District 3 Leelanau County Commission candidates Bahle, Bunek address recall election, housing, clean energy, broadband

L-r: Will Bunek, Lois Bahle

From staff reports

The Nov. 5 election will determine which party controls the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners (BOC), and which policies and initiatives they pursue next year. The Commission is currently deadlocked between three Democrats and three Republicans, with one seat vacant.

In District 3, which serves Suttons Bay and the area east of Lake Leelanau, Democrat Lois Bahle faces Republican Will Bunek. Incumbent Doug Rexroat, a Republican, is not seeking reelection. Bahle previously served on the BOC after defeating Bunek in a special recall election against him. That May 2022 recall election was precipitated by controversial statements Bunek made in September 2021, during a board committee meeting, when he pushed to zero out funding for Early Childhood Services which Leelanau voters had narrowly approved in a 2019 millage.

When asked what he learned from the 2022 recall effort against him, Bunek doubled down on his push to zero out voter-approved funding. “It is astonishing that someone can be recalled for lowering unnecessary taxes,” Bunek said. “The BOC continues to lower the early childhood millage, this year by $200,000. It always takes four votes to accomplish anything at the BOC.”

Prior to the 2022 recall election, Bahle had narrowly lost two previous County Commissioner elections to Bunek, in 2020 and in 2018. Bahle lost to Rexroat in the November 2022 general election.

The Glen Arbor Sun reached out to all 14 candidates for the BOC and asked about their positions on issues or initiatives that are key to Leelanau County citizens: namely, affordable housing, renewable energy, broadband access and services for both seniors and families with young children. Our questions, and their responses are below. Today we’re featuring Bahle and Bunek, who are vying for the open District 3 seat.

1) What can the county government do to increase the availability of workforce or affordable housing? How would you work with townships or villages to educate them about zoning issues? Would you establish a housing commission that could attract state or federal dollars? Would you consider tax-exempt bonds, or a millage, to create more affordable housing?

2) Do you support the effort to secure grant money for solar panels at the county governmental center? What renewable energy or environmental initiatives should the board of commissioners pursue?

3) What are the next steps on bringing broadband to more Leelanau citizens?

4) Do you support early childhood services for young families? How can the board of commissioners support both early childhood services and senior services?

 

Lois Bahle (Democrat, served on BOC in 2022)

Affordable housing: There are four major constraints to adding affordable housing: zoning laws that limit density and a variety of housing types; land cost; labor and materials costs. I attend meetings of Suttons Bay Village and Township as I believe for housing to be affordable it needs to be near work opportunities, schools, services, perhaps a trail or BATA bus route. Best opportunities are near our Village Centers. County Government should be involved through the Land Bank, possibly.   a Housing Commission, TIF (tax increment financing) and PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) programs help in building affordable housing projects. Grant applications and tax exempt bonds can also be used to fill the gap between cost to build and the affordable sale price.

Clean energy: The earth experienced the hottest temperatures on record last year. This year seems to be tracking to break that record. We need to think globally and act locally to use best practices to reduce additional CO2 in the atmosphere. Ask our farmers about the effect of climate change. Taking advantage of grant dollars to install solar panels and reduce electric bills on the Governmental Campus is financially responsible government. County Government should be a leader in Sustainability and demonstrate best practices.

Broadband: Spectrum completed a major addition to its fiber network adding 660 additional properties. Point Broadband celebrated the addition of its one thousandth new customer. We are making good progress in making Broadband available to all of Leelanau County! Thank you to the efforts of Patricia Soutas-Little and Point Broadband and use of ARPA dollars.

Early childhood and senior services: I do support Early Childhood services. Our population is out of balance and we need to add young working families with children in our schools. Leelanau citizens have voted support for Senior Services and Early Childhood Services. Leelanau can be a model for these programs.

 

Will Bunek (Republican, served on BOC prior to 2022)

Affordable housing: I am not willing to tax our citizens for affordable housing. It is counter intuitive to charge taxes on homes to make them affordable.

Clean energy: Government is not in the energy producing business. I leave that up to Consumers and DTE.

Broadband: Points Broadband and Spectrum are working hard to reach as many residents as possible. Let us see how much progress is made before spending more tax dollars.

Early childhood and senior services: Senior Services and Parenting Communities are millages in place and will be administered through the BOC.