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District 4 Leelanau County Commission candidates Wessell, White address housing, clean energy, broadband

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 4, which serves Northport and Leelanau Township, incumbent Democrat Ty Wessell faces Republican challenger Jim White. 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 Wessell and White, who are vying for the District 4 seat.

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Thornhill, Wessell, Moore receive NMEAC environmental awards

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The Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council—an advocacy group which has fought to protect northern Michigan’s environment through citizen action and education since 1980—held its 34th environmentalist of the year award celebration on April 14 at the Milliken Auditorium at Northwestern Michigan College. Leelanau County residents Kate Thornhill, Ty Wessell, and Taylor Moore received awards.

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Election 2022: County Commission District 4 race features Wessell vs McMillan

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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.

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Leelanau District 4 Commissioner Ty Wessel addresses key issues facing County

Today we’re featuring Leelanau County Commissioner, Democrat Ty Wessell (District 4, Northport), who is running unopposed this election. We asked Wessel the following six questions.

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Slow down, stop racism, fight for equity

“We have a geographic implicit bias right here in our county, where the highway was built upon a village,” said Melissa Petoskey on Aug. 19 as cars zoomed by on M-22, seemingly unaware that they were driving through a tribal reservation between Suttons Bay and Northport. Petoskey is the human relations executive for the Grand Traverse Band. “There’s no reduction in speed limit here. We’re the only village in Leelanau County without a reduction in speed.

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Northport, REACH find affordable housing solution

In Northport, the nonprofit housing development corporation Leelanau REACH project hopes to establish a model for sustainable, quality affordable housing in both physical development and community philosophy.

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Q&A with Ty Wessell (Democrat), District 4

Wessell, the incumbent, is challenged by Republican Tom Van Pelt in District 4, which represents Leelanau Township, which includes the town of Northport

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Leelanau County Commission: perspectives from challengers Dave Barrons, Patricia Soutas-Little and Ty Wessell

The following are interviews conducted via email with Leelanau County Commission challengers Dave Barrons (a Democrat, running against Republican incumbent Debra Rushton), Patricia Soutas-Little (a Democrat, running against Republican incumbent Karen Zemaitis) and Ty Wessell (a Democrat, running against Republican incumbent Tom Van Pelt). Rushton, Zemaitis and Van Pelt all opted not to answer questions emailed to them.

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