Get to know your next Harbor Springs City Councilmembers
HARBOR SPRINGS — With the November election approaching, the two new candidates who will be filling roles on the Harbor Springs City Council are working to let the community get to know them.
Running to fill the two vacancies are Michael Behrmann, 62, and Kathy Motschall, 75.
The two candidates will be filling the seats left open by John Lio, who has reached his term limit, and John Cupps, who decided not to run for reelection.
There will be multiple in-person opportunities to get to know the two candidates.
A meet and greet event will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 at the Harbor Springs Friendship Center at 305 W. Main St. Another meet and greet will be hosted at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1 at Johan's Pastry Shop in Harbor Springs.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at city hall, the Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a candidate forum. The public is invited to attend or watch online, and questions can be submitted to director@harborspringschamber.com.
Both candidates were asked to respond to a few questions provided by the Petoskey News-Review. They were given the same deadline to respond.
The election is to be held Nov. 7. Absentee ballots are first available Sept. 28.
Michael Behrmann
Behrmann currently works as a bus driver for Harbor Springs Public Schools. Previously, he worked as an educator for 35 years, working as a teacher, principal, and central office administrator. He retired in 2022 after working as the Harbor Springs superintendent for four years.
What key factor(s) prompted you to pursue a seat on Harbor Springs City Council?
First and foremost, I love our city and feel a strong commitment to service. As superintendent in our community, I became very familiar with many of our residents, businesses, city government, and nonprofits. Currently, I sit on the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals and my volunteerism includes Festival of the Book, Kiwanis Club and Special Olympics coach for Area 33 (Emmet, Cheboygan, Otsego and Charlevoix counties).
Public service is a passion, and that is why I am running for city council. I believe in open and honest dialogue as well as compromising to achieve viable outcomes. I want to ensure that politics in our city remain civil and respectful. These are all factors that prompted me to “throw my hat in the ring.”
What do you see as the most pressing issue for city government to address in the next year or two?
An area of focus would be ensuring that the city’s basic infrastructure is maintained and built to last well into the future (roads, walkways, electrical grid/capacity and water/sewage systems). Additionally, the city must meet the needs of our year-round residents. I believe that if we take great care of our year-round residents, seasonal residents and tourists will also benefit greatly. We must ensure that city services are exceptional, our businesses are thriving and growing, our police department has the tools that they need, and that we protect our environmental resources. Working with regional entities and examining our own zoning ordinances to address the housing shortage is key. It is important that our city remains forward-thinking while keeping in mind the traditions of the past.
What skills and attributes do you think would make you effective in office?
In my career — whether a teacher, principal or superintendent — I was faced with making difficult decisions on high stakes contentious topics. When making decisions, I try to keep an open mind, gather facts, analyze the issues and listen to different perspectives. A lost art in today’s politics is the concept of compromise which many times yields the best results. If elected to city council, I would not bring an “agenda” of items or hardline positions. I do not take for granted the awesome responsibility of serving the electorate and would approach the position with humility, an open mind, and the realization that my opinions and views do not necessarily matter when it comes to doing what is best for the city and its residents.
Subscribe: Check out our latest offers
Kathy Motschall
Motschall retired as the Walstrom Marine CFO in 2019. She currently serves as secretary of the Petoskey Sunrise Rotary and volunteers preparing income tax returns through the Petoskey Friendship Center RSVP program.
What key factor(s) prompted you to pursue a seat on Harbor Springs City Council?
I have lived in Harbor Springs for 12 years and became interested in the issues Harbor Springs faces. I am concerned about the tone of some public discourse and hope I can offer a calm and respectful approach to solving problems. I see this as an opportunity to give back to the community that has made me feel safe and welcomed.
What do you see as the most pressing issue for city government to address in the next year or two?
Affordable housing and short-term rentals will continue to be significant issues affecting all residents. Solving the problem of affordable housing will require cooperation between all levels of government as well as nonprofit and private enterprises. Also, adequate infrastructure improvements to the electrical system will need to be made and financed in the next few years.
What skills and attributes do you think would make you effective in office?
I would like to offer my knowledge and experience in finance and accounting to help citizens understand the often complex financial challenges the city must address in the future. The Headlee Amendment and Proposal A continue to impact the taxes that the city can assess.
— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Get to know your next Harbor Springs City Councilmembers
