Otsego County commissioner candidates respond to questions
GAYLORD — As the Aug. 2 primary election approaches, the Gaylord Herald Times will publish candidate profiles for contested races in Otsego County.
Featured today are the candidates for Otsego County commissioner in districts 5 and 6. All of the candidates are Republicans and because no Democrats have filed to run, the winner in August will assume office next year unless there is a successful write-in candidacy in November.
Republicans vying for District 5 include challenger Jason Clement and incumbent Rob Pallarito.
In District 6, Denise Bach, Trevor Burroughs and Christi Sortor are running to succeed county board chairman Ken Glasser, who declined to seek another term.
All candidates received the same questions. The Herald Times reserved the right to edit responses from the candidates to account for space, grammar and Associated Press style guidelines.
District 5
Jason Clement
Q: In no more than two paragraphs, please describe your background (educational achievements, work history and how long you have lived in the area etc.) and if you are an incumbent state how long you have held the position?
A: I have lived in Gaylord my entire life. I graduated from Gaylord High School. I have my bachelor's degree in business management and organizational development from Spring Arbor University. I was the sales/finance manager at Wagar Motors for 17 years before opening Mega Power Sports and Marine in 2009. I have been married to my wife Debbie for 31 years. We have two children that both live and work in Gaylord. Our family and business has continually given back to our community by supporting local charities.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today and what can county government do better?
A: I see the biggest challenge as a financial one. The county needs commissioner representation from people that have a successful business background and real-world experience with financials, budgets and financing. I look at the minutes from last year and see the Otsego County Commission on Aging transaction and it makes my head spin. The commission on aging selected a building on Elkview with a county assessed value of $475,000. The county then decides to lease this property for $15,000 per month for 25 years. Do the math on that one $15,000 x 30. Yes, it is $4.5 million for a building worth $900,000. At the next meeting it was revised to 20 years with a $900,000 termination fee. All commissioners voted in favor of this with no questions. Business people like myself would be a valuable resource as a commissioner, so we don't keep over spending.
Q: Does the county need a new jail?
A: The feedback I have received from all of the law enforcement groups in Gaylord is yes. So, I would like to say yes but have some questions for the county first. The jail complex campaign clearly stated that our jail has needed replacement and has been overcrowded for the past 20+ years, so if I were commissioner my questions to the county would be as follows: How much has the county saved up over the past 20 years to pay for a new jail? The answer is $0 and I personally think this is fiscally irresponsible.
Next, how did Alpena County build a 96-bed jail for $12 million in 2021? They were smart and did some great research and shopping with vendors. Why does the initial millage request we voted down add up to $54 million in taxes collected by the county?
We need a jail, but we need the county to contribute. We need the jail cost to be reasonable. The jail issue is one of the reasons why I want to become a commissioner. I have not been happy with how it has been handled and instead of complaining about it I want to jump in as a commissioner and ask questions.
Rob Pallarito
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today and what can county government do better?
A: I believe that the biggest issue facing county government is the overreach of state and federal regulations and mandates. County government needs to continue to find ways to push back on the dictates of unelected bureaucrats.
Q: Does the county need a new jail?
A: As the son and nephew of police officers, I support our men and women in uniform. Our local law enforcement agencies have all identified a need for a new jail facility for the safety of their officers and our residents.
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District 6
Denise Bach
Q: In no more than two paragraphs, please describe your background (educational achievements, work history and how long you have lived in the area etc.) and if you are an incumbent state how long you have held the position?
A: I was born and raised in Michigan and spent much of my life downstate but purchased a home in Gaylord in 2016 on Otsego Lake, where my husband (Dean), and I and our dog reside. I have over 40 years professional work experience, focusing the last 25 years in the legal industry consulting with attorneys and corporate counsel regarding digital forensics, eDiscovery and data privacy and security. I have experience balancing multi-million dollar budgets, vendor selection, strategic planning, marketing, business development, personnel and infrastructure management. I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Detroit Mercy and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today and what can county government do better?
