Birmingham election 2021: Commission candidates make pitch to ...

Andrew Haig has lived in Birmingham for 17 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sussex and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Hertfordshire. He lives with his wife, Angie, and their two boys in the Torry neighborhood.

Andrew is a program manager at a tier 1 automotive supplier. 

City Commissioners

Andrew is currently a Birmingham City Commissioner. He was first elected in 2021.

Supports addressing community-specific needs and wants, including an equitable funding plan for unimproved streets, after ensuring the city is at the correct staffing level.

Supports addressing community-specific needs and wants, after ensuring the city is at the correct staffing level.

Promises financial transparency and plans to compare Birmingham's project costs with other cities to ensure taxpayers get the best value.

- Supports addressing community-specific needs and wants, after ensuring the city is at the correct staffing level.
- Promises financial transparency and plans to compare Birmingham's project costs with other cities to ensure taxpayers get the best value.

Economy

Believes the city should prioritize the needs of residents over non-resident and commercial interests in housing and urban development.

- Believes the city should prioritize the needs of residents over non-resident and commercial interests in housing and urban development.

Housing & Urban Development

As of August 12, 2025, Andrew Haig’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Healthcare

Public Services

Supports promoting rainwater and pollinator gardens to help with flooding and pollution.

- Supports promoting rainwater and pollinator gardens to help with flooding and pollution.

Energy & the Environment

Supports creating an "equitable funding plan for unimproved streets."

Supports reliable water and sewer systems, saying "These infrastructure systems are critical for public health and safety, and I will ensure they function effectively within the regional network."

- Supports creating an "equitable funding plan for unimproved streets."
- Supports reliable water and sewer systems, saying "These infrastructure systems are critical for public health and safety, and I will ensure they function effectively within the regional network."

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Andrew Haig

Andrew Haig is from Birmingham. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sussex and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Hertfordshire. He lives with his wife, Angie, and their two boys in the Torry neighborhood.

Andrew is currently a Birmingham City Commissioner. He was first elected in 2019 and is currently serving his second term. He previously served on the Birmingham Parks and Recreation Board from 2004 to 2019, including nine terms as Chair. 

As of August 12, 2025, Andrew Haig did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

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Bill's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first entry into politics. 

As of August 12, 2025, Bill Kolb did not have a website or any information online.

Bill Kolb

Bill's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

Walter Ley

Doug White has a business degree from Washington & Jefferson College. He has lived in Birmingham for 20 years. He is married with two kids. 

Doug's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first entry into politics. 

Birmingham City Commission candidates

Said, "I believe the city should revisit the cost sharing for future roads. There needs to be a consistent process that is fair to the city, unimproved street homeowners as well as residents who are already on improved roads.  I do not support a bond proposal to cover the projected costs of over $110 million."

Supports the Birmingham bistro program, but believes "at some point there has to be saturation where the other businesses and residents/visitors are impacted."

- Said, "I believe the city should revisit the cost sharing for future roads. There needs to be a consistent process that is fair to the city, unimproved street homeowners as well as residents who are already on improved roads.  I do not support a bond proposal to cover the projected costs of over $110 million."
- Supports the Birmingham bistro program, but believes "at some point there has to be saturation where the other businesses and residents/visitors are impacted."

As of August 12, 2025, Doug White did not have a website or any information online.

Supports conducting surveys to understand resident opinions on city issues and priorities.

Advocates for senior support services such as transportation, Meals on Wheels, medical equipment loans, and benefit navigation.

- Supports conducting surveys to understand resident opinions on city issues and priorities.
- Advocates for senior support services such as transportation, Meals on Wheels, medical equipment loans, and benefit navigation.

Said, "I don’t think traditional parking structures are always the answer and believe there are opportunities for innovative solutions, including potential public/private partnerships."

- Said, "I don’t think traditional parking structures are always the answer and believe there are opportunities for innovative solutions, including potential public/private partnerships."

Doug White

Doug White's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first entry into politics. 

Doug White is from North Carolina. He attended North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University). He lives in New York City with his wife, Jane Lazarre, a writer and a poet, formerly a professor of creative writing and literature at The New School University.

Doug is a lawyer. He worked as a welfare worker and community organizer in New York City after college. He later served in various government roles, including as the Commissioner of Human Rights for the State of New York, the New York City Personnel Director, the Director of Labor Services, and a Senior Policy Advisor at the Environmental Protection Agency. From February 2002 until January 2018, he served as the Deputy Commissioner for Administration for the New York City Fire Department, overseeing labor relations, human resources, recruitment, and employment initiatives.

Doug White's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

Supports increasing penalties for bias-motivated crimes.

Supports equal treatment for pregnant women and those with temporary disabilities in disability policies.

Kevin Kozlowski holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan and a master's in finance from Case Western Reserve University. He lives with his wife and two children in Birmingham.

Kevin is a software developer at Glencoe Software. He previously worked at Bloomberg and Amazon.

Kevin's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first time running for public office. He currently serves on Birmingham's Advisory Parking Committee.

DT pubs

Opposes raising taxes and advocates for downtown development to raise city revenue and using funds from parking fees.

Supports downtown restaurants and bistros, saying they "bring life to our streets" and help create a vibrant community.

Supports downtown restaurants and bistros having outdoor dining options, saying they "bring life to our streets" and help create a vibrant community.

