Democracy in Leelanau: what unites us in politically divided times

By Justin Warnes and Jacob Wheeler

Sun contributors

In the run-up to the heated and divisive Nov. 5 presidential election, we decided to produce a series of short video profiles which featured Leelanau County residents of different generations, different genders, and different political persuasions. The goal was to explore what unites us—what traits we have in common—in these politically divided times.

We asked 10 residents the following questions: “What do you like about living in Leelanau County?”; “What are your favorite autumn traditions?”; “What are you eating these days?” and “What does living in a democracy mean to you?”

The message in these video profiles is to show that—while your neighbor or your family member might display a different political yard sign and vote differently than you—we have more in common than we think, and we should remember and embrace what binds us together despite the caustic atmosphere around the election campaigns.

You never know when you’ll need help and support from your neighbor. North Carolina resident and frequent visitor to Leelanau County Katey Schultz explored that truth in her “Report from the Climate Change front line: mud, grief, perseverance in wake of Hurricane Helene”.

Here’s how those we profiled answered the fourth question, “What does living in a democracy mean to you?”

Luke Woltanski, Maple City

“I’m a Star Trek nut. I love what the Vulcan say: ‘Infinite diversity, infinite combinations’. A place where people of every different background can be accepted and heard, and that goes for the backgrounds that have been accepted for a while, and the backgrounds that are niche. Everyone is able to live together and accept one another.”

Corinne Cochran, Glen Arbor

“It means freedom, it means the Constitution. It means the Bill of Rights. It means respect. It means believing in the good of people, which is hard sometimes. It’s hard sometimes because it seems like democracy is shrouded. But living in a democracy, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I’m all for free speech, but I do struggle with some of the demonstrations that go on in our democracy. If people are unhappy with the way things are run here, go the hell away, go live in another country, and then decide whether democracy is right for you.”

Linda Dewey, Glen Arbor

“Well, I count. We each count. Nobody counts more than anybody else. We’re all in this together. One of the great things is that we have a representative democracy, so I don’t have to attend every meeting. I don’t have to vote on every bill. I don’t have to participate directly in the execution of these laws. We get to choose who will do that for us, who will represent us in the government. I love being able to have a voice and have it count. Everybody else gets that, too, and I have to make room for them, just like they make room for me.”

TJ Shimek, Maple City

It’s the belief around the people. More importantly, it’s about the individual freedoms that we have here. Whether that’s voicing your opinion about stuff or choosing where you want to eat your next meal, or go on a vacation in three weeks. I up and left a job after 10 years and got into real estate. I was ready for a change. Where we live allows you those freedoms to make those decisions for your family, for you, for your friends. It’s about freedom and having that voice. One other key part about democracy is giving back to the community. I think that’s an important part. I coach, I’m also the treasurer of the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce, I’m the treasurer of one of our realtor committees. Donating time to this great place where we have all these freedoms, and supporting everyone else in having open conversations about stuff.”
Our fourth video features Maple City resident TJ Shimek.

Ella Skrocki, Empire

“Living in a democracy to me means being involved, having the right to be involved, whether that be at a village council level or speaking directly to your representatives in politics. I think it also means being critical of your party, as well.”

Dave Taghon, Empire

“Look about us. We’re pretty fortunate, when you look at the rest of the world. Of course, this year is very politically active. But when it’s all done (on Wednesday, Nov. 6), it will be so dang close to back to normal for all of us, I suspect. All the political upheaval you hear right now are two candidates, certainly two different people. I’ve got my opinions, and so do others, that’s my right, that’s why we live in this democracy. The right to vote who you want to vote for. My daughter just sent a letter to her brother, my son, and one is a Republican, one is a Democrat, and my Democratic son thought Kathy was possibly trying to sway his thoughts. He said, Kathy, I’m a Democrat. That’s who I believe in, I’m gonna vote for her. But it was a letter so nice that I copied it. We’ve all got our own political views. Let ‘em be expressed. Go up and down the road today, and they are expressed like I don’t think ever before I’ve seen. The one big winner here in this four-year cycle is the printers. Think of the millions of dollars those boys and girls are raking in. I think it’s just great that we have this democracy. This one’s up for grabs. I’ll be very surprised if the day after (the election), things don’t go back to normal. Whichever candidate wins, we’ll be still proud to be Americans.”

Russ Fincher, Glen Arbor

“I was in the army in Vietnam, and I remember taking an oath to the Constitution to defend it, which I did take the oath seriously. What it means to me to have a Democracy is the public elects the leader, and after a fair election, we’re willing to accept whoever the President is. It’s very unsettling the way the situation is now where people say right from the beginning they’re not gonna accept the results of the election unless they win, which I think is just horrible. But we’re free, we can speak, we can do what we want, we can support and elect the leaders we need, and we’ll work through this. The January 6, (2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol) was horrible, terrible. I equated it worse than 9/11, because it was our own people doing it. That was very upsetting. But we have a democracy, we have a three-tiered government, we have a judicial, a legislative. Thankfully that all held together in 2020.

Marshall Collins, Northport

To live in a democracy is to have your rights and be able to exercise those rights, and knowing that I have them. I will vote because that’s my right, and no one’s gonna stop me from doing it. If you want a change, that’s a good way of doing it is to get out and vote.

Brian Maurer, Traverse City

Most people want to pursue their dreams, living in America to me means, if you have a dream, you want to start a business, you want to start a newspaper, you want to start a construction company, you’re able to do that. In so many places around the world, it’s not that way. As divided as we may be right now, which will probably continue that way for a while, it still comes down to whatever happens during this election, you’re gonna wake up tomorrow and it’s gonna be OK.

Nayelly Tapia, Suttons Bay

There’s a lot of different meanings to that for me. The number one thing is community. Community is a very important value to me. The fact that the community can just come together, regardless of anything is very important to me.