Three Charlevoix County districts have contested commissioner races Nov. 8
CHARLEVOIX — There are three Charlevoix County districts with competitive races in the upcoming Nov. 8 election.
In District 1, which includes Hayes, Bay and Melrose townships, incumbent commissioner Robert (Bob) Jess is being challenged by Craig Malmstrom. In District 5 — which includes Eveline, Marion and Norwood townships and the Beaver Island townships of St. James and Peaine — incumbent Scott Hankins is running against Nancy Ferguson. In District 6, which includes the City of Charlevoix and Charlevoix Township, Annemarie Conway is running against Cheryl Potter Browe.
The candidates were asked a series of questions by the Courier.
The Courier reserved the right to edit responses for length, clarity and adherence to Associated Press style guidelines.
Their answers are as follows:
DISTRICT 1
BOB JESS
Q: Introduce yourself.
A: Hi I’m Robert (Bob) J. Jess currently the incumbent Republican District 1 commissioner. I’m married to my wife Zeze and we have two kids, one our son in St. Mary’s of Charlevoix and our daughter a freshman at Charlevoix High School. I am an alum of St. Mary's of Charlevoix, Charlevoix Middle and High School, NCMC and University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture where I hold a master’s degree of architecture. I am 51 years old. I own and operate a design build firm here in Charlevoix called Freshwater Charch.
Q: Have you held an elected position in the past?
A: I have held elected positions in the past. In Hayes Township, where I live, I was an elected trustee as well as serving as planning commission chair, volunteering on the Parks and Recreation Committee and Zoning Board of Appeals. I’ve also been on the Charlevoix Chamber of Commerce board and the Home Builders Association Board of Directors. I am currently a Charlevoix County commissioner.
Q: Why are you running for election as Charlevoix County commissioner?
A: I am running for reelection because I want to continue to steward our community. I’ve been a commissioner for almost two years now and there is a lot to learn. I look forward to using the knowledge I’ve gained going forward.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today?
A: The biggest challenges facing the county today are keeping the budget in line, getting projects already started finished and not raising taxes.
Q: What are the county's greatest strengths?
A: The county’s greatest strengths are its people in departments such as the road commission, police, judges, courts, building department, clerk’s office, treasury, registrar of deeds, commission on aging, equalization, IT/GIS department, the veterans office, recycling, parks committee, planning and many more. Other great strengths are our natural resources. We’re incredibly fortunate to have so much freshwater and a blue economy. The strength of the business community is also impressive.
Q: What will be your top priorities, if elected?
A: My top priorities when reelected will be to get the Charlevoix to Boyne City bike path finished, not raise taxes and to help people when and where I can.
Q: Do you think the county is utilizing its current administrative property effectively?
A: I absolutely do not think the county is utilizing its current administrative properties effectively. The county is currently using and fixing the old elementary school with no set final costs. The county is currently using the actual county building in downtown Charlevoix with no plan of what that property will be. I feel it is completely irresponsible to keep using taxpayer funds without knowing what the final price tag will be.
Q: What role do you think the county has in the local workforce housing crisis?
A: The county’s role in housing is a tough one. We can give tax breaks for the current housing project in Boyne City, but that takes a few years and creates three houses. Studies show Boyne needs 248 housing units. We don’t want to raise taxes for housing. I feel it is best to support developers with a plan. We all know housing is needed and it has to go somewhere. If a developer has a plan for housing units we must explore and encourage it.
CRAIG MALMSTROM
Q: Introduce yourself.
A: My name is Craig Malmstrom, I am 53 years of age. I graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree, go Lumberjacks! I have worked in the financial industry for thee decades and retired from Visa Inc. at age 50. My wife and I have raised both one son and one daughter who are now grown and living with their families in other states. My wife and I moved to Charlevoix in August of 2021 from Laramie, Wyoming where we could take up our passion for boating and spent this last summer out on the lakes of Michigan with our new Labrador names Guinness most weekends. Wanting to be an active member of the Charlevoix community I asked Huntington Bank for a job and they hired me as a financial relationship banker for the Charlevoix branch. In my spare time I am an active member of the Charlevoix Elks Lodge, Charlevoix Freemason Lodge, United Stated Cost Guard Auxiliary Station Charlevoix and volunteer for Junior Achievement for the Charlevoix schools.
