Elections 2022: Candidates for Ingham County Board District 1 in their own words
On this year's ballot are candidates for the Ingham County Board of Commissioners (15 seats). If you are unsure which county district you vote in, visit the Ingham County website to find more information.
Whether you choose to vote absentee or in person, get to know the candidates before you vote by reading their responses to key issues facing Ingham County residents.
Here (below) are candidates in their own words. To return to the main election package, click here.
Meet the candidates
John Salyer (Democrat): I am a lifelong resident of Ingham County District 1. I have been a member of the Region 9 Workforce Development Board since 2015, as well as the Chelsea Sustainability Advisory Commission, and various other appointed boards and committees. I am running for county commissioner because I want to serve the community I was born and raised in, and bring the concerns of rural county residents to the various local governments to try to get those concerns addressed.
Randy Maiville (Republican): I am one of only a couple of county commissioners with local government experience who has rose through the ranks from a township planning commissioner, township trustee, township supervisor and now a county commissioner for 10 years. This gives me a unique perspective of local governance and government cooperation. I have signed supporting the Elliot Larsen Act to expand for sexual orientation and supported a resolution for this. I also supported the county resolution for the Crown Act for discrimination. In the end, I strive to serves the needs of my rural constituents when the board is represented largely by the urban areas.
On systemic racism
John Salyer (Democrat): I believe we need to provide law enforcement officials the necessary training and resources (funding) to face the issues head on.
Randy Maiville (Republican): Provide access to Unconscious Bias awareness and training to have a reflection of one’s perceptions and values.
On the COVID-19 response
John Salyer (Democrat): I would give them a B+ overall. They did a good job of distributing the vaccine, but in hindsight, there was more they could have done to educate people and keep politics out of health care. Continue to make the vaccine available to those that want it.
Randy Maiville (Republican): Overall, it was very good. Critical and required services continued while allowing for remote work when feasible. Ingham County was fortunate to have Health Director Linda Vail with a strong epidemiology background. The drive through vaccination site was set up quickly once vaccines were available. For what’s next we need to have a “lessons learned” to prepare for the next challenge that may not even be disease related.
On economic stability and inflation
John Salyer (Democrat): More CET training in our schools to give good job options to our youth and a well-trained workforce for our businesses.
Randy Maiville (Republican): As one of the highest millage taxed counties in the state we need to stop new millage and increases. New large scale drain projects may need to be deferred due to the impact to landowners and businesses.
On election security
John Salyer (Democrat): I do believe the results of the 2020 election. Any reforms to improve safety that doesn’t restrict voter access, I would be in favor of.
Randy Maiville (Republican): I accept the results of the 2020 election and the security of Ingham County elections. I support Michigan’s Absentee Voting with signature verification. Michigan should not have unsolicited mail-in ballots like other states have done.
On public safety
John Salyer (Democrat): I believe Ingham County government officials need to work together regardless of political affiliations to start discussing this topic. The federal government is working to pass bipartisan gun legislature for the first time in 30+ years. The bills include: requiring that gun owners take responsible action to safely store their firearms, longer background check periods for individuals under 21, red-flag laws, and gun-trafficking measures. I believe this is a step in the right direction and should be something Michigan and Ingham County consider if they fail in the federal government. Providing law enforcement with resources to deescalate situations could help.
Randy Maiville (Republican): Ingham County has recently supported the Advance Peace initiative a nationally recognized program. The program uses a nonconventional model of resolution against violence at the street level outside the normal law enforcement and prosecution hierarchy.
Other issues of import
John Salyer (Democrat): Lack of infrastructure in Rural Ingham County. Internet access for students and people that could work remotely is very important. Roads and bridges need repair as well as water treatment and water control (flooding).
Randy Maiville (Republican): Jail Medical Services – Ingham County has struggled with this for decades. It has been repeatedly attempted to have this service managed in-house. The results have been marginal to the point of having Ingham County in the position of potential liability. This is being reviewed again and perhaps a private/public partnership might be feasible. If not, ultimately this may need to be privatized to provide the best service to avoid the county in the situation that has not significantly improved for years.
This story was assembled from email questionnaires managed by LSJ news assistants Jayne Higo, Veronica Bolanos and Jack Moreland. Contact them at LSJ-EAs@lsj.com or 517.377.1112.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Election 2022: Ingham County Board candidates in their own words
