Harold Mast | The Issues

Grand Opening of Genesis’ Affordable Assisted Living

Discount Prescription Drug Card
The following is a letter sent by Ron Gamel, Program Director of the Michigan United Networks of America, stating the degree of usage of the Kent County discount prescription drug card.

Some of the most critical issues Kent County and Michigan Face today:
(1) Creating more jobs and maintaining the ones we have already, (2) figuring out a way to equitably pay our community's school teachers and other public servants, (3) figuring out a way to better house our prisoner population in the least restrictive and most cost-efficient setting as possible, (4) solving our state’s poor health insurance coverage so that all citizens have access to adequate care, and (5) clearly spell out expectations of what the citizens of our county need and gain a consensus on how to pay the bill.

Does Kent County need a consolidated 911 emergency dispatch system?
Yes, definitely. The ineffectiveness of having several stages for each 911 call to go through before getting action, and the fragmented method of answering that call often causes delays and mistakes in dispatching for emergencies. I think the system should serve the entire county. It should be a single system that serves the entire county collectively, but will need two redundant operations so in the event one goes down, the other is still functioning.

Mast Opposes spending county reserves to maintain services and save jobs.
"That surplus allows us to have a AAA rating which allows us to save $2 million to $4million a year in interest. It allows us to do a lot of capital projects like the airport and the new human services building. Those wouldn't have been done if not for our bond rating."

Supreme Court Denies Democrats’ Frivolous Lawsuit

6-1 Decision Ends Kent County Redistricting Lawsuit

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Today (1/26/2012), the Michigan Supreme Court denied the request by Kent County Democrat Party Chairman Jim Rinck to reconsider the Michigan Court of Appeals unanimous ruling dismissing the lawsuit he filed against the Kent County Apportionment Commission. The Democrats challenged the new boundaries for Kent County’s county commissioner districts. In a 6-1 ruling the court denied to hear the case concluding that “because we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court.” read press release

Mega Vote how congress is voting, presented by: Michigan Municipal League

In July of 2010, Harold Mast was asked to respond to several questions provided by the Grand Rapids Press. Click this link to download his responses.

Pension Donations
In my campaign for election as county commissioner for District 12, I propose to help the county accomplish three goals: (1) create an environment for jobs, (2) provide services more efficiently, and (3) develop new collaborative efforts. I realize as a current county commission retiree with a $400/mo county pension, I can do something now to bring attention to these needs. I have decided to begin the practice of donating my county pension to organizations that illustrate my election goals.

So far the following represent the types of organizations I am donating to:

Kent Wood Economic Development Committee
Grand Valley Metro Council
South Godwin Neighborhood Association
The D.O.C.K.
Kelloggsville Community Coalition
Streams of Hope
Light House Communities

Harold with Past AMVETS
Commanders Middleton and Norman

The Jail “Per Diem” Charge issue:
During the past several years arguments have heated up about the agreement between the county and the six cities for paying the costs of city ordinance violators at the county jail. Perhaps it is time to re-look at the whole method of our community collectively using limited tax dollars--both county and city--to provide for the public safety and security of our citizens. We need to take a close look at the present per diem agreement and perhaps modify it further than it was in late 2008. But that feeling is conditioned on:

• That we agree on some objective analysis of the financial strength and sustainability of city and county finances. We need to be more transparent-and less selfish-about our individual use of public tax dollars.

• Townships need to be at the table during this analysis.

• We work together to spend the recently renewed jail millage on a new detention facility, plus operate the facility efficiently and effectively.

• We work together for reestablishment of full revenue sharing by the state to all townships, cities, and counties of the state.