Q: Have you held an elected position in the past?
A: I ran for the Wyoming State Senate in the 2020 election for the State of Wyoming.
Q: Why are you running for election as Charlevoix County commissioner?
A: With all my daily involvement in the community I have a working knowledge of the needs that face the residents, workers and business owners of our great Charlevoix County and I know that bring positive results that face Charlevoix County.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today?
A: Workers to staff our successful business here in Charlevoix County, and affordable housing to allow workers to earn a solid wage here in Charlevoix County, and also live here in Charlevoix County and grow as a family.
Q: What are the county's greatest strengths?
A: All of our residents with a strong love for our nation, patriotism, vast knowledge, strong sense of pride that comes from hard work and love from their family and love for their history having grown up in Charlevoix County.
Q: What will be your top priorities, if elected?
A: Inviting Michigan home builders and county land owners to meet with Charlevoix County, and make realistic recommendations to implement affordable housing, to provide solid shelter to our country residents and bring in a work force to staff our county businesses.
Q: Do you think the county is utilizing its current administrative property effectively?
A: It’s time for the county to pivot into a new direction, to create and establish affordable and solid homes for our growing residents, and fully staff our Charlevoix County businesses with a complete and robust work force.
Q: What role do you think the county has in the local workforce housing crisis?
A: Charlevoix County residents, land owner, builder and bankers holds the solution.
DISTRICT 5
NANCY FERGUSON
Q: Introduce yourself.
A: I am Nancy Ferguson. I am running for 5th District County Commissioner in Charlevoix County. I am 75 years old and have lived in Charlevoix County for 46 years. My husband, John Fratrick, and I have been married for 37 years. We live on the Triple F Ranch with three cats, four chickens, one horse and Babe the mule. I’m retired now, but I taught school in Ellsworth for 25 years and was a teller at your local hometown bank for 16 years, both in Charlevoix and on Beaver Island. I volunteered for many years with Exceptional Riders, Camp Quality, the Front Porch Cafe and WATCH (Water and Air Team for Charlevoix).
Q: Have you held an elected position in the past?
A: For six years I served as your 5th District County Commissioner. The last election was held during the worst of Covid. I did not meet voters door-to-door for safety reasons, and I was defeated in the primary. This year, I’m running no party affiliation. I feel my experience will be very beneficial in working on the many challenges facing our county.
Q: Why are you running for election as Charlevoix County commissioner?
A: One of the reasons I am running for county commissioner again is that I am not satisfied with our county’s, and especially my opponent’s, lack of support for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan during the very stressful time of the Covid surge. I watched as the health department staff worked time and overtime to meet the ever changing predictions about what was happening with this pandemic. Free clinics were added for screening and vaccinations. Masks and updated masks were soon available free. I congratulate the staff for their flexibility while adapting to the variables of this deadly virus. I support the programs and services that the staff of Health Department of Northwest Michigan provides to families, nursing mothers, toddlers, students and seniors in our four-county area.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today?
A: One of the biggest challenges facing our county is housing for much needed workers. It is essential that we work with the townships, cities and villages to help solve this problem.
Q: What are the county's greatest strengths?
A: The county’s greatest strength is the environment we are blessed to live in. Our beautiful lakes, rivers and streams provide clean water for drinking, recreation, wildlife, hunting, photography and tourism. We need to protect this valuable resource.
Q: What will be your top priorities, if elected?
A: A top priority always is fiscal responsibility. We need to utilize taxpayers’ funds judiciously. I support family farms. As a member of the county planning commission, we are in the process of drafting a Farmland and Open Space Protection Ordinance. As the American Farmland Trust proclaims, “NO FARMS, NO FOOD.” We also need to address the current mental health crises in our communities.
Q: Do you think the county is utilizing its current administrative property effectively?