A: Lack of local government transparency and unnecessary spending are two of the biggest challenges facing the citizens of Otsego County. The hard-working citizens deserve to know that their tax dollars are being spent wisely and prudently. I am a conservative leader who understands the need for fiscal responsibility and will work to ensure that tax dollars are spent responsibly and for issues that benefit the community. Much of this starts with transparency on the budget and agenda items and I will propose to change the time of the Otsego County Commissioners meeting to the evening — a time when the majority of its residents can attend.
Q: Does the county need a new jail?
A: I support a new justice complex for Otsego County. That being said, the efforts in the past have been disastrous. I believe that the lack of transparency and open communication about the justice complex initiative have contributed to its millage failure. The data used in support of the new justice complex needs to be verified and communicated to residents so that they have an understanding of its validity and relevance. Specific plans that outline the costs of the building also need to be obtained, in advance of a vote, in order to properly project the overall costs to taxpayers.
Trevor Burroughs
Q: In no more than two paragraphs, please describe your background (educational achievements, work history and how long you have lived in the area etc.) and if you are an incumbent state how long you have held the position?
A: I was born and raised in Gaylord and have lived here my entire life. I graduated from Gaylord High School but started working in the power sports industry as a teen. I continued in the industry for over a decade. While doing sales and finance at Mega Power Sports, I started Action Outdoor Rentals in 2013. I continue to operate this successful pontoon rental company today. I also opened Action Motor Sales in 2019 and have been quite fortunate to have so much local support as my business continues to grow.
When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family, boating, fishing, hunting snowmobiling, and downhill skiing. I am currently on the board for the Otsego County Lake Association and look forward to bringing this experience to a new role.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today and what can county government do better?
A: I believe financial issues are the biggest challenges facing Otsego County. I believe the county should operate like a well-run business. I am fiscally responsible with my businesses and want to bring that same mindset to the county commission. I want to continue to support entities like the commission on aging without burdening taxpayers or our children with unnecessary taxes. As an example, I simply do not understand why anyone would think the current agreement for the commission on aging building was financially prudent for the county. The building on Elkview has a county assessed value of $475,000. The county agreed to lease this property for $15k per month for 25 years. This means the taxpayers will pay $4.5 million to lease a building worth $950,000. The commission then revised this to a 20-year term with a $900,000 termination penalty, which is nearly the value of the entire building. At the very least, this agreement should have been scrutinized more.
Q: Does the county need a new jail?
A: It is clear to me, law enforcement, and the county that we need a new jail and have been in need of a new jail for at least 20 years. However, I find it irresponsible that the county has not been setting aside money for this over the years. Instead, they now want to levy a huge millage on taxpayers. As your county commissioner, I am committed to finding a solution for the jail that gives our law enforcement and justice system the facilities they need without placing a huge burden on families and taxpayers in Otsego County.
Christi Sortor
Q: In no more than two paragraphs, please describe your background (educational achievements, work history and how long you have lived in the area etc.) and if you are an incumbent state how long you have held the position?
A: I have been a resident of Bagley Township since 2013. I am employed by Munson Healthcare, serve as a precinct delegate, a member of the 1st Congressional District Communications Committee, and the secretary for the Otsego County GOP. I also volunteered as a circulator for the Unlock Michigan petition to ensure everyone’s rights were respected. As a registered nurse, I understand the importance of listening to my patients and digging into root causes of problems. That skill will shine when listening to citizens’ concerns and feedback.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today and what can county government do better?
A: The number one issue is fiscal responsibility within our local government. Citizens are voicing concerns how their tax dollars are spent plus the government’s future spending plans. They also want increased government transparency and a voice through their representatives.
Q: Does the county need a new jail?
A: In comparison to other counties in the state with similar populations, we do have less inmate space. However, both proposals placed before the citizens were voted down. This needs to go back to the drawing board and all options need a thorough review. Any plan brought forth should be backed by the people and the cost of such an undertaking should not be a financial detriment.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Otsego County commissioner candidates respond to questions
