Michael Green – Candidate for Board of Commissioners – Biography
Lifelong Memphis native and three-year resident of Lakeland, Michael Green, is running as candidate for Lakeland Commissioner. He has been married to his lovely wife, Brigitt, for 25 years, and is the proud father of two beautiful daughters, 19-year-old Hailey and 15-year-old Emily. He is a member of Brunswick Baptist Church, where he faithfully serves on the church Administrative Team.
Michael is a graduate of Harding Academy in Memphis, TN. He has attended Southwest Community College and has also taken classes sponsored through the National Fire Academy. Serving as a firefighter for the past 23 years, Michael currently works for the Memphis Fire Department, where he has been employed for the past 17 years. Prior to his position with the Memphis Fire Department, he worked for 7 years with the Germantown Fire Department, where he served on various committees. One of these committees helped to bring an ambulance service to the city of Germantown.
Along with his position as a firefighter, Michael has run and owned his own landscaping business for over 20 years, where he has gained much experience in managing employees, budgets and payroll. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family and their horses. This love of horses had a large influence on his decision to move his family to Lakeland.
Even though he does not have the same age and years of experience behind him similar to Mike Cunningham and Richard Gonzales, given his decades of experience in fire service and running his own business, Michael does possess the knowledge and drive to find the answers.
Michael is passionate his city, and genuinely believes that Lakeland needs servant leaders and good stewards of taxpayer dollars. He strongly supports the philosophy that it is time for a change in Lakeland’s leadership. It is time for a leadership that will use the city’s resources responsibly and bring all Lakeland citizens together.
What is your vision for Lakeland over the next four years?
My vision is centered on quality of life and smart, responsible growth.
Beginning with considerable long-term planning, combined with honesty, transparency, and a conservative approach to finance.
I want a sense of community and trust in elected officials. Elected officials should respect the people they serve.
Lakeland is at a crossroad. The choices we make now will have a long reaching effect on the people that call Lakeland home. We must protect our citizens and stop overburdening them with, higher taxes, and unsustainable debt. We need to put quality of education over the empty promise of new buildings. My vision is we come together and work towards making Lakeland the best!
What is the major issue for Lakeland and how do you address it?
I want to put this city back on track with spending: One of the major problems, being the lack of planning and irresponsible stewardship of city funds. I have owned a business for 23 years. Those are years of experience in both budgeting and planning for growth and development. I have learned the definition of wants and needs.
The City of Lakeland has a unique set of problems. Lakeland is special because it is different, and we should cherish our individuality. While saying that, Lakeland needs a better foundation before we can grow in a healthy way. We need to cooperate, rather than compete with our sister cities.
I want strong relationships with our neighbors, to benefit us all.
Why are you the person needed to guide the city’s future?
I have been both a business owner and Firefighter for 23 years. I have learned how to listen, communicate, and work as a team while making critical decisions. I have more than two decades of experience in creating budgets, establishing goals and planning for strategic growth. I understand the danger of unsustainable borrowing. In government and business you prepare for growth, but never do you try to ‘borrow to buy’ growth. When I was 14 my father passed away. I learned very early to step up and grab life by the horns. That loss taught me to be part of the solution, to work hard, and to be of service to my family, friends, and community.
Lakeland needs to work with our sister cities in a collaborative instead of competitive way. Lakeland needs a better foundation before it can grow in a healthy way, and I believe I can help establish that.
Describe your involvement in the Lakeland community.
My family and I have lived in Lakeland for 3 years. After 20 years in Bartlett, we moved here to have more land for our horses, while keeping our children in excellent schools. Before now, I have never been involved in politics. Before moving to Lakeland I have never seen the need to but, in the relatively short time I have lived in our wonderful town I have seen the need for more transparent leaders, representatives we can respect and trust. I can do that, so I am taking this opportunity to get involved, to step up to represent ALL of Lakeland.
My hope is that you will elect me to make wise decisions for Lakeland.
