WHY I'M RUNNING
Hi, I’m Kristin McHale-Johnson, and I’m running for City Commission because I believe in building a community that’s inclusive, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of everyone who lives here.
I believe local government should be:
- Responsive, transparent, and inclusive
- Data-informed and practical
- Focused on real people and real outcomes
While I care deeply about our local community, I’m also motivated by the broader challenges we’re facing as a country. I believe the best way to make a difference is to start right here—by protecting what’s working, improving what’s not, and ensuring our local government reflects the values of empathy, fairness, and common sense.
I believe government should be careful with tax dollars, but also compassionate when it comes to meeting people’s basic needs. I care deeply about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—because those aren’t partisan values, they’re human ones.
I’ve spent my career building tools, systems, and teams that help organizations run better. I don’t just want to talk about what’s broken, I want to help fix it.
If elected, I’ll approach this role the same way I’ve approached every challenge in my career: with integrity, humility, and a drive to make things better for the people who count on me.
Issues
I support the City of Plymouth’s 2022–2026 Strategic Plan and the work already underway to create a more connected, sustainable, and livable community. As a candidate, I’m committed to continuing that momentum and reinforcing the progress we’ve made while soliciting feedback from residents about what’s important to them. That said, these areas are especially top of mind for me:
Responsible, Transparent Government
I believe in being careful with taxpayer money. Government spending should be responsible, transparent, and limited where possible, while sustaining basic human needs.
I support:
- Looking for ways to improve city operations and identify cost saving opportunities without sacrificing important services
- Investigating system and process improvements that make it easier and more cost-effective to serve residents
- Being open with the public about where money is going and why - and asking for input from residents where they’d like their money spent
- Asking hard questions to make sure we’re getting the most value out of every dollar
Greenspace, Climate Awareness & Sustainable Growth
As Plymouth grows, it’s essential to protect the green spaces and parks that make our city so special. I believe in economical, sustainable development that not only plans for the future but also honors and strengthens the community resources we already have.
I support:
- Expanding and caring for our parks, trails, and open spaces so they remain welcoming and accessible for everyone
- Continued expansion of green infrastructure: rain gardens, native plantings, permeable surfaces, and a thriving tree canopy
- Encouraging energy-efficient upgrades across city operations and new development
- Supporting thoughtful growth that preserves neighborhood character while protecting important public spaces and natural resources like parks, trees, and stormwater systems for future generations
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Human Dignity
I’m committed to making Plymouth a place where everyone feels seen, valued, and safe—regardless of race, religion, gender, ability, sexual orientation, income level, or immigration status. Our city is stronger when we make space for diverse voices and lived experiences. That includes ensuring our public institutions treat all people with fairness, dignity, and respect—and creating a welcoming environment that attracts residents from all backgrounds who want to call Plymouth home.
I support:
- Proactively considering and engaging underrepresented voices in local decision-making
- Ensuring all residents, regardless of citizenship or background, feel welcome using city services and feel encouraged to get involved in local decisions
about me
I grew up in a household with strong traditional values and attended Hillsdale College, a place that reinforced the beliefs I was raised with. I shared that I was gay during college, and that experience was incredibly difficult - navigating rejection, being pressured into harmful treatment programs meant to change my identity, and being told to hide who I was - but that experience shaped me into the person I am today: resilient, empathetic, and committed to building a community where everyone feels seen, respected, and safe.
After college, I moved to metro Detroit and started building a life with my now-wife, who was teaching middle school at the time. Hearing how some of her students came to school hungry challenged what I believed about how success works and what families need to thrive and led me to start reevaluating some of my values and beliefs.
Today, my wife and I are raising our two daughters here in Plymouth, where we’ve lived since 2016. Being part of this community as a parent has deepened my commitment to making sure it remains a welcoming, supportive place for all families.
Professionally, I’ve built a career leading large, complex teams and technology implementations while managing multimillion-dollar operating budgets. I’ve worked in financial and HR technology, helping organizations improve how they serve people and manage their teams, processes and technology solutions, often in environments where thoughtful problem solving and cross-departmental collaboration were essential.
Whether it’s launching new products or creating alignment across diverse stakeholders, I’m used to making tough decisions, staying grounded in data, and finding solutions that work for real people.