There are two people running to become Antrim County Commissioner in District #5. The newly drawn District #5 includes the following townships: Echo, Jordan, Warner, Chestonia, Star, and the eastern half of Mancelona.

Republican incumbent Christiam Marcus is challenging Dawn LaVanway, another Republican incumbent, in the August primary.

The answers for LaVanway and Marcus are below. NOTE: I did not edit any of these responses for grammar, accuracy, etc. I cut and pasted exact words from the candidate responses.

1. Please tell us about yourself, i.e. your family, work experience, etc.

Dawn LaVanway: A resident of East Jordan for 31 years. Library Director of Jordan Valley District Library for 31 years. Former Business owner of a septic tank & excavating company. Former owner of polled Herefords-selling bulls, steers, heifers and hay.

Christian Marcus:  I am a Christian Conservative currently the commissioner of the ninth district in Antrim County. Formally A Star Township trustee. I served as a reserve sheriff deputy for three years prior to my election to the board. I owned and operated a gas station convenience store for 18 years in star Township. I am married to my wife of 23 years with two adult children. I’m Elected to the Board of Directors for the Michigan Association of Counties. Current vice president of the Northern Michigan Counties Association. Both of which are voted on by my peers.,who by the way are rather conservative in nature. Formally a Detroit casino marketing and hospitality manager of five years.

2. Are you an official member of either the Democrat or Republican party? If you are not a member, what made you choose to run as a Democrat or Republican?

Dawn LaVanway: Member for years of both Charlevoix & Antrim Republican Parties.

Christian Marcus:  I have been a member of the Antrim County republican party since 2010. I am currently on the first congressional district executive committee for the GOP. This is elected position at the GOP conference by your (Rep) peers. Although it is growing more difficult to identify as a statesman in the GOP. I have strong conservative Christian values and value a libertarian style of leadership.,” free and constitutional” that is.

 

3. Do you agree with cutting county taxes? If so, should the Commissioners have an overall long-term financial plan, or should they take every opportunity possible to help taxpayers pay less? Please explain.

Dawn LaVanway: I voted conservative on every issue. The County does have a capital improvement plan for the next ten years. I voted to cut 1.5 million dollars from the millage last year and almost a million this year to reduce the voters’ taxes.

Christian Marcus: I was the second on the motion by my colleague Jarris Rubingh., that was argued against by Commissioner LaVanway. The result was a reduction of the tax break initially offered in this year‘s budget. I will note that the Board of Directors has ignored the 4.5 million dollars coming to the county from the federal government (ARPA). Having once chaired the strategic planning committee, budgets are typically looked at as well as infrastructure needs, rather aggressively, by this board. In the past 10 years the board has done a very good job. All of us, of maintaining a healthy budget surplus and backfilling any needs on a year-to-year basis.

 

4. What ideas do you have to keep the Administrative Staff accountable? There have been examples of negligence that have cost the taxpayers, such as the housing department fiasco five years ago, and the bank building having no plan for maintenance. Please explain.

Dawn LaVanway: The Administrator is responsible to the Board of Commissioners. Strategic planning was done last year to give direction to the Administrator on goals to achieve that a majority of the board agreed upon. He was then evaluated on reaching these goals.

Christian Marcus:  Accountability is a responsibility of all of us. The administrator undergoes an evaluation and given direction by the board. Currently there is more emphasis on the bi-monthly report resulting in more QnA ,giving more awareness of the board of the actions of the administrator and his or her staff. It was my understanding that we bought the building with the intentions of building a new jail on it due to restrictions of the current footprint. The rents being collected offset the costs giving us time to plan for a new building. Fortunately the county had insurance when the building was damaged from water. It paid for the removal of the building.

 

5. Have you experienced any issues or heard any citizen concerns with the county building department? If so, do you have any ideas to address those concerns?

Dawn LaVanway: The County Building Department has had many complaints regarding issues. When Dollar General was built in Alba, I was informed as the Commissioner it had a permitting problem that led me to meet with the Health Department and building department to change issues to help the public. Scott Kenderski from the Health Department agreed to implement videos on how to fill out the septic permits, an employee was going to be hired to answer the phone, and communication with the Health Department and Building Department was to be improved. Scott resigned and moved to a new job and the agreed upon suggestions were not achieved. A survey was created by the building department to fill out after applying for a permit but people will not complain in this situation when the survey goes to the Building department. The Health Department then had to deal with Covid. This issue needs to be looked upon again by the Board of Commissioners.

Christian Marcus:  Actually, Although we held public hearings in our board room and at Meadowbrook the Facebook concerned Antrim county citizens page provided an easier way for Community members to voice their opinion. My goal is to address the needs of safety and Infrastructure but also utilize programs that will result in The possibility of shared services and more advanced Technology allowing the county to provide services to neighboring counties. For example forensic work,currently sent to the state police, or mortuary services. And of course our mental health services. I requested an extension of the surveys From the building department,To be given out for every applied permit, to maintain a better understanding of how we could make the process easier and more efficient.

 

6. Do you think the County Commissioners should spend time and vote on political resolutions that are not related to county business? Please explain.

Dawn LaVanway: I would prefer to leave issues that pertain to the state for our state representatives and senators.

Christian Marcus:  Resolutions that have the potential of impacting the revenue or the actions of the counties Townships and villages should be addressed. Also if there’s a clear violation of peoples constitution., the County should address this as well. I oppose any policy that is black and white. A true leader will accept any and all resolutions to be viewed and not discount anybody’s position on a issue. We currently require the administration to provide all resolutions for our viewing and we vote on the case by case.

