Candidate Questionnaire: Libbi Urban for U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan’s 5th Congressional District

The following is Watershed Voice’s candidate questionnaire for November’s U.S. House of Representatives election for Michigan’s 5th Congressional District. We have completed questionnaires from candidates in contested general election races in the order they’re received. ​

Libbi Urban filled out our questionnaire. These are her answers, which conclude our questionnaires series. Urban, a Democrat challenger, faces Green challenger James Bronke and Republican incumbent Tim Walberg.

Name: Libbi Urban 

Age: 57

Address: Editor’s Note: Urban declined to make her address public.

Party affiliation: Democrat

Are you an incumbent? No

Family (optional):  Married, 2 children and 5 grandchildren  

Background/Bio:  

I’m Libbi Urban, a steelworker, a wife, and stepmom. I’ve lived in southern Michigan for 28 years. I spent much of my childhood exploring the fields, barns, and pastures on my grandparents’ farm in Carroll County, Indiana, and I learned my work ethic from my grandfather. When he died, the family had to sell part of the farm to make ends meet. When we lost my uncle a few years later, we lost the rest of the farm as well.

I graduated from a small rural high school and then from Indiana State University with a degree in Electronics Technology. After moving to Michigan, I commuted to my job as a maintenance electrician at the I/N Kote steel mill. That job gave me deep appreciation for America’s manufacturing economy. It also taught me the importance of enforcing U.S. trade laws and of safeguarding the rights of working families.

During my last 13 years with the union, my co-workers elected me to the negotiating team that secured four contracts providing higher pay as well as better health insurance, pension benefits and job security. I also became active in the union’s Women of Steel program, helping to empower women at our mill and other workplaces in their fight for equality and for security for their families. I learned to listen to my co-workers, serve their interests, and delivered on addressing their needs.

As a union leader, I fought hard for my co-workers. And as a member of Congress, I’ll fight hard for you, too.

Why did you choose to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan’s 5^th Congressional District?

For 15 years I fought and won better pay, benefits, health care and pensions for union workers, their families, and retirees. I want to get those benefits and more for the hardworking people across this district, too. This district deserves someone who votes for what people in the district need and who will represent EVERYBODY.

Have you previously held public office, or have you served in a public leadership role? If so, what is your experience, and what are some of your accomplishments?

No.

In your opinion, what are the three most important issues for Michigan’s 5^th Congressional District and its constituents, and why? 

The Economy

1. When we knock on doors, what we hear most is food, gas, and housing prices remain high. We need to cut high prices and rein in corporate greed and price-gouging.
2. Support and grow the middle class and enable a full-time worker to not live paycheck to paycheck but have a little something left over.  It’s good for families and it’s good for the local economy. 
3. Make the big corporations and wealthiest individuals pay their fair share, like the rest of us.
4. We need to raise the federal minimum wage for a start.  Who can raise kids on $7.25 an hour?

Healthcare Freedoms

1. Everyone deserves to have the healthcare they need without going into debt.
2. People need the freedom to make their own decisions about how they want to start a family and about their own health needs.
3. The cap on insulin and 10 other drugs for Medicare needs to expand for us all to stop price gouging by big pharma. 

Protect Social Security and Medicare

1. We can’t backtrack on that promise. We need to protect it. This is not an optional entitlement. This is a right that we’ve paid into our entire working life, and the government promised us we could count on when we need it most. 
2. And keep it out of the stock market through privatization. That’s just gambling, like going to the casino.
3. When the wealthiest pay their fair share into social security and Medicare and through their taxes, there won’t be any problem keeping those programs solvent.

What measures will you pursue to address those issues? 

See above. 

This most recent session of Congress included a Republican majority by sometimes less than 10 members, as well as three Republican Speakers of the House and sometimes several rounds of nominations and withdrawals before a Speaker was elected. How will you respond to potentially narrow and changing party leadership?

When the Democrats regain control of the US House of Representatives, I do not believe there will be the chaos that you currently see with a GOP-controlled House. We, Democrats, will come together and elect a qualified Speaker and move on to conduct the business we were elected to do.

How will you work with your fellow U.S. representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the president if elected?

I am committed to bridging the divide and fostering collaboration with representatives who share my belief in a bipartisan approach to governing. By working together, we can enact legislation that enjoys broad support and reflects the will of the people, leading to more effective and enduring policies.

How would your term in office differ from previous U.S. representative terms, including your own if applicable?

I will bring a team approach to my office, have open townhalls and listen to and involve my constituents in solutions to the issues that affect our district.

Is there anything else your prospective constituents should know about you, your platform, your views, or your background?

I know how to achieve better for workers and for businesses, because I’ve done it – by listening to and representing people across the political spectrum.  Electing me means ensuring southern Michigan’s 5^th District has a representative who will work for everyone, not just special interest groups.