The county’s longest-serving commissioner (by far) will face another public servant in the August 6 primary election.

Republican Melinda Lautner has served on the county commission since 1995, becoming a fixture in local government. She faces a challenge from fellow Republican Steve Yoder, a Solon Township trustee. 

Lautner and Yoder are vying for the District 7 seat, which serves Solon and Kasson townships. The winner will face Democrat Tim Dowd in the November general election. 

Amede DeCruydt, another Republican on the ballot for District 7, tells The Ticker he is not actively campaigning and only filed to run because he thought Lautner wasn't going to run again.

The entire county commission is up for election this year, and District 7 is one of three districts with action in the primary (the others are districts 1 and 2).

The Ticker checked in with Lautner and Yoder to learn a little bit more about their backgrounds and goals.

MELINDA LAUTNER

Please tell us about your personal and professional background.

My husband and I live on his family’s multi-generational farm in Solon township that is still in operation today. We assist our son who raises cattle and grows crops and hay. We have four children and 8 grandchildren all residing in Leelanau County.  I graduated St. Francis and attended NMC before starting up my first business. I managed my wholesale/ retail greenhouse. I own/manage two seasonal farm markets selling what I’ve grown. The future generations help out, and it is enjoyable teaching the little ones how to cultivate and grow and market. My interests include hunting, skeet shooting, rock wall building, gardening, Lions, reading anything and my church. I belong to Holy Rosary Church, Cedar/Maple City Lion's club, and boards including parks and recreation, planning and housing action. 

Why should voters choose you?

I bring a voice of common sense to the board. It is important to look at every issue from every angle to make sure we are doing things properly and in the best interest of the county. I want the best, most effective possible service at the least possible cost. I believe respectful debate is important to be sure that we have done that. Often commissioners have not done their homework and it is easy for them to just vote yes without realizing the implications. We have developed and maintained policies over the years that have helped to keep Leelanau financially stable. We have been the envy of most other counties because we have been conservative and thoughtful. I am very proud of those hard-won battles to save our taxpayers’ money. 

What are the most important issues facing the county?

Because of past careful decision making, Leelanau is financially stable and in a great place to manage everything we are mandated to do. We have managed growth with the courthouse, jail, and emergency services where necessary. Our employees receive fair wages and a benefit package that is unmatched anywhere else. We have been careful with negotiating, but this could be an issue in the future, especially if commissioners are afraid to say no. Or if they are getting pressure from employees through text messages to vote a certain way.  Misinformation spread by the fast pace of media is very concerning. Often this leads to rapid decision making that is sometimes not in the best interest of the county.  Balancing our taxes is extremely important with the increase in new residency that brings new tax base which helps fund schools, roads, and government, but also drives SEV which will eventually raise taxes which affects the agricultural taxes. 

STEVE YODER

Please tell us about your personal and professional background.

I reside In Cedar with my wife Kasey and son Gideon. I manage a family business in the agriculture industry. I have served on the Solon Township board for nearly the past 8 years while also being the board representative on the township planning commission. I am also the current chairman of the Leelanau County Planning Commission along with volunteering in many other capacities around the region. 

Why should voters choose you?

Having served on the Solon Township board, as well as managing a family business, I’ve gained experience in government and how it works, as well as understanding the needs of the business community. I believe we need a fresh voice that listens, is transparent, and accountable to the needs of the citizens of Kasson and Solon Townships. I believe it’s very important that a commissioner always be accessible and view things with an open mind so that the best solution can be found. The role of county Commissioner should always be viewed as a service to the community and never be taken advantage of or used for one’s own gain. My role as County Commissioner if I am elected is to be a voice for the people of Kasson and Solon Townships and to always manage the citizens’ tax dollars with fiscal responsibility. 

What are the most important issues facing the county?

I believe one of the top issues facing the county today has to do with the current Finance/HR department. We need to have a stable Finance/HR department that has the resources it needs to succeed. It has been approved and supported by the current board but has not been achieved. Secondly, we need to find a permanent County Administrator who is able to fulfill the duties requested. As commissioners, we need to have a plan in place to recruit and retain staff at the county by creating an environment that supports the staff, and ensures they have the resources needed to succeed. There will always be issues that come up that need to be dealt with at the county level which will require hard questions and tough decisions to be made. I hope to use my business mindset to look at things with a broad perspective and make informed decisions that benefit the citizens of the 7th District. By all the Commissioners working together we can achieve that and much more for Leelanau County.