The Last Word(s) From Leelanau's Candidates

On your behalf, The Leelanau Ticker inqured of the 14 County Board of Commissioners candidates (pictured top to bottom, left to right): What should be the county’s biggest priority or priorities in the next two years, and can you and the Board make an impact?

District 1: Democrat Jamie Kramer; Republican Rick Robbins
Jamie Kramer, a media personality-turned-entrepreneur, is running against incumbent Rick Robbins, a fourth-generation farmer, business owner and former first responder.

Kramer: I think it would be naïve of me to outline what I think our biggest priorities will be over the next few years. I think Covid taught us that it's better to be agile and ready. We can make significant progress when we lean into bipartisan issues like the septic ordinance and broadband, setting aside our differences for the benefit of all. The Leelanau County Commission needs to be a team of resilient leaders who dare to set partisan politics aside for the greater good of all its citizens so that we can move forward together.

Robbins: My priorities in the next two years are to maintain a balanced budget and support millage's that fund senior services and early childhood development.  I support a strong sheriff's department, affordable housing, and a healthy environment by means of the clean water septic ordinance. With our growing aging population, I want to explore a centrally located walk-in health clinic through Munson Healthcare or a private source. I am committed to a healthy work culture for the employees of Leelanau County in a safe team approach. Working with our new Human Resource Director and newly hired Administrator. We can make an impact as a board by working collectively, listening to the public's needs, and working together bipartisan to meet the needs of the residents in Leelanau County.

District 2: Democrat Don Gallagher; Republican Jim O’Rourke
Don Gallagher, a cherry farmer and recently retired union electrician will face James O’Rourke, a court deputy bailiff and Elmwood Township trustee.

Gallagher: No matter the outcome, I hope there is a good turnout in Leelanau County and so we can show that democracy works. Affordable housing it seems to be on everybody’s mind. The Brownfield authority and my cousin [County Treasurer] John Gallagher have done some good things with housing and Brownfield developments, which is a step in the right direction. But with Leelanau County being the richest county in the state, it’s difficult for people to visualize where [affordable housing] can go. We need to reach out to other counties where it is working and approach townships with solid ways it can work. Beyond housing: clean water and good roads, because we are the gateway to Leelanau. I live on 641 and it’s becoming a major expressway. And of course, supporting farmers. Anything that can be locally grown is good for Leelanau County.

O’Rourke: The economy and inflation is my main priority: Keeping basic services for the health safety and welfare of the Leelanau county residents. I think we are in for some hard times. Some seniors/veterans are living paycheck to paycheck. I cannot promise anything except my decisions will be FIT; fair, inclusive, and transparent. I am a team builder and looking forward to working with the old and new commissioners. Leelanau will have a new county administrator so we will be off to a fresh start in 2023. I have worked in the county since 1977. It’s truly the best place to live.

District 3: Democrat Lois Bahle; Republican Doug Rexroat
Incumbent Lois Bahle of Suttons Bay, who won the Bunek recall election in May, has served on various planning commissions and is chair of the Leelanau Housing Action Committee. She will face Doug Rexroat, a Lake Leelanau native and CFO of an electrical contracting firm.

Bahle: I have spent so much time on the housing issue: I joined the Housing Action Committee at formation in 2017 and feel I can continue to advocate on the County Commission and in the communities that have housing opportunities. Now with the newly hired Housing Ready Director from Housing North, we have some fresh energy, ideas and new eyes on the solutions. I will continue on the 30 year effort to adopt the On Transfer Septic Inspection ordinance. And, as we move into the next generation of clean power and away from fossil fuel, I feel a personal passion for making the Government Center an example and leader in this transition. Replacing the HVAC system in the Governmental Center looms as a major financial commitment that can’t be ignored as the original equipment is failing and can’t be repaired. So fiscal responsibility comes with spending our hard earned tax dollars wisely.

Rexroat: We need to maintain the peaceful serene lifestyle that the county has always enjoyed. The county commission plays a key role in supporting our local law enforcement and first responders who are responsible for this task. Continuing the expansion of broadband services here in the county is another priority. We should continue to pursue funding sources and public private partnerships to ensure this is completed without adding to our tax burden. Affordable housing is another problem facing the county. We can encourage townships to develop zoning ordinances that allow for smaller housing units and possibly accessory dwelling units. The solution will require private involvement, innovative thinking, and collaboration. Creating another county program and the higher taxes to fund it will only make the problem worse. I believe my life experience as a husband, father and grandfather, and business experience provide me with the pragmatic collaborative problem solving skills to help address these priorities. 

District 4: Republican Mike McMillan; Democrat Ty Wessell
Mike McMillan, an avid volunteer who spent a 33-year career with PepsiCo will face incumbent Ty Wessell, a retired educator, commissioner for District 4 for the past four terms, and the board chair.

McMillan: My initial priorities would be both short-term and long-term . One, the thorough onboarding of the newly hired County Administrator. We are witnessing the failed on-boarding of the County's Finance and HR departments because there was not an aligned training plan, benchmarks and buy-in from functional leaders. My second priority would be to cancel the currently delayed fiber contract that was done without a RFP, exposes the County to $1,800.000 of risk and is designed to only serve a portion of the County’s broadband needs. In its place we need a plan that combines public/private/homeowner participation in what most recognized as a required utility to move this County forward. I bring to the office years of experience in both areas as an executive that has successfully implemented scores of reorganizations that served both the employee and organization and working with a Cherry Capital, we brought 1G fiber to 200+ homes and businesses. 

