Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

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December 30, 2008

Grand Traverse board to pick new chair

By BRIAN McGILLIVARY

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Grand Traverse County board's long tradition of quietly picking its leadership through private discussions is due for a change, courtesy of county voters.

For decades, the board picked a vice-chair based on interest, seniority -- and informal discussions. And two years later, like clockwork, the vice-chair would be promoted to chairman for a two-year term.

But voters in August tossed sand in those well-oiled gears when they ousted current vice-chair Herb Lemcool.

Up to three commissioners could be nominated for the leadership spot when the board meets Jan. 2 at 8 a.m. in the Governmental Center.

The last time more than one person was nominated for chairman was 1997, when the board voted against promoting Jason Allen, now a state senator, to chairman based on "personality conflicts."

"Isn't it wonderful that this isn't being decided before the meeting and will actually be decided during the meeting," said Commissioner Christine Maxbauer.

Maxbauer and Commissioners Dick Thomas and Larry Inman are under consideration for the chair seat. Thomas is favored by some veteran commissioners, while newly elected commissioners appear to support Maxbauer. Inman wants to be vice-chairman, but Maxbauer will nominate him for chairman and he could end up the consensus pick.

The new chair will have to lead the board through several challenging decisions: whether to remove the Boardman and Sabin dams on the Boardman River; resolving long-standing recycling and trash collection issues; addressing the financial crisis facing the county septage treatment facility; and possibly asking voters for a millage to fix roads.

Second-term Commissioner Larry Fleis said he favored Thomas over Maxbauer, but when he learned of Inman's likely nomination he said he'd have to see how things worked out.

"I'm looking for someone who is familiar with the issues and has some depth on the issues," Fleis said. "Dick does, and I think Larry does, too."

Commissioner-elect Ross Richardson said he's prepared to nominate Maxbauer, but isn't ruling out Inman.

"I'm looking for someone who can bridge the gap between the old guard and the new commissioners to lead us," Richardson said.

Thomas, who previously served as chairman, said he's "not wild" about another stint as chair, but said the board lacked experience. In addition to three new commissioners, three others are finishing their first terms.

Maxbauer said she isn't campaigning for the job and believes she can get more traction on issues important to her by chairing board committees.

Inman, who plans to nominate Thomas, wants to serve as vice-chair, the one position he hasn't held in his 16 years on the board. He ran for vice-chairman in 1997, but was elected chairman over Allen.

He's prepared for a similar result once again.

"If the board decides they want me to be chairman, I will do it," he said.

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