- Opposes raising taxes and advocates for downtown development to raise city revenue and using funds from parking fees.
- Supports downtown restaurants and bistros having outdoor dining options, saying they "bring life to our streets" and help create a vibrant community.

As of August 12, 2025, Kevin Kozlowski did not have a website or any information online.

Supports prioritizing seniors' needs in public services, including transportation, home visits, and meals, to prevent isolation and vulnerability, and advocates for clear voter-supported capital investments in senior resources like Next.

- Supports prioritizing seniors' needs in public services, including transportation, home visits, and meals, to prevent isolation and vulnerability, and advocates for clear voter-supported capital investments in senior resources like Next.

Supports revisiting the cost-sharing split for unimproved roads needing urgent replacement.

Said, "I want Birmingham to live up to our motto of 'A Walkable City.' Therefore, my first issue is street safety. There are many opportunities for small, inexpensive improvements with big impacts like adding signage and striping crosswalks."

Supports making Birmingham 'A Walkable City' and said "there are many opportunities for small, inexpensive improvements with big impacts like adding signage and striping crosswalks."

Believes Woodward Avenue is "our biggest obstacle to community, connection, and walkability" and supports working with the Michigan Department of Transportation to address speeding, noise, and the divide it creates.

- Supports revisiting the cost-sharing split for unimproved roads needing urgent replacement.
- Supports making Birmingham 'A Walkable City' and said "there are many opportunities for small, inexpensive improvements with big impacts like adding signage and striping crosswalks."
- Believes Woodward Avenue is "our biggest obstacle to community, connection, and walkability" and supports working with the Michigan Department of Transportation to address speeding, noise, and the divide it creates.

Kevin Kozlowski

Kevin's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first entry into politics. 

- Opposes raising taxes and advocates for downtown development to raise city revenue and using parking funds.

Kevin Kozlowski is from Birmingham, Michigan. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan and a master's in finance from Case Western Reserve University. He lives with his wife and two young children in Birmingham.

Kevin is a software developer at Glencoe Software. He previously worked as a software engineer at Bloomberg and Amazon.

Believes Birmingham needs fair funding models that don’t overburden property owners, especially those who’ve already paid special assessments or live on unimproved streets.

Plans to improve safety by designing safer sidewalks and implementing speed bumps.

Supports services like transportation, Meals on Wheels, medical equipment loans, and benefit navigation for seniors.

Supports public services for seniors, such as transportation, Meals on Wheels, medical equipment loans, and benefit navigation.

Believes water and sewer systems must function reliably to ensure public health, safety, and quality of life.

Supports addressing aging infrastructure like sewers and water mains as part of road resurfacing.

Zachary Jennings is from Birmingham. He holds a master’s degree in human resources and labor relations from Michigan State University. 

Zachary is a human resources coordinator at the University of Michigan. 

Zachary's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

Supports the bistro program, saying it has made downtown "lively, walkable, and a destination for residents and visitors."

Said, "I don’t believe the city should put a hard cap on bistros or restaurants. But I do think the commission should be thoughtful in encouraging a healthy mix so that Birmingham remains vibrant and resilient for the long term."

- Supports the bistro program, saying it has made downtown "lively, walkable, and a destination for residents and visitors."
- Said, "I don’t believe the city should put a hard cap on bistros or restaurants. But I do think the commission should be thoughtful in encouraging a healthy mix so that Birmingham remains vibrant and resilient for the long term."

Supports modifying the current funding ratio for unimproved streets from 85/15 to 50/50, believing it will "better reflect a fair and balanced arrangement" for homeowners.

- Supports modifying the current funding ratio for unimproved streets from 85/15 to 50/50, believing it will "better reflect a fair and balanced arrangement" for homeowners.

Plans to improve public safety by ensuring sidewalks are safely designed and speed bumps are implemented.

- Plans to improve public safety by ensuring sidewalks are safely designed and speed bumps are implemented.

As of August 12, 2025, Zachary Jennings did not have a website or any information online.

Said, "I would support a professionally conducted survey if it’s thoughtfully designed, fiscally responsible, and tied directly to decisions that impact Birmingham’s future."

Supports accessible programs, services, and spaces for seniors.

- Said, "I would support a professionally conducted survey if it’s thoughtfully designed, fiscally responsible, and tied directly to decisions that impact Birmingham’s future."
- Supports accessible programs, services, and spaces for seniors.

Supports responsive parking solutions for residents, businesses, and visitors, but believes new parking decks are costly and should be justified by demand.

- Supports responsive parking solutions for residents, businesses, and visitors, but believes new parking decks are costly and should be justified by demand.

Zachary Jennings

Zachary Jennings is from Birmingham. He holds a master’s degree in human resources and labor relations from Michigan State University. He lives in Birmingham, Michigan.

Zachary Jennings's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first entry into politics.

As of August 12, 2025, Zachary Jennings’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Zachary Jennings's campaign for Birmingham City Commissioner is his first entry into politics. 

- City commissioners in Michigan help make city-level laws, approve budgets, and oversee city services to serve the community’s needs. 
- Commissioners attend regular meetings, listen to public concerns, and vote on city issues like zoning, public safety, and spending. They also appoint and direct officials, like the city manager.
- City commissioners may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. They may represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Terms for city council members often last two or four years, depending on the city.