My name is Aaron Iturralde and you probably have no idea who I am – hey, I’m like you. I’m wondering when the hell it got so hard to afford basic needs. 

I listened to everyone around me, I went to college up the road at Michigan State University, after college, I became a public school teacher, teaching our kids the importance of being an engaged citizen. However, even with all of those “right moves” I still struggle to make ends meet. I still have to choose between fixing my car, paying back student loans or making rent.  

It shouldn’t be this hard to just get by.

Even if you’ve had missteps along the way, it shouldn’t be this hard to get back on your feet. Skyrocketing rent prices make it impossible to find a secure place to live, utility bills keep rising, our roads make it unattainable to keep up with car costs and opportunities come few and far in between. 

We need fresh eyes on these problems, those who share in the lived experiences of our neighbors. I’m unbought and unbossed. I’m planting my roots in our community and have a direct stake in our future. I’m all in it for us, not me alone or corporate interests that pad pocketbooks. 

We need to expand CATA to include bus shelters at every stop and make routes accessible to every corner of the district. When you have a reliable source of transportation, that’s one less stressor on you and your family.

We need to work to institute a control on the rent so our families can have actual breathing room instead of half-baked promises. We need to hold our landlords accountable and demand transparency. 

Working families need to know their kids are safe and successful at school, and for the kiddos who aren’t ready yet, we need to make sure they have a reliable, nourishing place to be while parents are at work. Childcare needs to be affordable and accessible. 

We need to restore trust in our elected officials, but especially our local government. We’re neighbors; we shop at the same grocery stores, fly over the same pot holes and experience the same anxieties as the next bill hits our mailbox. We need to elect each other, and I hope I can gain your trust throughout this election to do just that. 

There’s a lot we need to improve upon, and though it may be an uphill battle, I believe that together, through open communication and transparency, we can make that happen. 

I want to be as accessible as possible to you throughout this campaign, because in order for this to work, our campaign must be one of and by the people. You can find me on social media at @allinforaaron or by email at Aaron@allinforaaron.com. I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together. 

In solidarity, 

Aaron Iturralde