As we approach two years of living with or trying to live with COVID, it is important to note who and when leaders took action. This is essential for community members in an effort to take actionable steps and make informed decisions in elections that dictate the future of our local communities. 

Tom McMillin, a Republican member of the Michigan State Board of Education, has taken on a visible role in fighting against big government.  McMillin joined Rochester Community Schools’ BOE Trustee Barb Anness not to waste a crisis.  Like Anness, McMillin uses the tragic event at Oxford High School to improve his chances in future elections. 

Craig Mauger of The Detroit News reported, “Tom McMillin says Michigan should end its school attendance policies that broadly require parents to ensure their children are in class after the mass shooting at Oxford High School.

This highlights the opportunistic nature of his decision-making and his ultimate motives- to gain attention and ultimately votes in a time when voters are paying attention.

Who is Tom McMillin?

2006: Lost the election for the Michigan State Board of Education

2008: Won election to the Michigan House of Representatives

2010: Won re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives

2012: Won re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives

2014: Lost the election for the U.S. House of Representatives

2016: Won election to the Michigan State Board of Education (current role)

In addition, per the Michigan Department of Education’s website, McMillin served as an Oakland County Commissioner, Mayor of Auburn Hills, and Auburn Hills City Councilman for nine years.

Is it safe to say McMillin is a career politician?

Tom McMillin and COVID

McMillian has been a member of RCS Parents United, which was formally RCS Parents for In-Person Education, since October of 2020.  The parents advocated for a safe return to in-person instruction for the 20 – 21 school year.  To date, McMillin has not posted or commented once in this group. 

Would someone in his position not have insight into what actions might help achieve the group’s goal? If he were there to aid in the group’s goal, one would think he could take a more active and engaged stance to help the group accomplish its means.

Tom McMillin and the Recall Effort

The effort to recall multiple members of the Rochester Community Schools (RCS) Board of Education and its reasons have been well known to McMillin.  It grew out of the parent group he is a member of. He has been copied on emails dating back to January 11, 2021. 

McMillin, to date, has offered no input or help on the recall efforts.  This is ironic as he has launched the Precall Oakland County Exec Dave Coulter Facebook Group admin. 

McMillin was asked why he did not have the same energy for recalling members of the RCS BOE as he did for Coulter, as the reasons to recall were very similar. 

McMillin decided to delete the question asked of him from his Precall group instead of answering it. 

He later posted, “I think I’d like to keep post in this group very focused – just on precall Coulter efforts, getting more people who are interested in launching a recall of Coulter into this group and signed up on the www.OaklandPrecall.com website, on forced student masking (real science, other non-mandate counties, ect) and on issue related to County Exec Dave Coulter.  I think that would just keep the focus on the purpose of this group. I’m open to discussing it, if anyone would like to chime in one way or the other.  I would just prefer not getting into tangents that may take away from the task at hand.  And I know there are plenty other groups that are more broad in nature.” – Tom McMilln

Tom McMillin’s Real Goal

In McMillin’s statement to avoid answering the question as to why he had no energy for the recall effort of the RCS BOE Trustees, it is clear his silence provided his answer.  McMillin is a career politician and has his sights set on being the replacement to Coulter.  The priority is to attain a seat in political office, not lookout for what is best for the communities he wishes to serve.

McMillin cites valid reasons for the removal of Coulter and hopefully is successful in his efforts.  However, McMillin cannot be the replacement if we are to move this community forward.  Career politicians are a big part of why our communities are as divided as they are.  COVID presented opportunities for leaders to step up. Like many elected officials, McMillin was exposed, lacking the courage to do what was right and instead focusing his energy on self-serving political goals. 

There will be no real progress until voters demand better of the people we elect into office. On both sides of the political spectrum. If we, as a society, accept poor ethical behavior and cheap motives from our elected officials, what does that say about us as the people they represent?

We can do better. We must do better.