By Austin Gonzales
UNIVERSITY CENTER – Two employees of Delta College are looking to take a stand in Bay County. This upcoming election, Delta English professor, Kathie Marchlewski, and campus public safety officer, Christopher Rupp are running for county commissioner.
Kathie Marchlewski, 2nd District Nominee, Delta College Professor of English:
As a leader of our Democracy Commitment Civic Engagement Team at Delta, I teach students to advocate for improvements and resolutions they want to see in their communities. I tell them: “The Government” is not some outside force. “They” are Us and We are “They.” By serving on the Bay County Commission, I will show them this is true.
Q: What does running in this election mean to you?
A: So I’ve always been really interested in local politics, from my time as a reporter when I was at the Bay City Times, I covered city government and some county government stuff. But additionally when I worked for the Midland Daily News, I covered a lot of county government and city council meetings. And what I learned during that time is that community voices are really critical to the decision making process. I think people are more engaged with local politics than they used to be and that tends to occur when there’s something in the community that people are unhappy with.
Q: What’s something(s) you hope to change if elected?
A: Advocating for our region in terms of securing state and federal funding for projects including our bridge, that’s number one. Number two, so every county in Michigan is getting money from an opioid settlement, and it’s kind of a lot of money. We’re going to have to decide how that is best spent to serve our residents. And my third thing by the way, right now county commissioners right now receive health and life insurance for this part time position and we need to get rid of that. It’s very expensive. There’s no reason that taxpayers should be taking on that huge expense for commissioners that are serving in a part time capacity.
Q: What’s the main message of your campaign? What do you do that makes you stand out in this upcoming election?
A: I am a Mom to three children in Bay County Schools and an English Professor at Delta College. I teach about 300 students each year, including my own, and wish the same thing for all of them – that when they finish their degree or trade program they will want to stay in beautiful Bay County. I don’t think there’s a better place to live in the state. Here we can affordably live with a boat in our backyard or drive it down the road to launch. We can drop a line to fish downtown or ride out to the bay on our snowmobiles. Middle class residents don’t get to do that on the west side of the state or in most other places across the country. I want Bay County to continue to be a place that is affordable, safe, vibrant with jobs and attractive with recreational opportunities.
Q: What words do you have for Delta student voters?
A: It’s really, really important for young people to cast their votes. I know that young people are frustrated with our political landscape. And with all of the division that’s occurring in their communities large and small, including in their homes and their friend groups as they move through the world, of course they’re experiencing all of this tension. I want them to know that the politics that matter most are local politics. Those are the decisions that are going to affect us. And so if you’re tired of hearing people argue about the big picture issues like, Immigration, or, you know, trans or gay rights, abortion, whatever, all those things and those conversations are difficult for you, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t cast your vote.
Christopher Rupp, 5th District Nominee, Delta College Public Safety Officer
When I retired from the Bay City Police Department I had been acting chief for a couple years; I was deputy chief. People were surprised that I wasn’t interested in seeking a chief’s job somewhere. And I said, well you know, if there was a chief job in this area, I might be interested in it but that’s not my priority. My priority is, I want to say, in this area. This is where my family is. This is where my friends are. This is where my roots are.
Q: What does running in this election mean to you?
A: As a Commissioner, you need to be a good contact point for people, people that have issues at the county level and a lot of times it’s a quality of life type thing, whether it be some kind of crime… I may not have the direct answer or the information, but I put you in contact with someone who does. I can put you in contact with somebody from the Sheriff’s Department or somebody from animal control or somebody from zoning.
Q: What’s something(s) you hope to improve for your district?
A: The big thing has been the bridges and the privatization of two of the four bridges, you know. And even though that’s within Bay County, it’s the City of Bay City that owns those bridges. Some of the big issues right now is the municipal swimming pool within Bay City, which is old enough that it’s gotten to the point where the maintenance costs have made it unfeasible… I don’t know if you want to call kicking the can down the road, but this current Commission decided they’re going to put a mileage issue on the ballot in November. So in the eyes of most people it’s been settled and yet it hasn’t been settled yet because the next thing is gonna be that one. What’s going to happen if that mileage doesn’t pass? You know, it’s a dead issue, it’s at the end of the county funding and operating a municipal swimming. And two, even if the mileage does pass, exactly what’s going to be done with that mileage money? Because there’s several plans as far as what they would do if the mileage does pass. So that’s a task that the Commission is going to have in front of them, is determining how those mileage dollars are going to be spent for that pool facility.
Q: What would you say are some of the most serious problems facing your district right now?
A: Roads are always an issue. There’s a lot of money being spent right now on roads, but most of that money does not trickle down to the local municipalities or even the County Road Commissions. That’s always a challenge, and that’s not just in Bay County, obviously that’s statewide. So roads and other infrastructure: sewers, water, you know, all the things that build the base for accounting to operate things to make it attractive for businesses to come into Bay County as well as residents.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with Delta student voters?
A: Just the fact that I’ve lived in Bay County my entire life. Born and raised there, went to school there. Went to work for the Bay City Police Department when I was 21 years old, so it’s where I’ve been my whole life. It’s where I’ve chosen to stay, where I’ve raised my family. This is where my roots are and because of that, you know I’m (in)vested in the community. I feel a certain, I don’t know if I’d want to call it a responsibility, but a loyalty to Bay County. And I think by being on the County Commission, I can give back; that I can help the residents of not just the fifth district but the entire county to be a good representative to. To make sure that tax dollars are spent wisely, that you know, common sense is always used when we face problems no matter what those problems are.