Wessell: Over the past few years, Commissioners have worked on many critical issues including community partnerships, early childhood, broadband, tower expansion, housing, environmental protection, and support for residents. We must complete our fiber plan, provide a successful implementation of our finance and human resources departments, and maintain our County’s commitment to quality services to all residents.  Our priorities need to be (1) Excellence and diligence in delivering the essential services of the County; (2) Responsible stewardship of tax dollars and maintenance of our low tax rate; and (3) Collaboration and partnerships to address the critical needs of children, families, business owners and seniors. As Commissioner, I will seek opportunities to work with community partners to protect what we have and enhance services.  We can make decisions collectively and wisely and give Leelanau residents the kind of government that they want and deserve.

District 5: Republican Alan Campbell; Democrat Kama Ross
Alan Campbell is a newspaper reporter and a 35-year small business owner, 21 of those spent at the Leelanau Enterprise as co-publisher. Kama Ross is a conservationist and retired forester for the Leelanau, Benzie, and Grand Traverse Conservation Districts.

Campbell: Foremost, I'll follow a saying I adopted while running for office, "Leelanau over politics." Too often in today's political climate elected officials tend to localize national topics. That’s when constructive conversation about our community ends. I’ll take a conservative view toward budgeting, the most important responsibility of commissioners. Local property taxes received by Leelanau County grew at about twice the rate of inflation in the five years leading up to 2021. Three new, full-time positions were added to the county payroll. These developments concern me. And who isn't concerned about providing workforce and affordable housing? Leelanau County is 600 units short, which at three people/unit represents more than the populations of all three of the county's unincorporated villages. I support housing efforts underway, and will seek public/private partnerships to close the gap. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be ensuring good governance. Conflicts, both personal and policy in nature, are tearing the county building at its seams, threatening to disrupt the inner workings of an institution created to serve the residents of Leelanau County. I’ve dealt with personnel and financial challenges that are difficult, but solvable.

Ross: The Commission should encourage growth of a diverse population that will keep our schools, businesses and local communities strong, our economy vibrant and our future resilient. The BOC should continue to provide leadership in providing high-speed internet county-wide which will enable parents and school children to work online from home and our businesses to grow.  The board also needs to continue leadership bringing all stakeholders together to create attainable housing.  These problems are interconnected, they impact young and old alike and I hope to work collaboratively to find solutions. As a Forester, I will bring my science-based approach to problem solving, making sure that the sustainability of our natural resources is at the center of all decision-making towards positive, but conservative growth.

District 6: Democrat Gwenne Allgaier; Republican Garrick Collins
Gwenne Allgaier, whose career has led her from management/sales to counselor/therapist, has represented District 6 since 2021. Garrick Collins is a family physician and hobby farmer who moved to Leelanau County for his children to attend St. Mary High School.

Allgaier: The County Commission’s mandate is to always utilize our citizen’s tax dollar wisely and take steps to improve all of our lives where we can.  We have big projects in the works…..we need to complete our septic code process so we can better protect our drinking water and lakes.  We are in process on getting broadband to all of our citizens…..and we need a solid contract to cover District 6 - and we need the State ARPA funds to pay for it.  We have helped to fund some affordable housing, but we need to do more to support the building of attainable housing for young families and our essential workers.  An ongoing mandate to to ensure adequate training for our new finance dept employees and HR director.

Collins: One important issue is healthcare access in Leelanau county. We have very few primary or urgent care providers, causing our residents (average age 54) to travel. Commissioners cannot, nor should they, allocate tax-payer dollars to solve this issue. There are however, things they can do to promote local healthcare options, such as, ease issues associated with commercial properties or smartly utilize Health Department funds. Lastly, a healthy county requires a safe and law-abiding county. For example, deputies need to arrive on scene quickly, which requires
reliable transportation. Recent suggestions, of a few commissioners, about acquiring new electric vehicles may jeopardize that safety. A commissioner’s job is to review and pass funding requests by the sheriff’s office, not to dictate what the sheriff and deputies need. This continued pressing of politics and agendas in the county does not fall within the responsibilities of a county commissioner.

District 7: Democrat Nancy Flanagan; Republican Melinda Lautner
Nancy Flanagan is a retired music teacher and was Michigan’s Teacher of the Year in 1993. She now works as Music Director at Trinity UCC Church in Northport. Flanagan will face incumbent Melinda Lautner, who has been a county commissioner for over 25 years and acts as a board’s vice-chair. She grew up on a farm in and now lives on and co-operates husband Jim’s family farm and runs two seasonal farm markets.

Flanagan: Our overarching priority should be making Leelanau County attractive and affordable for young families and workers—nurses, builders, teachers, first responders, farmers. We need to think forward, setting annual goals for welcoming ‘settlers’ who intend to stay and contribute, keeping Leelanau vibrant. This means addressing our lack of moderately priced housing, establishing affordable broadband everywhere, investing in childcare and programming, and supporting our good public schools. We need to keep a cautious eye on growth, both to preserve our rural character and to protect our lakes, which are our economic engine. The BOC can continue their positive impact by funding early childhood needs, investing in broadband infrastructure and passing environmentally friendly policies like the recent septic ordinance. They can partner with housing initiatives—and encourage cross-township communication and collaboration on issues that impact the entire county.

Lautner: Leelanau is faced with many challenges in the future. Some of these we have been dealing with for a while and have a good handle on. We have a great senior services department to navigate needs. We have a great Housing action committee and partnerships to address housing. We have really financial policies and practices in place and healthy property values to ensure funding sources without overtaxing our residents. We have a strong sheriff department to keep our communities safe. We will have fiber to the home by end of 2023. We have clean and beautiful water and lakes. Our road commission ensures good roads. Our townships control zoning. Our recycling programs are well attended. We have a new county administrator beginning in a few weeks.