MANISTEE -- Dendra Best and her League of Women Voters colleagues shudder to think what would happen if Manistee County held an election and nobody ran for office.
That scenario played out a bit too close for comfort in 2006, when the county board election featured just one contested race, and the Village of Bear Lake didn't have enough candidates to fill all its office openings.
"If you looked at that ballot, it was disgraceful," said Best, president of the league's Manistee County chapter. "What's the point of going through the experience of an election when all you need is one vote to win because no one is running against you?"
The climate is different this year, with challengers lined up to take on incumbent officials throughout the county. The political issues vary by office, but several candidates credit a series of workshops the league hosted in October.
"It's the first time in a long time we've had any kind of race in this county," said Kathy Fenstermacher, a county commissioner who attended the workshops.
Called "Run, Manistee, RUN in 2008," the workshops consisted of active discussion of state and local issues, followed by the nuts and bolts of government and how to run for political office.
"I think we had more of an impact than we realized at the time," Best said.
At least half-dozen first-time candidates for county office attended the workshops, as did current officials who are looking to change jobs. County Commissioner Janice McCraner and Manistee Planning Commissioner Greg Ferguson are running for the area's state House seat, and Fenstermacher is running for county sheriff.
Fenstermacher said the workshops gave her positive reinforcement to take on a countywide race.
"For county commission, you're in a district of people you know, almost like family," she said. "I didn't know as many people throughout the county."
Ferguson called the workshops informative and "well worth the effort" for both candidates and voters.
"I have to commend them for stepping up to the plate and encouraging more civic involvement," Ferguson said.
Best said the league provided ample resources for people to contact local officials if issues cropped up that concerned them.
"The tendency is to sit back and complain and not get up and do anything about it," Best said. "If you want participatory local government, somebody has to step up and do it."
The league will host a candidate forum at 7 p.m. on June 18 at Manistee High School for county and state candidates. And officials said there's still time to contend for public office in this election cycle.
"If you aren't satisfied with what you hear from your candidate, it's not too late to file as an independent or a write-in," Best said.
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