With a May 11th Deadline, The County Wants Residents To Run For Election
EMMET COUNTY, MI -- At the end of the year, counties across the state will hold elections for commissioners to represent the residents.
Emmet County is no different, but there's a guarantee there will be three new commissioners on the board.
During an Emmet County Commission meeting, the seven commissioner chairs are usually filled. After years of working with each other, the commissioners begin gaining a feel for how one may respond and react to a proposal.
“Especially when you've been on a board for a while, you quickly figure out what the thought processes are of other board members, and where they're going, and you know if I run this up a flagpole, does it stand a chance," said Emmet County Commissioner Jim Tamlyn.
But with the recent passing of Commissioner Tom Foltz, and two announcing they're not seeking reelection, Commissioner Tom Shier, who's been on the board for six years, and Commissioner Leroy Gregory, over 30 years, Tamlyn said it leaves an interesting turnover come January.
“With new commissioners, it's a learning process for us as to who they are," said Tamlyn.
Emmet County Controller Lyn Johnson says there hasn't been a change on the board for six or seven years. He says having three new faces adds a short-term dynamic.
“When somebody comes in with a proposal or something, we can pretty much tell them what the reaction is going to be of the commissioners, what they have to look for, and we'll have to develop these relationships again with the commissioners," said Johnson.
And even though there will be three county seats open at the end of the year, nobody has expressed any interest in filling on of these vacant seats."
“It's really disappointing they aren't taking the interest," said Johnson.
And the deadline is approaching fast. A candidate must have their intention to run for a vacant seat filed by May 11th to go through the primary in August and ultimately the election in November.
The Board will select an Interim Commissioner to fill Tom Foltz' position at their next meeting.
They say it's important to have somebody represent their district, but they don’t want the temporary person to be running for election because they say it’s not fair to the district..
As for the three open commission seats, the county hopes people will announce their intentions soon.
