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What unifies us in politically divided times. Life and democracy in Leelanau

“What do you like about living in Leelanau County?” “What are your favorite autumn traditions?” “What are you eating these days?” “What does living in a democracy mean to you?” These are the questions we’re asking a few County residents as we explore what unifies us in these politically divided times with the Nov. 5 presidential election looming just days away. The message in these short 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. Our first video features musician Luke Woltanski, who lives in Maple City.

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Coach “joy” pumps up the Park Place

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Just before Democratic Vice Presidential hopeful Tim Walz approached the lectern to address an enthusiastic, packed crowd in the ballroom of Traverse City’s Park Place Hotel on Friday, Nov. 1, he turned around and fist-bumped supporters flanking him on stage with Harris-Walz campaign signs. Grand Traverse County Commissioner Ashlea Walter and her daughter Phoebe were among them. Upbeat and enthusiastic, with John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” playing in the background, Walz arrived early and spent 23 minutes during his pep rally with the Northern Michigan crowd of progressives and Democrats, reminding them that polls in the Nov. 5 presidential election would close in under 100 hours, and encouraging them to vote, and turn out others to vote, for Kamala Harris for President, and push away the vitriol and and dark vision of Republican candidate Donald Trump. Polls show that Michigan, a crucial swing state, is very close.

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District 5 Leelanau County Commission candidates Ross, Campbell address housing, clean energy, broadband

The Nov. 5 election will determine which party controls the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners, 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 5, which serves Leland and Centerville Townships, incumbent Democrat Kama Ross faces Republican challenger Alan Campbell. It’s a rematch of the race in 2022. 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 Ross and Campbell, who are vying for the District 5 seat.

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