Two Republican candidates have filed for Antrim County Commissioner in District #1, which includes Banks and Torch Lake Township. Incumbent David Heeres is not running. Republican Brian Vey did not fill out a questionnaire. Click here to see his candidate Facebook page.  

Jarris Rubingh

The responses for Republican Jarris Rubingh are below. To see his candidates Facebook page, click here.  

1. Do you agree that all meetings should be held in the evening? 
This would encourage participation from working community members and would open up the field of Commissioners to working people. I think evening meetings would make it easier for ordinary people with jobs to attend the meetings, and more citizen input is a good thing. I have attended commissioner meetings in the past and doing it during the day requires a lot of sacrifice to make up work time etc..

2. Do you or your family have any special interests or connections to any company that will bid on the project or be involved in any way? if so, please explain. b) Will you earn money from any part of the jail building project? if so, please explain.
I am a dairy farmer and do not have any leaning on whatever company would get the job. I do believe that taxpayer funds should be used carefully, and I would be more inclined to pick a builder who does the best job for the cheapest price to make taxpayer funds go farther. I would not make any money from the project.

3. 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.
I am in favor of the stepping up program, because I believe that communities need to come together to fight crime and keep people out of jail. I also believe that our local churches should be involved because many local pastors have expertise in counseling people who have mental illness. Our county sheriff should be at the forefront of the effort to keep people out of jail and instead find ways to encourage people to be positive contributors to society.

4. Which of the options do you believe the board should pursue as far as renovating or building a new jail? Please explain.
I have not seen a detailed analysis of the different options on building a jail. I would like to see a cost/benefit analysis of each option before I commit to one idea, but I believe taxpayer dollars should be spent in a wise and careful manner.

5. Should the Board hire a Structural Engineer to evaluate the current jail for an addition, since it was built to accommodate two stories?
I would like to know what it would cost to hire an engineer before I decide if it would be worthwhile, but it seems like adding a second story would be a cheaper option than building a whole new jail.

6. Do you believe that the citizens should be able to vote on this project? Or do you think a board that is split 5-4 should have the $76 million decision?
I believe that citizen input is important. I also believe that raising taxes or placing tax millages on the ballot should require a 2/3 majority vote, which would mean that the vote to approve would have to be at least 6 to 3.

7. How do you think the project should be funded? Fund balance / millage vote / bonding our children’s future?
I have not seen how much money the county currently has, but I am worried about how our federal government seems to be very comfortable going farther and farther into debt by printing money. Most bonding proposals that I have seen usually go for about 25 years into the future. I do not think it is right to require our children to pay for something that they have not had the chance to vote on, also in general it seems to be far more prudent to save for a future project or need than to borrow money that must be paid back with interest.