Grand Traverse County trimmed its county board membership from nine members to seven this year, and voters will select from incumbents and challengers in four contested races.
One such race — the First District — features incumbent Commissioner Ross Richardson and challenger Dan Lathrup.
Richardson, of Traverse City, seeks his third term on the county board. He's one of the precious few bright lights on the board, a thoughtful, studious sort who's well-versed on local issues, isn't afraid to challenge the status quo and has shown a penchant for standing up for programs that benefit senior citizens. Richardson is the board's lone Democrat and may be threatened because a redistricting plan this year lumped conservative Peninsula Township into his territory.
Challenger Dan Lathrop, of Peninsula Township, is a Republican who said several people urged him to run for the board. He opposes a special tax on septic tank users, but Lathrop hasn't shown an overly strong grasp of that or other top county topics.
Richardson is a moderate who has shown he can work well with county board Republicans. This is an instance that would behoove First District voters to overlook political party affiliations and support the best person for the job. Ross Richardson is a proven commodity who's earned re-election and our endorsement.
Opinion
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Ross Richardson
Editorial: Richardson for 1st District
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Letters to the Editor: 06/19/2013
Better than ‘fair or good’; Where did lessons go?
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Another View: Time to stop gridlock on farm bill
With a hopeful sound of gridlock cracking, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Wednesday that he will vote for the House farm bill even though he has “concerns.”
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Letters to the Editor: 06/18/2013
Known as hypocrisy; Ignorant, insulting; Linking is a disservice.
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Another View: Supreme Court rejects patents on human genes
We can all take comfort in knowing we still retain the rights to our own genetic material.
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Another View: State leads on early childhood education
Investment in early education is gaining favor nationwide, and we can be proud to live in a state that today is on the leading edge of that trend.
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Cheers: 06/17/2013
To U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Joseph Buzzella Jr., who stepped down as commander of the Coast Guard’s Traverse City Air Station after a two-year posting.
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Letters to the Editor: 06/17/2013
Change our habits; Multiplying enemies.
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Editorial: Medicaid expansion vote makes sense
The issue: State House approves Medicaid expansion. Our view: It’s a big step, but there’s more to do.
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Letters to the Editor: 06/16/2013
Appalled by remark; Gratuitously inhumane; A common bond.
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Forum: Waste of fossil fuels cannot continue
We often hear jokes about husbands forgetting their wedding anniversaries, but this month there is an anniversary we must not forget. I’m suggesting we commemorate it with action.
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Jack Lessenberry: Freedom Tour will teach, inspire
Half a century ago, in the early years of the civil rights movement, a group of courageous, mostly young Americans climbed aboard buses for rides that threatened their lives.
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George Weeks: Sen. race highly competitive
Despite dropouts of potential candidates for both parties, a highly competitive 2014 race shapes up for replacing retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan’s longest-serving senator.
Continued ... - Saturday, June 15, 2013
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Letters to the Editor: 06/15/2013
Integrity the key word; Not in best interest.
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Another View: National Security Agency spy case begs review
The disclosure of widespread surveillance of Americans’ phone records and of Internet data on foreigners and some Americans has created strange bedfellows among critics and defenders.
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Another View: Shield law only masks real flaw
When it chose to secretly seize phone records and e-mails from more than a hundred journalists, the Justice Department was behaving in the way of some tinpot dictatorship.
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Editorial: Battle over sign leaves a bad taste
The issue: Airport finally puts up sign for veterans. Our view: It didn’t happen until public got involved.
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Letters to the Editor: 06/14/2013
Teacher morale low; 2nd Amendment; Hurts many families. (Plus more)
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Another View: Holding disaster victims hostage
Sen. Tom Coburn has been consistent in his message. He says he won’t support any additional disaster relief funding without spending cuts elsewhere.
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Editorial: Good reasons to put off TC road bond
The issue: TC to delay road bond until 2015. Our view: There are good reasons to wait.
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Letters to the Editor: 06/13/2013
Tax carbon at source; All about the money.
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Forum: Help stop Great Lakes aquatic invasives
Governors and senior staff of the Great Lake states and the premiers of Quebec and Ontario recently met for the first time since 2005 to commit to strengthening the region’s economy and protecting the Great Lakes.
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Forum: Remember why we chase big storms
The death of storm chaser Tim Samaras has shaken the meteorological community. He was recently killed in the middle of a chase in Oklahoma, but he will always be remembered as a scientist first and storm chaser second - helping improve our knowledge of storms in order to make our lives safer.
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Editorial: Past time to address shooting range issues
To hear state Department of Natural Resources officials talk about it, there’s no big hurry to resolve issues surrounding informal shooting ranges on state land off Hoosier Valley Road.
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Letters to the Editor: 06/12/2013
Logical, rational manner; That’s what lobbyists do.
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Editorial: Park project will wed Acme to bay
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