could be an extremital threat. No matter the circumstance, if you know yourself, take care of your mind and body, and act in good faith, then managing external challenges is just part of the path to success, rather than an overwhelming obstacle.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Compassion. Experience. Integrity.

I am also a skilled convener and facilitator, which is helpful when seeking feedback, and in understanding the needs of a large audience for ranking multiple concurrent needs and important priorities.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A state constitutional right to a quality public education.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

One of my first memories was President Jimmy Carter's State of the Union Address from January 1980. I remember thinking he seemed like a very sad and tired man. I was 3 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was hired for my first job at the age of 13, where I worked for a locally owned family pizza shop and party store. I got this job because of attending vocational culinary program between 8th and 9th grade. I kept that job until I was 14, and moved to a different pizza shop for better pay and more flexible hours.

What is your favorite book? Why?

So many books... most recently my most favorite has been, "Just Mercy," by Bryan Stevenson. Stevenson is a powerful storyteller, and exquisitely educates the reader as to the institutional opposition to justice and redemption in the United States.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Not since I was a child have I wanted to be or imagined myself as a fictional character. There are plenty of real life heroes to seek inspiration from, while remaining firmly rooted in reality. Back in the early 80s I recall enjoying the Incredible Hulk, the Million Dollar Man, and the Greatest American Hero as TV characters that I enjoyed pretending to be like.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Blue Monk," by Thelonious Monk

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Maintaining health insurance to insure access to a critical, and very expensive, life-saving medication to treat the negative impacts of Multiple Sclerosis on my body.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

Due to legislative term limits in Michigan, the State House is full of typically well-meaning amateurs, with no state legislative experience. In fact, the Michigan House of Representatives is the only organization in Michigan where the most senior leadership can have no more than 4 years of experience in writing and passing a $50+ billion budget. State Representatives do, however, often bring with them a wealth of experience in their given occupation(s) and a desire to do their best to represent their constituents. Representatives can serve no more than three terms in the House. Inexperience and lack of familiarity with the legislative process, and often little or no rapport with their 109 other colleagues makes the work or the House messy, and even chaotic at times. This set-up reflects the nation's founders desires to have the U.S. House of Representatives to be a chamber by and of the people.

Many State Senators have served previously in the House of Representatives, and have between 2 and 6 years of experience doing so. The Senate is a much smaller chamber, with only 38 total members. With more experience, larger staff budgets, and a more historically deliberative disposition, the State Senate is often viewed as the more measured of the two chambers. State Senators can serve up to 2, 4-year terms, reducing the impact and need for constant campaigning to maintain the seat.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

It is helpful for state legislators to have had sustained involvement in the political process, this can include service in local government, issue advocacy, having worked on and managed campaigns, community organizing, and post-secondary degrees focused on political science and public administration. Also helpful are the numerous leadership and political fellowship programs like the Leadership Detroit, the Michigan Political Leadership Program, and the Movement Politics Academy.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Our state's greatest challenges over the next decade include the incredible costs of aging infrastructure, health care and retirements, married with a declining birthrate and an aging population. Combine this with critical threats caused by climate change, a failing outdated system of public education with no proactive hand off to post-secondary training, and constitutional restrictions on spending and revenue generation flexibility, and Michigan is really backed into a corner on numerous fronts.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

The relationship between the legislature and the Governor is ideally respectful, and even collaborative, with the proactive communications, analysis and planning needed to address systemic change to benefit the land, water, air and people of Michigan.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. Politics and service in the state legislature is fundamentally about communication, leadership and negotiation. If one does not build relationships with other legislators, then the opportunity for a Representative to be successful on behalf of their constituents is incredibly limited.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Education, Energy, and Communications and Technology

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Rashida Tlaib and Jeff Irwin

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No. There is too much to be done in the Michigan House of Representatives to consider other positions. To do so would be disrespectful of the voters in District 6.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I hear the stories of those who cannot afford auto insurance, and are forced to commute two or more hours each way to work every day via bus to work for wages that never seem to help them get ahead, without accessible health care and paid sick leave.

I hear stories of lives lost to violence, for no darn good reason.

I hear stories of triumph against all odds, with extraordinary self-advocacy to reach for quality public education.

I also hear the stories of elders who do everything they can to make sure their neighbors are safe, and fed, and have money for utilities in the face of a pandemic.

Detroiters are resilient, whether the live in the city, or an adjacent community. It is heartbreaking to know that state policy willfully denies opportunity and quality for the benefit of stadium owners, oligarchs and multi-national corporations.

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.

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