Candidates make their case for 2024 Board elections
The field is set for this year’s elections for the MAC Board of Directors.
Six county commissioners have filed for the five available seats on the Board that will be filled via regional caucuses held on Sept. 25 at the 2024 Michigan Counties Annual Conference:
- Region I, Seat A
- Region II, Seat A
- Region III, Seat A
- Region V, Seat B
- At-large, Seat C
Only county commissioners registered for the Annual Conference may participate in the six regional caucuses. Only candidates who filed by the Aug. 23 deadline are eligible to be elected.
Regional seats are determined by the votes of that region’s caucus, with each county represented in the caucus room receiving one vote. The at-large seat is filled by the candidate receiving a majority of votes (with each commissioner casting a vote) in at least four of the six caucuses. (For questions on election procedures, contact Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.)
Candidates provided statements to MAC to share with colleagues:
John Malnar, Delta County, Region 1 candidate
I am reaching out to the UP commissioners for support to be elected to the MAC Board of Directors for Region 1.
Just a little about myself: I was born and raised in Gladstone. I have lived in Delta County my whole life. I’m a graduate of Gladstone High School and had some college at Bay de Noc Community College. I retired from Riverside Auto Sales as the service manager/warranty administrator in March 2015.
I ran for county commissioner in 2014, winning the primary election and serving as commissioner for that term. But I lost the election for the next term, only to be appointed to the Road Commission for three years. I then ran for county commissioner and won. This is my third term as county commissioner.
I’m 100 percent for the UP and will fight for the UP.
Craig Reiter, Schoolcraft County, Region 1 candidate
I have put in my name for the open Board seat in Region 1. For those who may not be familiar with me, I have been a commissioner for 12 years, six of which I served as Board chair.
Currently, I am the vice chair and finance chair, a role I enjoy. I have always been actively involved both inside and outside my county.
As a long-time member of several UP boards, including CAA (where I am the current chair), UPCAP (where I serve as the secretary on the executive board) and Hiawatha Behavioral Health (our local CMH), I have attended MAC conferences and served on various committees. Stepping up to the microphone and asking hard questions has never been a challenge for me. I am a strong advocate for the Upper Peninsula and will bring this voice to the MAC Board.
Additionally, I have been deeply engaged in our community mental health system for several years. Currently serving as the first vice president in the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA), I am in my second term. Frequent trips to Lansing for meetings allow me to connect with our legislators. Given the close collaboration between MAC and CMHA on critical issues, being on both boards will be a significant advantage.
I believe that serving in public office is just as vital to our country as my time in the Navy. As an elected official, I consider myself the voice of the people who elected me. In today’s political landscape, officials often fail to listen to their constituents. That’s why I consistently reach out to people and truly listen when they contact me. Everyone in Schoolcraft County deserves a safe and secure place to live and raise their families.
Bryan Kolk, Newaygo County, Region 2 candidate
I feel that I will be a particularly good candidate for the Region 2 seat because of my extensive history with MAC and county government.
Involvement with MAC: I am a current member of the MAC Board and have been very actively involved. I am a member of the MAC Judiciary and Public Safety Committee (7th year) and a member of the MAC General Government and Finance Committee (5th year). Also, I am a trustee for the Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund (6th year) and serve on the fund’s Safety Committee (2nd year). I am familiar with MAC’s 2024 legislative priorities and have the privilege of working directly on the policy platforms with the above committees.
County government: I began on the Newaygo County Board in 2017 and was elected as Board chair in 2019, a position I continue to hold. I’m proud to say the elected officials in Newaygo have an excellent rapport and working relationship. That is important in understanding the many nuances and how all of the different parts of government work together, which is so important as we face issues brought from other forms of government (local, state, federal) as well as the legal challenges from individuals, groups and businesses. We all have to work together in order to make counties run well.
Other county experience: I didn’t just happen to run for county commissioner. I do so after completing 32 years of service to Newaygo County as a deputy sheriff, where I held a number of different jobs within the department, all of which broadened my experience with not only the courts, dispatch and the Prosecutor’s Office, but also with almost all of the other county offices and many different state departments. My biggest strength in these interactions was in my ability to see different perspectives of the same issue and then discuss and come to a reasonable conclusion.
Other education: I hold an associate’s degree in criminal justice, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration.
I will appreciate your consideration and vote at the conference.
Rick Shaffer, St. Joseph County, Region 3 candidate
Rick Shaffer is a 40-year resident of St. Joseph County and is widely known for his active service in health care and county government activities.
As a current county commissioner, with over 20 years of service, he often refers to himself as the “historic voice of reason.” Widely known in St. Joseph County for his many years of advocacy for youth and senior programs, Shaffer, 69, is a Registered Nurse. He currently works as the director of the Outreach Patient Services (previous CEO) for Covered Bridge Healthcare (Federally Qualified Healthcare Center) in Centreville.
His five-decade career includes: funeral/ambulance service, pediatric nursing manager, nursing home administrator, 59th District State Representative and director of Three Rivers Home Care and Hospice. His participation on multiple county boards includes Community Mental Health (Pivotal), Centreville Downtown Development Authority, Community Action Agency, Commission on Aging, Area Agency on Aging (3B), St. Joseph County Planning and Parks and Recreation.
