Meet the Candidates: Candidate for City Council Gary Schlack

​Every week we are featuring a different candidate running for city council. This week’s featured candidate is Gary Schlack. Here is his story: “My name is Gary Schlack and I live in what’s known as northern Allen Park with my beautiful wife Bridget and our son, Gary Jr. We are parishioners of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, live in a modest bungalow, and I proudly drive a union made Chevy Malibu.
Most of us have moments in life that we wish that we could relive again and again. The moment you wish you had a DeLorean that could go from 0 to 88 MPH in the blink of an eye! For me, that moment came last July. I was exhausted and terrified and overwhelmed, but I stood in the middle of a cold, dimly lit hospital room holding my newborn son for the first time. I couldn’t believe it, while another part of me felt like I knew him my entire life. As I looked down at his little face, and he looked back up at mine, I promised to do whatever I could to give him the greatest life possible. 
And as your next City Councilman of Allen Park, it is my desire to serve our community by giving your family and mine the greatest life possible. Our City is filled with citizens that care for the future of our City and all of its tree-lined streets and brick houses. Yet, we must always strive to push the envelope and go beyond! 
I was born and raised in southwest Detroit, but spent a lot of time in Allen Park playing bass guitar in a band and blowing way too much money on Superman comic books. After graduating from high school, I studied political science and business at Michigan State University. 
At the end of my sophomore year, I decided to put my education on the shelf and enlisted in the United States Army. I felt a strong urge to do something bigger than myself and decided to serve our country like my father and grandfather before me. 
 
Upon returning home, I went back to school and became the first in my family to earn a college diploma. I started my career as a middle school social studies substitute teacher, but later branched out to work in the transportation industry. Today, I am an ocean imports logistics manager at DHL Supply Chain. 
These are just a few life experiences that shaped who I am. I want to build an even greater downtown that drives economic growth. Downtown is the central core and commercial area of our City. Lack of a vibrant downtown signifies to residents and visitors alike that we are not as prosperous as we should be and that the future looks bleak. We must work to bring the heart of our City alive, pumping with business and diversity. 
We do that by making smart investments to increase revenue while eliminating burdensome taxes affecting small businesses and working-class residents. It's extremely important to motivate entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, and merchants to build and invest in our community and ensure that everyone gets a fair shot. Creating innovation will take our City into the future, just as it had in the past. 
I want to improve our roads, parks, and infrastructure. Our community should not have to endure neighborhood flooding, potholes, or crumbling sidewalks. This spring has made it quite apparent that our drainage and sewer systems can’t be ignored! Failure to do so will create more heartbreak and unnecessary financial burden. It is the responsibility of those on City Council to seek out and find solutions. It won't be cheap. It won't be easy. But it must be done!  
And finally, make sure public safety is always a #1 priority! Our police department and fire department, the finest and bravest among us, should never go without what they need to ensure our safety. They put their lives on-the-line for us and therefore we must willingly provide them the resources to match. 
In my campaign, I have knocked on over 1,400 doors so far and my team and I are committed to going into every neighborhood by Election Day. We are knocking on your door and listening to your stories about your child’s first home run in Champaign Park, when you bought a yard gnome that brought you luck all year at the Allen Park Street Fair, or your concern that your house will flood again the next time it rains. 
If given the honor and privilege to serve as our City’s next City Councilman, I won’t sit back on the sidelines and expect results, but I will be out in the community getting my hands dirty. Councilman or councilwoman are just titles, the job is being one of six key advocates for our great City in good times and bad! And that means always listening to you, not just on election year! Because when the fire gets too hot, you know someone in City Hall has your back! 
Real change doesn’t happen by sitting. Real change happens by doing! This election is incredibly important! My name is Gary Schlack, and I am asking for your support, your help, and your vote this November. And together, as a community, will work together to make sure Allen Park always remains a strong community today, tomorrow, and always!