Traverse City Record-Eagle

Region

July 22, 2010

County boards attract challengers

Rush is on across region for elected county positions

BY SHERI McWHIRTER smcwhirter@record-eagle.com

KALKASKA — Kalkaska County's elected officials are out of touch with residents, a major reason challengers lined up to unseat incumbents in the August primary election, at least one candidate contends.

"The commissioners do whatever they please and don't listen to anybody," said Michael Cox, a former commissioner who's launched another run for county board. "People are fed up."

Cox, 62, listed poor roads, uncontrolled spending, lack of leadership on job creation, and questionable practices, such as giving the impression of attempting to sell seats on a public committee, as reasons for community unrest.

"I don't like what I see the county board of commissioners doing," Cox said. "I just absolutely don't think they know what they're doing."

Whatever the reason, a rush is on for elected county positions in rural, outlying areas like Kalkaska County, places where many local races typically go uncontested and incumbents easily achieve re-election.

Kalkaska County features contested races in four of seven districts. A common theme among challengers is the need to end excessive spending during shaky economic times, an issue some say prompted them to place their name on the ballot.

"I don't think we should borrow money to pay our bills. The biggest issue is spending within our means," said Eric Hendricks, 43, a Republican candidate in District 4.

Republican candidate Stuart McKinnon, 47, criticized Kalkaska County officials for turning a $1 million-plus budget surplus to deficit status in four years.

"Everyone out there in the real world is tightening their belts ... but it seems the county is still on a spending spree," said McKinnon, who serves as the county's planning commission chairman and has multiple government roles in Rapid River Township.

McKinnon is challenging incumbent Commissioner Louis Nemeth, 72, who said the county has a healthy budget, despite deficit spending.

"We did borrow $1 million, like we have for years, in anticipation of taxes. You don't get all your taxes at once," Nemeth said.

The uptick in election challengers could be due to a surge in Tea Party activity in the area, he suggested.

"The object is to put strong people in the party into office to change government," Nemeth said.

In nearby Wexford County, all but one district is contested in the county board primary race. That includes 20 Republican candidates for nine seats, including eight incumbents who seek re-election.

District 1 challenger Loretta Timlick, 53, said she is running because her Manton property is impacted by contamination from the county's landfill and she believes county officials should have handled the situation in better fashion.

Then there's District 6 challenger Alan Devereaux, 47, who said the county's aging jail and policy of shipping inmates to other counties prompted him to run.

"It's costing the taxpayers an awful lot to house inmates in other counties," he said.

Incumbent John Saari, 59, said he wants to keep his seat and perhaps work on a new recreational authority and a mandatory curbside garbage pickup and recycling program.

District 9 challenger Daniel O'Riley, 60, said that for him, it's about providing voters with a choice, rather than letting elected positions go uncontested.

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