The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners District 6 race features incumbent Democrat Gwenne Allgaier, who has served one term in office, vs Republican challenger Garrick Collins, a family physician. Allgaier responded to the Glen Arbor Sun‘s questions; due to a death in the family, Collins did not.
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners District 5 race features Democrat Kama Ross, a conservationist and retired forester for the Leelanau, Benzie, and Grand Traverse Conservation District, against Republican Alan Campbell, a newspaper reporter, publisher, and owner of the Leelanau Enterprise for more than 40 years. The seat was previously held by Democrat Patricia Soutas-Little, who is retiring. Soutas-Little helped spearhead the Commission’s effort to support early childhood education and broadband Internet in Leelanau County. Click here to read Ross’ and Campbell’s answers to our questions.
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners District 4 race features incumbent Ty Wessell (Democrat) vs challenger Mike McMillan (Republican). Wessel, the current board chair, is a retired educator who has served Northport and Leelanau Township for the past four commission terms. McMillan works for PepsiCo.
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners District 3 race features incumbent Democrat Lois Bahle of Suttons Bay, who won a special recall election earlier this year against ousted Commissioner Will Bunek. Bahle’s win gave Democrats their first ever 4-3 majority on the Board of Commissioners. Her opponent is Republican Doug Rexroat, a Lake Leelanau native and CFO of an electrical contracting firm. Bahle responded to the Glen Arbor Sun‘s questions; Rexroat did not.
Cherry Republic will host a Holiday Job Fair on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Empire Township Hall located at 10088 W. Front St. in Empire.
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners District 2 race in Elmwood Township features two would-be newcomers to County government: Democrat Don Gallagher, a cherry farmer and union electrician, and Republican James O’Rourke, a court deputy bailiff and township trustee. The seat was previously held by Republican Debra Rushton.
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners District 1 race features incumbent Rick Robbins (Republican) vs challenger Jamie Kramer (Democrat). Robbins won his previous election in 2020 by a razor-thin margin of 2 votes. He offered the swing vote on the Commission, proposing an 11th hour compromise to continue funding early childhood education in the County, even after Robbins’ fellow Republicans sought to defund the measure, which voters passed in 2019.
Artist and photographer Katelyn Wollet was a finalist for the Design & Drive Art Contest with her painting, “Dune Bears,” showcasing the story of Sleeping Bear on each panel of a 2022 Honda Accord at ArtPrize in Grand Rapids this fall. The Muskegon-based local was inspired by a love of animals and deep care for the water and ecosystems of Michigan, especially the lakeshore and northern Michigan.
The Glen Lake Chamber has launched its third annual “SHOPtober,” a spend local campaign. All are invited to spend their dollars locally during the month of October for a chance to win Glen Arbor bucks.
Picnickers who chose Good Harbor Beach to eat dinner and watch the sunset on Friday, Sept. 9, were surprised to discover they shared the popular beach in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with a real estate company, based in Traverse City, which erected a pop-up tent, placed a sign at the parking lot, and flew a drone above the shoreline. “The gathering itself likely does not require a Special Use Permit, but we are concerned with the corporate advertising and drone use in the National Lakeshore by this group,” said Sleeping Bear Dunes superintendent Scott Tucker.