 

7. Do you believe that the citizens should be able to vote on a building project? Should the project be funded with fund balance, a millage vote, or bonding our children’s future? Please explain.

Dawn LaVanway: Yes, I believe the taxpayers should have a vote on a building project if it will be through a millage or bond.

Christian Marcus:  Transparency is the best answer in regards to major expenditures that require a vote of the people in order to complete. The commissioners, being elected must be accountable for their decisions. I believe any and all major investments, the county should involve public hearings., even if there may not be a request for a millage or bond. 

8. Should the county build a new jail? If so, should it be big enough to take in prisoners from other counties? Please explain.

Dawn LaVanway: The County jail has been an issue for many years. I do not believe the taxpayers were represented and heard by the board on all the issues and ideas of what was best for all. Maybe not take in other county prisoners but work with other counties to go into partnership for a new jail shared? More work needs to be discussed regarding this issue.

Christian Marcus: As a member of the state police 911 committee who is charged at the state level of auditing jails and 911 staff operations,as well as trainings. I learned a great deal about the requirements in jails prior to our evaluation. I can assure you that Antrim County desperately needs a new jail. We have managed to get by,by lots of hard work and continual updating within our means but, that time has come to an end. The State expects all jails to meet standard requirements. In regards to excepting prisoners from neighboring counties. Counties are required to pay for housing of their inmates in other counties.

9. Do you support the Stepping Up Program to reduce jail population? Do you feel that the Sheriff should make this one of his priorities? Please explain.

Dawn LaVanway: I support the Stepping Up Program and I believe it is currently being implemented through Community Mental Health.

Christian Marcus:  As a member of the state police 911 committee who is charged at the state level of auditing jails and 911 staff operations,as well as trainings. I learned a great deal about the requirements in jails prior to our evaluation. I can assure you that Antrim County desperately needs a new jail. We have managed to get by,by lots of hard work and continual updating within our means but, that time has come to an end. The State expects all jails to meet standard requirements. In regards to excepting prisoners from neighboring counties. Counties are required to pay for housing of their inmates in other counties.

10. The board also approved a work at home plan during the pandemic. Do you have creative ideas to offer more online services for the county residents? How do you think this would impact the need for new county buildings?

Dawn LaVanway: County government is all about services. Not all services can be done from home. This is an issue that will take more fiscal planning to see if it is even possible to save money, without increasing liability, and not cutting services.

Christian Marcus:  The work from home plan and policy is currently meant to be implemented during a emergency declaration by the county. Working from home is becoming a new way of doing business. I believe there’s laws that need to put in place to reduce liabilities to counties and long-term liabilities in costs to counties. New laws may result in different negotiation strategies for union contracts. At no time should Face to face services be put at risk. Our counties membership to the Michigan Association of Counties provides those best practices examples for us to implement. I believe that we should be Educated on a technology resource before implementing. I would hate to see The county suffer the consequences as they have with using the dominion tabulating machines.

11. The county recently had a consultant report that the primary space needs in the county were for storage. Do you have any ideas to address that? Please consider building inexpensive storage units versus building all new expensive buildings just because we need storage.

Dawn LaVanway: Much space could be saved in the County if record retention was not required. Technology could save space needs by scanning and digitalizing records.

Christian Marcus:  The most recent needs assessment was done by our MMRMA auditing firm which resulted in a space storage needs issue. This should not be a major task or undertaking and I would expect it to be done with prudence and low cost.

12. Do you have anything else to say about why people should vote for you?

Dawn LaVanway: I am running to be re-elected as a Commissioner, as I feel I have been fiscally responsible, transparent, and conservative when voting on issues that pertain to the County. I have attended all four of my township meetings on a monthly basis giving written reports on County decisions as well as listening so I am aware of what is going on in my district. I have been responsive to voters who have contacted me about issues that needed improvement and I have stood up to get it taken care of.

Christian Marcus:  I want the people of Antrim County to understand that I am a simple spoken person. I voice my opinion and I’m willing to be wrong and corrected. I stood up for the election integrity issues in our county. I stood up for the parents who felt ignored at the Northwest dept of health. I work at all levels of government to protect the vulnerable and mentally disabled people. Recognizing our county by population, is aging I will do everything in my power to provide healthy living spaces,proper nutritional services,public safety, and maintain our beautiful parks and lands for their wellness. I also will continue to respect private property rights. I will continue to support individual townships and their ability to adapt and form policies and plans that fit their community. I wish to not wait for the federal government to protect our children in schools. Surely it would be screwed up,tied up in court and never get done. I’m currently exploring ideas and how our county can provide some sort of school safety martial /enhanced resource officer to provide those needs in schools.

 

13. Do you support Randy Bishop’s lawsuit against the county? Are you connected with Randy in any way?

Dawn LaVanway: No do not agree with Randy Bishop lawsuit which will cost the money to defend. No I am not a member of the Antrim County Conserative Union.

Christian Marcus: Of course I wouldn’t be party to or agree to any lawsuit that I am subject of. The only person I’m connected too is God and family. Other than that Randy Bishop in general is a good man, a business man, and also a radio personality. “ radio personality “

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To see the responses from candidates in all districts, see:
2022 Elections: Antrim County Commissioner Candidates Respond to Citizen Questions – Northwest Michigan Libertarians