County Seat Newspaper
of Clare County

BOC Appoints Interim District 4 Commissioner

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HARRISON – At the March meeting of the Clare County Board of Commissioners, it was announced by Commissioner Stephanie Brown that she was resigning, immediately. That left her position vacant through the current term, and the winning 2022 election candidate is sworn in and begins service in January 2023. The BOC gathered for a special meeting April 8 to appoint a commissioner to serve as District 4 Commissioner through the end of this year.

Administrator Tracy Byard informed the commissioners that the county’s attorney had informed that it was at the board’s discretion whether to extend the process and do scheduled interviews or simply to appoint an interim commissioner.

Two applicants came before the board to express their interest in the position: George Gilmore of Clare and Jack Kleinhardt, former commissioner for District 4.

When commissioners took the opportunity to ask questions of the candidate, Samantha Pitchford and Sandra Bristol started out by asking if either was working or retired, and if either would have any difficulty showing up for meetings. Gilmore said he is retired, and Kleinhardt note that he is working, but didn’t anticipate any difficulty in attending.

Bronwyn Asplund asked if both were signed up for the November General Election, and learned that Kleinhardt is signed up to run for the new District 6 [Townships of Hatton, Arthur, a large part of Sheridan, and southwest quarter of Hamilton], and Gilmore is running for District 8 [Grant Township, and far west part of Sheridan].

Dale Majewski asked if the candidates could “handle making all that money, $8,500 a year?” which received no reply from the candidates, but several chuckles from commissioners.

Bristol then asked Gilmore what he felt was the key responsibility of a commissioner.

“Communicate between the townships and county commission with their concerns,” he said.

When the question was extended to Kleinhardt, he too said “To listen to the people, and your phone will ring a lot.

“Mine did, all the time,” he said – then he waxed into thoughtful comment. “If I can say, and I was on the board for a long time, when I first started some of us used to get in some heated battles here and there. But after it was over, we would go to lunch or do things. What disappoints me about the whole political climate is the anger. And, as I travel around the state for business and talk to people, the anti-government sentiment is scary – people are mad, and some of them don’t know what they’re mad at, they’re just mad. For me, I’m just a little person in a little part of the world, but I think: What happened? Why are people so angry? And is there anything we can do to put it like it used to be, where we would all get along. We never all agreed, but we all got along.”

Bristol then interjected that she feels it is important that the BOC presents a face to the public that shows it is interested in what the public feels and what is going on.

“And really communicate with them,” she said. “This could be a good organization out there.”

Bristol also ascertained that both applicants realized there were duties beyond district representation, to include serving on multiple committees.

Hearing no further questions for the applicants, it was moved and seconded  that Jack Kleinhardt be appointed as the County Commissioner for District 4. The roll call vote showed four ayes, with Asplund abstaining due to her longtime history with the Kleinhardt family. (Commissioner Rick Fancon was absent/excused.)

After the meeting was adjourned, Kleinhardt was administered his oath of office by County Clerk Lori Mott, making his position official.

The Clare County Board of Commissioners meets at 9 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month in Commission Chambers in the Clare County Building.

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