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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.

In collaboration with the Leelanau County Solid Waste Council, a workshop for backyard composters will be held at the Poor Farm Barn Gardens on Wednesday, May 29, from 9 am to noon. This hands on composting educational program will help you divert organic material from your kitchen and backyard to build rich compost for many home planting projects. The Poor Farm Barn gardens are located across from Myles Kimmerly Park on County Road 616, or Burdickville Road, just west of Maple City.

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.

On her way to work one morning this past summer, Kama Ross noticed some sick-looking oak trees near a recently cleared right-of-way in Bingham County. Luckily, Ross knew what she was looking at: the first confirmed case of oak wilt disease in Leelanau County.