A: The property owned by the county is still a work in progress. Changes and additions to accommodate various departments have yet to be made. At the time of purchase, the county and the Commission on Aging entered into a joint purchase agreement to buy the former elementary school. One point of discussion was that no additional funds would be required from taxpayers because both entities had been saving for a property purchase for several years. The building currently houses county administrative offices, county board room, finance department, Veterans’ Affairs, Round Lake Court School, Commission on Aging Offices and the Charlevoix Senior Center. Added advantages for seniors, the building has a commercial kitchen, a gym, a walking trail around the building, and many rooms for various senior activities. There is more parking and easier access to the building. I think this purchase is already providing better services for all of Charlevoix County.
Q: What role do you think the county has in the local workforce housing crisis?
A: Perhaps we need to take a look at county-owned lands to see if they can be repurposed for some new types of housing projects. ie: a tiny house community or smaller square foot requirements. The county can encourage and assist the townships and cities in researching various new housing options. As you noticed at the beginning, I am running no party affiliation. That means that to vote for me, you need to split your vote. I hope I have convinced you to do so. It has been my pleasure to serve you for six years. I would appreciate your vote on Nov. 8.
SCOTT HANKINS
Q: Introduce yourself.
A: My name is Scott Hankins, 57 years, retired deputy chief of police for the City of Charlevoix, owner of the Hankins Auction Service, MHSAA volleyball and basketball referee.
Q: Have you held an elected position in the past?
A: I’m currently the District 5 County Commissioner, finishing my first term.
Q: Why are you running for election as Charlevoix County commissioner?
A: I’m running for re-election because I’ve enjoyed serving in this role for the past two years. Not every part of this position has been “fun,” but I believe that people should be involved in their government, at all levels, and I’m willing to continue serving my county as a commissioner.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today?
A: One of the biggest challenges Charlevoix County is facing is our current “un-funded” retirement debt to the MERS system. We currently owe approximately $18 million. We have recently passed a resolution to begin addressing that, by paying an additional 5-20 percent each year onto that debt. That will take some time to pay off, but we didn’t get here overnight, and we won’t get out overnight. We are definitely making positive steps toward addressing that now. When I took office, that was one of my first priorities, and I’m very happy that the board of commissioners has passed this resolution to begin addressing this debt.
Q: What are the county's greatest strengths?
A: Our greatest strengths are our employees, volunteers, committee members and all of the dedicated people that make this county work! I’ve had great interaction with everyone involved in your county government, and I see people that are sincerely interested in doing their best to make Charlevoix County work. I have a true appreciation for the people that come in, day to day, to do a good job for the county, and I look forward to continuing to work with them toward our goals.
Q: What will be your top priorities, if elected?
A: Making certain that our debt is reduced, keeping our taxes affordable (we did not raise taxes this budget year), and serving on our C.C.E. 911 Board to keep the software program moving forward. We have a responsibility to provide our emergency personnel with the “tools” they need to serve our county residents and visitors, and I look forward to keeping that system moving forward.
Q: Do you think the county is utilizing its current administrative property effectively?
A: If by “administrative property” you mean our facilities, we are making good progress on the “Shirley Roloff Center," and will continue to make decisions about each of our properties, so that we can streamline our facilities, and still provide the needed facilities for our county to function. We have a lot of decisions to make regarding our parks, Beaver Island Lighthouse property, the current building on State Street and the Roloff Center. All of those properties are important, and we can’t address each of them without significant funding. That requires time and patience, and thoughtful planning.
Q: What role do you think the county has in the local workforce housing crisis?
A: If anyone has a great plan to address workforce housing, please step forward! This is a huge issue, but I’m not convinced that county government is equipped to address it. We have worked with Housing North to approve some houses being built in the Boyne City area through Brownfield Development. There are other properties that are eligible to be developed in the future. There are developers that are trying to build some “affordable” housing, and there are organizations that are working on different ideas for housing. I’m not certain that it is the place of your county government to be involved in “creating” workforce housing. We can certainly work with organizations and developers to brainstorm and develop ideas, but I won’t tell you that I’ve got it all figured out.
