GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids voters will see two names on the mayoral ballot this November.

Voters will choose between incumbent Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, who is seeking a second four-year term, and Daniel Schutte, a Grand Rapids pastor, on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Each candidate was asked by MLive/The Grand Rapids Press to answer a series of questions about themselves and their policy stances.

Bliss, 44, was elected to her first term as mayor in August 2015 when she earned two-thirds of the votes in a primary race against three competitors. Before 2016, Bliss served almost 10 years as a Second Ward commissioner.

She is also an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University’s School of Social Work and has a master’s degree in social work from Michigan State University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice from the University of South Alabama.

Schutte, 63, has spent almost 40 years as a Grand Rapids pastor through The Inner City Church Planting Mission. The organization has opened two churches in Grand Rapids -- Division Street Fellowship (1985) and Butterworth Street Fellowship (1990) -- and more than 30 others internationally, according to the mission’s website.

He previously ran for the 75th District of the Michigan House of Representatives unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate in November 2018 against Rep. David LaGrand, D-Grand Rapids.

Below is how each of the candidates answered questions about their candidacy.

Why should voters elect you?

DANIEL SCHUTTE:

I would like to help all of the citizens of Grand Rapids to live a more happier, healthier and productive life based on the principles given to us in God’s holy scriptures -- the Bible.

ROSALYNN BLISS:

Our city is moving in a positive direction but there is more work to be done. We must keep moving forward. We are a city built on a foundation that has been laid over generations. A city that keeps working to make things better, to reinvent ourselves and overcome challenges. My goal is that Grand Rapids earns a reputation as the best midsize city in the Midwest. The best city to work, live and visit. A great place to call home. A vibrant city that is safe, secure with opportunity for all.

People are taking notice of Grand Rapids. We have a strong local and regional economy producing jobs, investment and opportunity. We are a growing city with a vibrant and diverse movement of individuals and families who are proud to call Grand Rapids home. It has been an honor to serve as mayor and be a part of this positive momentum and I want to continue our work while working to solve complex and fundamental community issues. I am hopeful those I represent support me in November and allow me the opportunity to continue to serve.

If elected, what will your top three priorities be?

ROSALYNN BLISS:

Two of my ongoing top priorities, public safety and affordable housing, will be addressed below so I will highlight three others that are more focused and fundamental.

1. Infrastructure and Mobility: Thanks to voter approval of our vital streets funding plan and a growing economy we are making significant and aggressive investment towards fixing our streets and sidewalks – with over $10 million spent last year alone. Better streets, more parking and an “all of the above approach” to mobility across our city must continue to be our approach and direction.

2. Economic Development and Opportunity: Grand Rapids continues to top the lists for the best place to find a job, start a business or buy a home with one of the fastest growing metro economies. Yet we know that this doesn’t represent the story of experience for everyone in our city. We must continue to ensure that everyone benefits from our success. I’m committed to working with our private sector and non-profit partners to removing barriers to employment and providing access to job training and entrepreneurial investment capital.

3. Parks, Pools, Paths and Playgrounds: The renaissance and restoration of our parks has been impressive, and I look to continue our progress. Not only have we been good stewards of the resources citizens have invested into these natural assets but we have leveraged significant state funding as well. We have a thoughtful, community driven Parks and Recreation Master Plan and I am committed to implementing it and supporting funding to make this vision a reality.

DANIEL SCHUTTE:

1. To proclaim the glory and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only “answer” to every one of our problems and challenges.

2. To address the No. 1 “civil rights” issue of our day ... the murder of the precious and unwanted children of Grand Rapids that may be destined to be destroyed through their murder (commonly referred to as “abortion”).

3. To seek to make the city of Grand Rapids a “sanctuary city” for all unwanted children destined to be murdered through abortion.

What would you propose to improve community-police relations?

DANIEL SCHUTTE:

I would promote more respect for our GRPD by introducing legislation that would make cursing/assaulting a police man or woman a misdemeanor crime.

ROSALYNN BLISS:

I look forward to working with and supporting Chief (Eric) Payne as he has made it clear that this is also a priority for him that will be a focus of his work. Improving community-police relations takes all of us as it is rooted in building trusting relationships. This is an ongoing process with our police department, community members and organizations. I believe some of the recent decisions we have made along with more strategic police staffing to provide more time for community officers are steps in right direction. These, along with increasing transparency and access to data/information, creating an Office of Oversight and Public Accountability, improving our Civilian Appeals Board process, enhancing training related to unbiased policing and responding to youth, continuing our support for youth programming such as the Boys and Girls Club and implementing an evidence based violence prevention program are a part of the solution.

What would you propose to address the city’s current housing challenges?

ROSALYNN BLISS:

Affordable housing continues to be a critical issue in our city. In the past couple of years, we have adopted changes to our zoning code, increased our down payment assistance program for low-income homeowners, approved a low-income housing tax policy, passed a residential rental application ordinance and supported the eviction prevention pilot program. We have actively advocated for low-income housing projects seeking low income housing tax credits from the state and are currently developing a partnership with the Michigan Land Bank that will allow us access to the tools they possess to help redevelop properties. Over the next six months we will work with community partners to complete a housing needs assessment that will provide accurate and comprehensive data and information on which to base future decisions. We will examine the effectiveness of the changes we have made over the past two years and we will begin the process to update our master plan to enable smart equitable growth.

DANIEL SCHUTTE:

Educate in a personal way how any Grand Rapids citizen can acquire clean, adequate housing by following the principles given to us in God’s holy word -- the Bible.

The city commission will soon consider changes to the charter that could expand the ward structure and/or adjust when local elections are held. Would you support any of the proposed changes and what value do you envision in doing so?

DANIEL SCHUTTE:

I would not support this change.

ROSALYNN BLISS:

The city charter is a creation of our citizens and can be changed anytime they conclude it is in the public interest with a majority vote. However, given that all our work is guided by the charter, proposed changes should be subject to robust community review and engagement. Amendments should be the product of our entire community and represent the public interest rather than driven by self-interest or special interest. This is why I supported the recent creation of the Task Force on Elected Representation. I am open to consideration of these ideas after a thoughtful and prudent process occurs.