BUCHANAN HOSTS FORUM FOR CONTESTED COMMISSION SEATS

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
With the Nov. 8 election less than two weeks away, candidates are making their case to be elected to local, county and state offices.
In southern Berrien County, there are contested races for county commissioner, city commission and school board as well as proposals on the ballot to fund township millages and school district improvements.
Buchanan has some of the most contested races with five people running for three seats on the Buchanan City Commission and five people running for two seats on the Buchanan Board of Education. In addition, Buchanan school district voters are being asked to approve a $34.97 million bond issue to fund school improvements.
The League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties held a candidate forum last week for the Buchanan City Commission race. The five candidates introduced themselves and answered questions submitted by residents. A video of the forum is available on the Buchanan city’s website and YouTube channel.
Incumbents Sean Denison and Mark Weedon are facing off with three challengers: Anthony Hauser, Monroe Lemay and Dan Vigansky. Current commissioner Cameron Downey did not file to run for re-election.
Denison and Weedon are both involved in the business world, Houser is the chef and partner at the River St. Joe restaurant, Lemay has headed a number of local non-profit organizations and Vigansky is retired after a career in business. Vigansky served on the commission from 2014-18, while Lemay has run unsuccessfully twice before.
Candidates gave opening and closing statements and answered questions submitted by residents during the hour-long forum.
Denison and Weedon touted the accomplishments of the last four years and said they wanted that spirit of cooperation to continue. They said they have the skills and experience in business to keep the city moving forward.
Houser said his experience in the hospitality industry would prove beneficial to the city if he’s elected. Lemay stressed the diversity of her background growing up in other countries in helping her deal with different people. Vigansky said he’s not afraid to say no, to think through issues and hold people accountable.
One issue where candidates disagreed was marijuana. The city embraced recreational marijuana businesses a few years ago and now has several retail and other marijuana businesses open in the city which has brought in both people and revenue.
Lemay said she was not happy with the city’s decision to allow marijuana businesses but said she has been pleasantly surprised as to how businesses have been maintained. “It goes against my philosophy and I see it as problematic,” she said. “But it’s here and I would like to see more of an educational platform to inform people.”
Houser sees the marijuana businesses to be good for both medical and economic development reasons. “It’s here and we should build off this and use the money we’ve gotten for economic development,” he said. “The fact is people are coming to town and we need to keep them in town. They are not a rag tag bunch of people.”
Vigansky noted that he was on the commission when marijuana was approved and was in favor of it then despite the objections of opponents. “To me, it was pretty much all about the money,” he said. “We’ve had a real estate boom and the marijuana money has built the city up.”
Weedon said he’s been a proponent of marijuana and not only because he worked for a local marijuana business in the past. “These businesses have filled vacant properties and those who wanted something different didn’t bring us any plans,” he said. “I’m working with (State Rep.) Brad Paquette to pass legislation which would allow us to levy local taxes.”
Denison said he’s a proponent of small government and personal freedom and sees allowing marijuana businesses as part of that. He said it was wise to allow marijuana. “People are visiting here and moving here,” he said. “My concern is to find other industries so we won’t end up with another Clark (Equipment) situation if the marijuana businesses leave.”
In the Buchanan Board of Education race, incumbent board member Harvey Burnett is facing off with four challengers, Jennie Brackett, Mary Macigewski, Tra’sha Myers and Donald Ryman. All are Buchanan residents. Incumbent Chris Lee did not file to run for re-election.
Burnett has been on the board for 22 years and is the current board president. He is also the Buchanan police chief.
Brackett is making her first run for the school board. She is a longtime school and community volunteer.
Macigewski is making her first run for office. She has been endorsed by the “We The Parents” organization.
Myers is also making her first run for office.
Ryman is a former Berrien County Commissioner, serving in that position for 16 years. He has been endorsed by the “We The Parents” organization and the South County Republican Club.
Buchanan school district residents will also be asked to approve a $34.97 million bond issue to fund improvements to district schools. If approved, the millage to pay it off will run until 2049 and require a 3.5 mill levy in its first year. That levy will decline as other millages fall off.
Buchanan Superintendent Patricia Robinson said the bond issue proposal was developed over more than a year and after input from staff, parents and community members. The proposal calls for building classrooms and a gym at Moccasin Elementary, making upgrades at Buchanan High School and making sports complex improvements.
She noted that the district has taken advantage of federal funds to make other infrastructure improvements. She also said that the millage levy required to pay back the bond issue will fall from 3.5 extra mills as other debt millages are paid off. She said the district’s millage levy will actually be just 1.65 mills higher than what it was in 2015.
Other races and proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot include contested races for county commissioner in the 5th, 8th, 9th and 12th districts, a six way race for four Bridgman City Commission seats, a seven way race for three seats on the Coloma City Commission and a five way race for two seats on the New Buffalo City Council.
The Nov. 8 ballot will also see a five way race for three Berrien Springs Village Council seats, a four way race for three seats on the Grand Beach Village Council and a four way race for three seats on the Three Oaks Village Council.
People can see the full list of candidates on the www.berriencounty.org website.
In addition to three statewide proposals on term limits, voting rights and aborition, there is one countywide proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot to increase and extend the county public safety millage by up to .45 mill and through 2026.
Several local proposals are on the ballot, for everything from road repairs to allowing recreational marijuana businesses. The marijuana proposals are in Hagar Township and Niles Township.