DISTRICT 6
ANNEMARIE CONWAY
Q: Introduce yourself.
A: Annemarie Conway, 55 years old, social studies teacher at Charlevoix Public Schools.
Q: Have you held an elected position in the past?
A: No.
Q: Why are you running for election as Charlevoix County commissioner?
A: My vision for Charlevoix County's District 6 is a thriving year-round community and economy filled with young families. As I discussed with citizens while canvassing, Charlevoix has worked hard to be redevelopment ready. I'm ready to work hard to secure financial and other resources to build on their efforts to help grow our community.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today?
A: Hands down, establishing a year-round workforce in our community is our biggest challenge and we can only reach that goal by providing housing targeted at middle class wages and starter homes for young families. Our local businesses cannot fully function without a strong workforce. If businesses can’t fully function, they are losing revenue and the whole community suffers. Businesses need a healthy, strong, year-round workforce to remain open and more importantly, to thrive.
Q: What are the county's greatest strengths?
A: Given what we have endured the past few years, I have to say our greatest strengths are our private and public workers and managers/bosses. The sheer determination they demonstrated to keep businesses afloat and services going is inspiring. But we can't continue like this. Everyone is exhausted and businesses can't fully function. I'd love to see the Villager's old menu back.
Q: What will be your top priorities, if elected?
A: We need to rebuild our middle class in Charlevoix. I don't want to wait for the federal or state level of government to fix our issues. We can do this. I'd like to also improve our recycling program by working with East Jordan, Boyne City and Charlevoix. By building strong partnerships between our local governments, we can tackle issues more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Q: Do you think the county is utilizing its current administrative property effectively?
A: The county commission has scheduled two strategy sessions with MSU Extension professionals to talk through the best options for its properties. I believe this presents us with a golden opportunity to address the issues confronting our county, especially by including local leaders in the discussion to engage in the process.
Q: What role do you think the county has in the local workforce housing crisis?
A: The county should act as a conduit of capital, human, technical and informational resources not only from the state and local levels but between the three cities, 15 townships and one village.
CHERYL POTTER BROWE
Q: Introduce yourself
A: My name is Cheryl Potter Browe, I am 71 years old and am the retired Charlevoix County clerk.
Q: Have you held an elected position in the past?
A: Yes, I was the elected Republican Charlevoix County clerk for 10.5 years.
Q: Why are you running for election as Charlevoix County commissioner?
A: I am running as a write-in candidate for District 6 County Commissioner. I feel that my unique experience of 32 years with the county would be an asset to the county and its citizens.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the county today?
A: There are many issues and challenges facing both our community and the county. I feel it is my responsibility and duty to find the balance in the county’s responsibilities while being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers.
Q: What are the county’s greatest strengths?
A: The county’s greatest strength is their care for the citizens of the county and providing the services to the public that are needed. The county is doing well to keep apprised of the communities’ changing needs and doing all that is possible to accommodate those needs
Q: What will be your top priorities, if elected?
A: I worked on a variety of projects with my many years at the county, on committees, as fiscal officer and as an elected official. A couple of projects were started before I retired and are not yet finished, those are transitioning the former elementary school building into county offices and the restoration and reuse of the Beaver Island lighthouse. I am sure there are many other projects to work on as well.
Q: Do you think the county is utilizing its current administrative property effectively?
A: I believe the county is using its current administrative property effectively at the present time. I am sure there will be other projects and opportunities to utilize the property even more effectively in the future.
Q: What role do you think the county has I the local workforce housing crisis?
A: The county has worked towards setting up framework tools with the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the Land Bank to help with the housing crisis. Charlevoix County is a financial partner with the three cities in the Housing North/Charlevoix County Housing Ready Program. Over the last 10 years the county has worked with Northern Homes CDC to create attainable housing. The county also has economic development partner organizations such as Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, Networks Northwest, Workforce Development and other organizations that provide direct assistance to businesses and the community.
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix County commissioner candidates Q&A