His community volunteerism includes Rotary (past president), the St. Joseph County United Way Board and Hope for Animals Board. He was named the Three Rivers Citizen of the Year by the Three Rivers Lions Club. Through his church, he has made 20 annual trips, taking students to support medical activities in dental, medical and optometric services in Haiti and/or the Dominican Republic.
Rick and his wife Sara are grandparents, raising their two preschool grandchildren.
“As residents of St. Joseph County, we are fortunate to have high quality lifestyle opportunities,” Shaffer said. “We have an abundance of services including business, industry, recreation, healthcare, and agribusiness. In addition, our seniors are able to take advantage of county-supported transportation.”
As a long-time county commissioner and former state representative, Shaffer has long been a supporter of MAC and the initiatives it provides to Michigan counties and its commissioners. He shares a desire to continue serving on the MAC Board of Directors, and pledges: “I will commit my time and broad-based career experiences to support the MAC Board that advances communication and cooperation between Michigan’s county governments and the state and federal governments.”
As a fulfillment of that promise, Shaffer’s current service to the MAC Board includes perfect Board attendance, participation and support of Advocacy Programs. In addition, he encouraged St. Joseph County to become members of NACo; he recently attended the 2024 NACo Conference where he serves on the Health Policy Steering Committee.
Sarah Lucido, Macomb County, Region 5 candidate
I am running for re-election to the MAC Board (Region 5, Seat B) because I want to continue to be an advocate for the vital work that we all do for our counties. I believe in promoting local control. I have learned so much since joining the Board about the issues that are affecting counties statewide. I know the importance of empowering counties to address these issues in ways that make sense for their residents, rather than settling for one size fits all policy making in Lansing.
Two years ago, I was elected to the 13th District on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners. Before that, I spent seven years serving the residents of my community on Eastpointe’s City Council. Although I have lived my adult life in Macomb County, I spent a large part of my childhood living in Roscommon County and I have family ties that stretch across the northern Lower Peninsula. My husband and I own property in Crawford County, and we spend a significant amount of time there each year. While, certainly not unique, I believe that my experiences and personal ties across Michigan provide me with some added perspective on the diversity of our state. It has made me hungry to continue to learn more about the needs of both urban and rural Michigan.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you at our upcoming MAC conference. I am excited to continue working together to move Michigan forward.
Melissa Daub, Wayne County, At-large candidate
I am requesting your support in re-electing me for an at-large seat on the MAC Board of Directors. I was elected to the Wayne County Commission in November 2018, where I represent Wayne County’s 10th District, encompassing Canton Township, the city of Plymouth and a portion of Plymouth Township. I remain committed to giving the people of Plymouth-Canton a voice in county governance, as well as using my position to help advocate for and educate residents on the important role counties play.
I am a graduate of Plymouth-Canton High School and hold a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. I live in Canton with my son and my senior rescue dog, Toby. Prior to serving on the Wayne County Commission, I worked in the accounting field, with extensive experience in both leadership and individual contributor positions.
Shortly after becoming county commissioner, I joined MAC’s Transportation Committee. As the representative for two townships, county road funding is a very important issue to my district. One of my long-term goals is to fully understand how Act 51 works. In September of 2024, I am slated to become the President of MAC.
I am not only a strong advocate for Plymouth-Canton and Wayne County, but also for Michigan at the federal level through my participation within the National Association of Counties (NACo). I am a member of NACo’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Large Urban County Caucus. In April 2021, I completed NACo’s High Performance Leadership Course, which helped in furthering my government leadership capabilities. In 2024, I was chosen as one of the few county leaders to participate in the 19th annual County Leadership Institute.
On the Wayne County Commission, I am currently serving as chair of the Committee on Audit. I am also on the Committee on Public Safety, Judiciary and Homeland Security and the Committee of Seniors and Veterans Affairs. Additionally, I have been appointed to the Wayne County Women’s Commission and the Joint Airport Zoning Board for Wayne and Washtenaw counties.
In addition to my state and federal leadership, I also place a strong focus on regional and local advocacy through my involvement within the following organizations: SEMCOG Healthy Climate Task Force, Michigan Workload Assessment Committee, Regional Review Committee (SEMCOG), Plymouth Rotary, Families Against Narcotics Advisory Board and Canton Township Chamber of Commerce Mast-HER-Mind Group (co-chair). I am also a program mentor within Canton Township’s Lead LikeAGirl and Girl Scouts of Southeast Michigan.
I am incredibly passionate about serving as a county commissioner. Local government has an immediate impact on people’s lives, and I enjoy making positive changes in my community. People call us when a pothole needs to be filled or a traffic light needs to be installed, but we also handle serious emergencies. Counties were on the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic and here in Wayne County, we are actively responding to the aftermath of the continuous flooding that impacts the lives and well-being of our residents.
Our day-to-day efforts are what make MAC important and indispensable. MAC unites all 83 counties to become one voice at the state and federal level. As a MAC Board member, I would continue to advocate for a more inclusive and engaged membership, aimed at increasing conference attendance and encouraging commissioners to serve on committees. These efforts would make our voice even stronger as we work on important issues that affect every county in Michigan.
Thank you for your consideration.
