Newcomers in the mix for county board
by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor
It’s an election year for members of the Presque Isle and Cheboygan county board of commissioners.
Four of the five commissioners are running unopposed in Presque Isle County, while the commissioner representing the southeast corner of Cheboygan County has no competition as of yet.
In Presque Isle County, chairman Carl Altman and vice chair Bob Schell all filed, along with Mike Darga and Stephen Lang. Only District 2 commissioner Kris Sorgenfrei has decided to not seek another term.
Filing for the soon-to-be vacant seat were Rainy Lake resident Chuck Lewis and Rogers City businessman Lee Gapczynski.
Lewis filed Monday morning at the county clerk’s office, while Gapczynski got his paperwork in on the last day. The deadline to file for the August primary was Tuesday, which is three weeks sooner than it had been in previous elections. The same goes for partisan township office positions. Both are running as Republicans.
“I think I can do a good job,” said Lewis, who has been on the Case Township board of review for the last decade. “I think I can help the county, and help the townships.”
He retired from AT&T after 31 years where he worked as an engineer. He also has worked as a construction manager and a repair supervisor.
Gapczynski has been a local businessman for 29 years, 19 of them in Rogers City.
“I think I can bring something to the table,” said Gapczynski. “A new face.” He has been a member of the Rogers City Area Schools board of education for several years.
“ I think I can bring fiscal responsibility and some different ideas.”
The filing deadline for independent/nonpartisan candidates is July 17 and they would only appear on the November ballot.
In Cheboygan County, Republican Sue Allor filed and is running unopposed
The deadline for proposals is May 13.
Speaking of elections, Onaway has another recall election May 6. The seats of commissioners Bernie Schmeltzer and Ron Horrocks are being challenged.
Brad Porter is trying to unseat Ron Horrocks, while Schmeltzer faces Roger Marsh and Richard Norman. More details regarding the candidates will appear in next week’s edition for candidates iresponding to questionnaires.
Onaway also has its regular election in the fall. Mayor Gary Wregglesworth, who survived a recall challenge last November, has his term coming to an end.