Grand Traverse County board gets a new look

TRAVERSE CITY -- Christine Maxbauer may switch from a solo role in pushing and prodding a set-in-its-ways Grand Traverse County board to leading a newly constructed board.

Maxbauer, who often found herself at odds with the board's old guard, could find some support in January from new commissioners-elect Beth Friend, Mike Stepka and Ross Richardson.

After Tuesday's election, Maxbauer said she received several telephone calls from people who encouraged her to run for county board chairwoman.

One of those calls came from Grand Traverse Republican Party chairwoman Molly Agostinelli.

"She certainly mixes things up," Agostinelli said, "and if you're going to complain, you ought to step up to the plate and run the show."

Commissioner Larry Inman is promoting himself for vice chairman and Commissioner Dick Thomas for chairman because, with board Chairman Addison Wheelock Jr., they are the most experienced commissioners, he said. Between them, they have more than 40 years on the board.

Voters also returned commissioners Larry Fleis and Bruce Hooper to office for second terms.

Stepka, Richardson, and Friend all said they haven't given any thought to who should run the board, but all three closely align with Maxbauer on several issues.

Stepka has criticized the board's inability to resolve long-running problems such as how to fund recycling and what to do about the financially failing county septage treatment plant.

"With three new people, hopefully we will be able to bring some new ideas and make the hard decisions that are in the best overall interest of the county," said Stepka, who defeated Commissioner Herb Lemcool in the August primary.

Richardson, a Democrat who defeated Dave Barr on Tuesday, said he hopes the new faces can change board dynamics. Electing Maxbauer as chairwoman would "make things interesting right off the bat," he said.

Wheelock, who by tradition will step down after two years at the helm, said the new board is taking over in "difficult times" and will face formidable issues.

"In the next two years I think you'll see the recycling issue solved, I think you will see some hard decisions regarding the septage plant be made, and I think with this board we will address the roads in Grand Traverse County," Maxbauer said. "This board will stand up and make difficult decisions that are not always popular but represent the values of the public."

Photos

Beth Friend

Mike Stepka

Ross Richardson