Jim Storey at MAC’s Lansing offices prior to testifying to a Senate committee on four-year terms for commissioners.
Allegan County Commissioner Jim Storey and Dickinson County’s Joe Stevens testified Thursday (April 29) in favor of four-year terms for county commissioners before the Senate Local Government Committee.
The duo spoke on behalf of Senate Bills 242 and 245.
Senate Bill 242, by Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Dickinson), and SB 245, by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Oakland) would bring four-year terms to Michigan in the 2024 presidential election cycle. Passage of these bills would end Michigan’s status as one of just five states with two-year terms on all commissioners.
In his testimony, Storey said, “In short, county commissioners are responsible for overseeing county governments whose job is service delivery, every day of every week of every month of every year. Being distracted from this service delivery, not legislative, function by short elected terms disserves the residents we share.”
MAC continues to encourage commissioners to add their voices to the four-year term effort. As of Thursday afternoon, 54 county leaders had responded. Please add your voice to this effort today by clicking here.
MAC also requests that counties adopt official resolutions of support for the legislation. To download a template for this purpose, click here.