About the Candidate

On August  5, 2008, voters of the 22^nd District will begin the process to elect a new State Representative to serve them in Lansing.

Taylor City Council Chairman Douglas Geiss is the person most qualified to represent the hardworking people of Romulus and Taylor.  Doug has over 20 years of experience and education that will be invaluable in Lansing.  Doug served as a Congressional Page for Congressman William D. “Bill” Ford in Washington, D.C. in 1986-1987.  Returning to Taylor, Doug graduated first in his class from Harry S Truman High School in 1988.  He completed his higher education by graduating from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with a degree in Engineering in 1992 and a Masters in Business Administration in 2000.  Doug has the educational background to represent you best in the Michigan State House of Representatives.

Elected to the Taylor City Council in November 2001 with the second highest vote and re-elected in November 2005 with the highest vote, Doug presently serves as the Chairman of the Council.  Since his first election Doug has fought to ensure that the citizens of the City receive the best services for their hard-earned tax dollars.  Doug will continue this fight in Lansing.  While working for the U.S. House of Representatives, Doug saw the intricate workings of the democratic process when Speaker of the House Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill led the Congress to enact bipartisan legislation.  The state of Michigan needs this same level of bipartisanship to ensure that the work of the people is done.

Chairman Geiss is not only attuned to the intricacies of the legislative process, but is also a successful businessman.  After receiving his Engineering degree he began work at the Ford Motor Company, quickly moving up the ranks to management by the age of 29.  He has witnessed firsthand the changes that have been made in the automotive industry over the past fifteen years.  Recognizing that education was the key to addressing the future, Doug continued his education, with the assistance of the Ford Motor Company, receiving his Masters in Business Administration in 2000.  Doug Geiss is the only candidate to receive degrees in fields ranked within the top ten programs in the nation.  The people of Romulus and Taylor need someone with such depth of education to represent them in Lansing.

Politicians make many promises when seeking public office.  In 2001, when Doug first sought public office on the Taylor Council he made promises and he kept them, such as cablecasting of Taylor City Council meetings, reductions in overtime expenses to help balance the budget and not raise taxes, reductions in city-issued cars, the introduction of an early storm warning system and a pedestrian friendly walking path at Heritage Park.

In November, 2005, He promised to implement a city Ethics Ordinance for employees and elected officials, and again kept his commitment to the people who elected him by successfully drafting and enacting such legislation. Doug Geiss made promises, and most important, he kept all of them.

As a life-long resident of Taylor, Doug is committed to working hard for Taylor, Romulus and the State of Michigan.  Doug and and his wife Erika want to raise their son Michael in a state and a community that affords him the best possible opportunities that his abilities will allow him to achieve.  To do this they must look to the future and ensure that all children and citizens receive the best education, live in the best environment and have the opportunity for the best jobs that their abilities will allow them to achieve.

No other candidate for the office of State Representative from the 22^nd District has the experience, education, business know-how and history of getting things done.  Douglas A. Geiss is the best person to represent the people of Romulus and Taylor in Lansing.  The Douglas A. Geiss for State Representative Committee asks for your support in electing Douglas A. Geiss, State Representative from the 22^nd District.

Proven Abilities

• Fighting Unnecessary Airport Expansion
• Fought to Stop Deep Injection Well
• Established a Living Wage Ordinance in Taylor
• Authored and secured passage of an Ethics Ordinance for City Employees and City Officials
• Authored and secured passage of a resolution opposing Michigan becoming a Right to Work State
• Led the fight to get City Council Meetings Broadcast on Cable T.V.
• Introduced an Early Storm Warning System in Taylor
• Introduced Pedestrian-friendly Walking Path at Heritage Park
• Worked towards Cleaning Up City Blight
• Saved Union Jobs from Outsourcing at Ford Motor Company
• Saved Millions of Dollars in unnecessary Spending at Ford utilizing Advanced Cost Saving Training (6-Sigma Blackbelt) 
  
  

• Taylor City Council Chairman (2005-present)
• Taylor City Council Chairman Pro-Tem (2001-2005)
• Engineer at Ford Motor Company (1993-present)
• Masters in Business Administration, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2000)
• B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1992)
• Valedictorian, Truman High School (1988)
• Campaign Staff for Congressman William D. Ford (1985-1993)
• Received the Douglas A. Fraser, UAW Scholarship (1988)
• U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Page (1986-1987)
• Member, Democratic Club of Taylor
• Member, St. Alfred’s Catholic Church
• Member, Knights of Columbus (Taylor)
• Life-long Taylor resident (38 years)
• Married to Erika-Marie
• Father of Michael (2)