East Jordan City Commission candidates speak at local forum

EAST JORDAN — Four of the six candidates for city commission participated in a Meet the Candidates forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Lower Northern Michigan on Oct. 25.

Six candidates are running for four available city commissioner positions. Current commissioners Philip Hofweber, Paul Timmons, Amy Sherman and Daniel Miller are running for reelection and Melyssa (Mel) Lindenthal and Peter Sladick are challengers.

However, Hofweber and Lindenthal were unable to participate in the forum.

The East Jordan City Commission consists of seven members elected by the voters of the city at large. The regular election of commission members occurs at the regular city election in each odd numbered year, commission members are elected for four-year terms.

More: Q&A: East Jordan City Commission candidates describe backgrounds, priorities

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Several questions were asked of the four candidates by a League moderator.

One question asked if the candidates would support a marijuana dispensary in East Jordan.

Timmons responded that he "would have to know that it was safe for the community," adding "what I'm hearing is that we don't want our community known for it."

Miller said he would not support dispensaries.

"Public safety, mental health and physical health issues that have to be explored before you say yes," Miller said.

Sherman said, "We need to look to other towns who have these dispensaries," and gave an example of a city that had reinvented itself after allowing the economic growth from the marijuana industry into its community.

Sladick said he would "fully support marijuana in our communities."

"I think the tax dollars that would come back to our cities could be absolutely amazing," said Sladick. He also suggested looking at other communities for comparison.

All the candidates were asked what they would do to help downtown businesses survive.

Miller said he would welcome anything from the public that may have something positive to bring forth.

Sherman said "we need to talk to landlords about taking pride in their property." She also wanted to "encourage different businesses to step outside when the festivals occur."

Sladick said "it would help if businesses downtown would help each other." He gave an example of shop owner Mary Faculack who has things outside on the sidewalk "as much as she can", and asked, "what do we need to do downtown to help businesses play off each other?"

When asked how East Jordan should address affordable housing in the community, Sladick said, "I don't know how to address that." He explained how his work at the bank revealed housing to be a big issue in the community.

"You look at $1,400 a month in rent for two bedroom houses and people can’t afford that," said Sladick.

Timmons pointed to a piece of city property on Mt. Bliss Road that could be used for workforce housing. Miller also referred to locations that could possibly be developed for housing in the city, also specifically mentioning the city's "Mt. Bliss property" as well as land owned by the school "up on the north playground." He stated, with "a little pressure on the school board, maybe we could use that."

Sherman acknowledged that housing was a major issue in the community and how solutions take time to realize.

"We are moving toward that but it takes a long time," she said, adding that the public school and library were large properties owners with land that could be used for housing. "We have been in correspondence with them," said Sherman.

She encouraged citizens to "step it up" and get involved in the process.

— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: East Jordan City Commissioner candidates speak at forum