Meet Phil Sawicki

I am a conservative. I believe government exists to protect the God-given rights guaranteed by the Constitution. I support those who maintain law and order in our community and nation.

I’ve lived in Chelsea for thirty years. My background is in law enforcement. I chose to retire here.

I believe we have a professional police department that deserves respect for the difficult job they do.

My Master of Public Administration Degree would qualify me academically to be the city manager.

My approach would be to deliver city services by getting the most benefit from each tax dollar spent.

This is my first experience with elected office. I’m doing it as another way to serve the community.

My biggest concern is that a segment of the community believes we are a racist community and our police department deserves to be investigated over and over. I believe that mindset has created a major rift between them and the citizens who don’t share their beliefs. I believe we are all more alike than different and can work together to find solutions for the betterment of our community, state, and country.

I have a background in Community Oriented Policing. That experience has proven to me that differences between the police and the community can be overcome if both sides are willing to communicate and cooperate.

In 1993 I was the first officer selected to participate in a Community Oriented Policing Program at the Ann Arbor Police Department.

The program was designed with little more than a directive to ‘improve police/ community relations through a commitment to increased communication and intense community involvement.

I was assigned to Arrowwood Hills Co-op on Pontiac Trail. Arrowwood Hills was a low-income, largely government-subsidized, community of color. They had requested to participate in the program because they were experiencing a more significant crime problem than most other neighborhoods in the city.

A high visibility police presence was instrumental in reducing street crimes like drug dealing and disorderly conduct. More importantly, the relationships I developed in the community allowed me to identify their specific needs and guide them to city services designed specifically to benefit low-income communities of color. We established a relationship based on mutual trust and we all benefited.

I also assisted in developing a relationship between the residents of Arrowwood Hills and the Ann Arbor business community. Donations from generous business owners provided the ingredients for community activities from ice cream socials to children’s Christmas parties.

The experience taught me that the divide between a community and its police department is largely the result of lack of communication and can be overcome by mutual respect and a spirit of cooperation.

Everything! I love the rural atmosphere and the feeling of safety and security. I love how people are always dreaming up new community activities to entertain the residents and attract people from outside. I love the availability of dining and entertainment options. I love the variety of specialty shops and services. Finally, I love all the city services we enjoy.

I believe the way to unite Chelsea is by both sides of the race and gender divide listening to each other. I don’t share the perception that we are a racist, unwelcoming community because I’m not aware of examples that would support that belief. If those examples do exist, however, I want to know about them. If there are violations of civil rights occurring I want to hear about them. I’d like to see us proceed as a community based on the facts rather than emotions.

We need to know that our city is a safe place to live and raise our children. First Responders have been and will continue to be a priority for me. The training and resources for both our PD and our FD are critically important.

I first thought of running when the story of the council interfering in the enforcement efforts of the police who attempted to control the Black Lives Matter marches that were blocking Main Street on a regular basis. An article in the Sun Times described how the council attempted to 'fix' the tickets of the protesters who had refused to obtain a permit for their activities. The council's actions made it clear they were attempting to use their positions to push a radical, social justice, anti-police agenda. We do not support this behavior.

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