Greg Monroe announces run for city council, vows to protect Argo Nature Area and address high taxes

Greg Monroe, a product manager who said he has lived in Ann Arbor for more than 35 years, announced he is running for city council and framed his campaign around protecting local nature areas, engaging residents on growth decisions and addressing high local taxes.

Monroe told attendees he wants to give residents a stronger voice in city decisions: "I'm running for council because every resident deserves to have a voice in the decisions and policies that shape our community." He said growth and change are inevitable but "good governance manages change responsibly and that's not happening today," calling for more listening and community engagement.

Monroe made environmental protection a central plank, saying he "began this journey after witnessing environmental devastation around Argo Nature Area done in the name of luxury condos." He called protecting the city’s mature tree canopy and nature areas "non-negotiable," arguing land-use choices should preserve public green space.

On affordability, Monroe said "there's not enough dialogue on our high taxes. We must acknowledge that this too can be something that prices residents out of our community," and said he would strive to be a steward of taxpayer dollars while maintaining service quality.

He described his professional approach as collaborative and data-driven: "In my day job, I'm a product manager in technology... I'll bring that same mindset to council." Monroe closed by inviting residents to meet him on the campaign trail and thanking them for their consideration.

The remarks outline Monroe's priorities; he did not specify campaign dates, endorsements, or detailed policy proposals during this speech.