A Lifetime of Public Service

Supervisor Kurt Heise is a husband and father to two adult daughters. Throughout his life, he’s instilled an appreciation for public service with his family, and encouraged others who seek to earn the public trust. Kurt knows that government isn’t perfect, but he’s worked to make it smaller, more efficient, transparent, and responsive to the taxpayers.

Kurt graduated from the University of Michigan and Wayne State Law School and has been a municipal attorney since 1991. For the past 24 years, Kurt has represented Plymouth Township as Director of the Wayne County Department of Environment, State Representative, and Township Supervisor.

As Director of the Wayne County Department of Environment, Kurt implemented reforms to make his department more transparent and accountable, worked with local governments, and saved taxpayers millions of dollars while protecting our water resources. He served on the Friends of the Rouge Board of Directors, fought against Canadian waste, worked to restore the Rouge River and Hines Park, and reduced political appointee positions under his control. As a lawyer, Kurt represented us in Federal Court and fought the dysfunctional Detroit Water and Sewer Department. Meanwhile, Kurt’s department was the only one in Wayne County that actually ran a surplus!

Kurt’s background in environmental law earned him the respect of Wayne State University, where he was hired as an environmental consultant specializing on Detroit River water quality, and as an adjunct professor. He’s also taught his course entitled “Environmental Politics and Policy of Southeast Michigan” at UM-Dearborn and Eastern Michigan University.

As our State Representative, Kurt was known as a bi-partisan problem solver, authoring 39 laws, Chairing the House Criminal Justice Committee, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Co-Chair of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission. He worked with the Governor and his colleagues to turn Michigan around, save Detroit from financial ruin, find sustainable road funding, and make Michigan a leader in criminal justice reform and the fight against human trafficking.

In 2017, the Governor appointed Kurt to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Board of Commissioners. In this role, Commissioner Heise helped oversee a wonderful collection of 13 parks in Southeast Michigan, with more than 500 employees and a budget of $53 million.

Of course, Supervisor Heise was elected Plymouth Township Supervisor in a historic write-in campaign in 2016. Voters knew his track record of success in local, county and state government and put Kurt to work for us. Kurt promised professional, competent leadership without drama, and as the next page shows - he’s delivered.