Ryan Hersha: Battle Creek City Commissioner

For Our Working Families

Commissioner Hersha has been a strong champion of our community’s workers and their families. He is the author of Battle Creek’s strengthened prevailing wage ordinance – protecting our city’s working families from unscrupulous firms paying substandard wages – as well as a policy that requires companies seeking lucrative contracts from the city to disclose information concerning wages, benefits, and working conditions.

For Government and Corporate Accountability

Commissioner Hersha has never been afraid to speak out – and fight – against abuses of the public trust. He is the author of the Code of Ethics for Battle Creek City Commissioners and Chair of the Ethics Policy Review Committee. He has demanded that high-level government officials prove themselves worthy of the public’s confidence and that they conduct the people’s business with openness, professionalism, and integrity. Legislation advanced by Commissioner Hersha would require improved disclosure from corporations using public funds or receiving large tax giveaways.

For Public Safety and Emergency Readiness

One of the City’s most demanding and important responsibilities is to look out for the safety of its residents. Since he was first elected, Commissioner Hersha has worked hard to see that the City gives public safety and emergency preparedness the focus and resources they need, not only at budget time but throughout the year. For example, he has successfully pushed for an improved disaster alert system throughout the city and stood with firefighters and police officers as they advocated for improved support and leadership from City Hall.

For Fiscal Responsibility

In April 2007 the Battle Creek City Commission unanimously adopted Commissioner Hersha’s “Best Value Contracting Policy,” which helps guarantee that that city funds do not go to projects managed by firms with questionable financial, safety, or management practices. Commissioner Hersha believes that, especially in these challenging economic times, every public dollar must be spent with tremendous care and transparency.

For Our Environment

Recognizing climate change as a serious, long-term threat to peace, prosperity, and public health around the world and right here in Battle Creek, Commissioner Hersha has fought to reduce the City’s contributions to global warming and make municipal operations more environmentally sustainable. He is the author of the Battle Creek Climate Protection Policy and is urging the City Commission to consider the purchase of hybrid electric buses, which would reduce fuel consumption as well as toxic and greenhouse gas emissions.

For Health Care Reform

The wealthiest nation in the history of the world has the power – and the responsibility – to ensure that all its citizens have full access to comprehensive health care services. Commissioner Hersha supports national and state efforts to transform our health care system so that no one is denied this basic human right and so that the growing burdens of a bloated and inefficient health care system can be eliminated. In addition, Commissioner Hersha has advocated for improved support for home health care services and equal access to mental health care (“mental health parity”).

For Our Neighborhoods

Battle Creek is a city characterized by a wealth of diverse, historical neighborhoods inhabited by good people who care about their families and their neighbors. Despite this, too many of our city’s residents must struggle with the effects of crime and blight on their neighborhoods. Commissioner Hersha has stood proudly with citizens to take back our neighborhoods, one street at a time. He supports efforts to hold irresponsible landlords accountable and to drive persistent criminal activity out of our city.

For the Most Vulnerable

Commissioner Hersha is committed to fighting the causes of homelessness in our city. “No community can consider healthy so long as any one of its people must go without a home, even for one night,” says Hersha. “I believe we have the capacity to prevent homelessness – and home insecurity — altogether, and I believe we will get there.” Commissioner Hersha is a member of the Board of Directors of the SHARE Drop-In Center and Café Can Do.

For Young People

Commissioner Hersha chose his first career – teaching – because he believes in the power of young people to change their lives and their world for the better. But he also understands that many forces in young people’s lives can work against their reaching their full potential. Commissioner Hersha has fought to see that our community’s young people grow up in safe neighborhoods; attend safe, high-quality schools and colleges; have access to positive recreational opportunities; and can see bright futures for themselves and their families in Battle Creek. Commissioner Hersha’s “day job” is teaching online courses for young people interested in making a difference in their communities.