Allegan County Commissioner Jim Storey salutes the audience following his inaugural remarks as MAC’s 115th Board president on Oct. 2 at the 2023 MAC Annual Conference in Kalamazoo. (Brooke Peters Photography)
During regional caucuses held at the Michigan Counties Annual Conference Oct. 1-3 in Kalamazoo, MAC members re-elected four members of the 16-member MAC Board of Directors:
- Stan Ponstein of Kent County
- Richard Schmidt of Manistee County
- Joe Bonovetz of Gogebic County
- Jim Storey of Allegan County
Storey also was sworn in on Oct. 2 as MAC’s 115th Board president, becoming only the second Allegan County commissioner to hold the post.
Joining Storey as Board officers for the 2023-24 term are:
- Melissa Daub of Wayne County (first vice president)
- Antoinette Wallace of Macomb County (second vice president)
Kent County’s Ponstein becomes immediate past president, having finished his term during MAC’s 125th Anniversary year.
On Oct. 3, during their Annual Business Meeting, MAC members approved policy platforms developed by MAC’s policy committees overseeing issue areas ranging from finance to agriculture and tourism.
“Next year, voters will choose for the first time to entrust each of our 83 counties to Commissioners elected to four-year terms. It is a moment in the history of Michigan county government that opens the door for great opportunity and results if we are together,” Storey said during his address at the 125th Anniversary Gala on Oct. 2. “Getting ready for the four years terms is an exciting prospect. It will give commissioners the time we need to examine how well we serve, to seriously evaluate current programs and services and to explore new areas in response to citizen requests.”
MAC’s 2024 Annual Conference will be Sept. 24-26 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Grand Traverse County.
Officers for the Michigan Association of Counties’ Board of Directors in 2023-24 will be (l-r): Antoinette Wallace of Macomb County (2nd vice president), Jim Storey of Allegan County (president), Melissa Daub of Wayne County (1st vice president) and Stan Ponstein of Kent County (immediate past president).