Bedwin named new Cheboygan City Council member
CHEBOYGAN — In a special meeting Tuesday night, current board members interviewed interested candidates and chose Adam Bedwin to fill the council vacancy until November.
The open seat was created when Kasey Hocquard resigned as city councilman prior to the May 10 council meeting, in order to be able to spend more time with his young children. Two candidates expressed their interest in serving on council, Bedwin and Wesley Lemarble. Both candidates were given a chance to talk about why they wanted to be in city government.
More: City of Cheboygan seeks candidates for city council after Hocquard resigns
"I teach eighth grade U.S. History and high school economics," said Bedwin. "I am not originally from Cheboygan. I grew up downstate, in the town of Spring Lake, it's near Muskegon."
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Bedwin went to college at Northern Michigan University, where he studied economics and business administration. He then went back to school and earned his teaching certificate before taking a teaching position in Grand Marais for four years.
He left that job and came to Cheboygan because he wanted to move south. When he drove around the community and toured the school, he said it still felt like he was in the rural north and had access to nature, including a number of trails.
Bedwin works with former city councilman Nate King, who encouraged Bedwin to apply for council during previous openings, but the timing wasn't right until this most recent resignation.
As a teacher, Bedwin also serves as the treasurer for the Cheboygan Area Education Association, which is the teachers' union, and he also served on the union negotiation team for contracts. He said with his economics background, he has an analytical mind and likes to dive into spreadsheets, doing math and researching issues.
"I believe in making informed decisions based on cost analysis," he said. "So, the reason I would like to be on the city council is I would like to bring some of those skill sets to help you guys make informed decision on behalf of the citizens."
Bedwin said his goal is to see the town grow — not become the next Traverse City but make room for growth. He said he would like to say yes to as many proposed projects as possible, so long as they benefit the city and its residents, and doesn't cost the city too much.
Bedwin also said he would be a good fit for the council because he has excellent communication skills — something needed as a teacher and a toll collector on the Mackinac Bridge — and has a lot of practice at defusing situations.
With his economic background, Bedwin said he looks forward to serving on the city's finance subcommittee, helping with financial reports for projects and going over the budget when it is drafted. He is also interested in serving on a committee dedicated to parks and recreation, as well as volunteering in other areas of the city.
Although he is a teacher full time at Cheboygan High School, Bedwin is also willing to take the time — making arrangements when necessary — to attend council meetings, committee meetings, review documents and do research into topics and other requirements of the council position.
Lemarble is a Navy veteran who also has extensive experience as an emergency medical technician and in the cardio pulmonary field. He and his son have lived in Cheboygan since 2017 and they are members of the Cheboygan Wesleyan Church. Lemarble is also a member of the Francis A. Barlow American Legion post in Cheboygan and participates in a number of veterans' activities with that organization.
Lemarble also worked at Walmart in Cheboygan for three years, in the self checkout area. Since moving to Cheboygan, he said he feels the city is his home. He said he wanted to be on council to give back to the community and help make the city a better place.
The city council members voted — with councilwoman Diane Mills voting no — to make Bedwin the next council member. He will fill the seat until the general election in November.
He was administered his oath of office by Cheboygan City Clerk Alyssa Singles and was able to participate in the remainder of the meeting Tuesday night.
Both Lemarble and Bedwin were encouraged to file their paperwork with the city to have their names to appear on the ballot in November, to potentially fill one of the seats on council.
Contact Reporter Kortny Hahn at khahn1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @khahnCDT.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan High School teacher named newest Cheboygan City councilman
