ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Challengers have now filed to run against all three Delta County commissioners facing a spring recall election.
Following a petition signing effort by the Delta County Citizens for Ethical Leadership, the recalls of County Commissioners David Moyle, Bob Barron, and Robert Petersen will appear on the ballot in May.
On Thursday, Matthew Jensen filed as a candidate for Petersen’s district (District 5). Jensen believes his management experience in the military and four years as a township supervisor make him a good choice for voters.
“My entire military career has me the ability to work with a large, diverse group of people,” he said. “I think I have a pretty good touch on where [District 5] lies and what’s going to be best for not just that district but the county as well moving forward.”
Jensen says he decided to run a few months ago after “seeing things come off the tracks” in Delta County.
“You start to see certain things that shouldn’t be happening—how many qualified and good people that we’ve had here that have either left or been fired just because,” he said. “That’s not the way to attract good quality people here if you’re creating that kind of a toxic environment for those individuals.”
He says he wants to bring some transparency to the County Board of Commissioners.
“…Whether it’s the perception of things not being discussed in a meeting, that gives the perception of it being done beforehand,” said Jensen. “Whether that’s a reality or not, that comes across that way, and that’s something I don’t believe in. It has to be out there for everybody to hear. It’s like public comments. Everybody should be able to do their public comments. If you’re sitting up on the board and you’re asking them to speak for three minutes, you can give that individual three minutes of your time and pay attention, whether you like what they have to say or not. They have a right to be heard.”
Challenger Kelli Van Ginhoven will run for Moyle’s seat in District 4, while Myra Croasdell has filed as a candidate for Barron’s District 3 seat.
