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Partisan Primary could pose dilemma for Keweenaw voters
EAGLE RIVER -- Some voters in Keweenaw County may face a dilemma when they go to the polls on Tuesday, August 6, for the Michigan primary elections. Michigan's primaries are partisan elections -- which means a citizen can vote for one party only.
The problem in Keweenaw County is that some voters might want to vote for a Republican for a local office and a Democrat for Governor or vice versa.
 "The message is not getting out," said Keweenaw County Commissioner Don Keith. "My greatest concern is voter apathy and an uninformed electorate."
Keith said he realized, in talking to voters, that some of his constituents were unaware of the partisan nature of the Michigan primaries.
"If you split your ballot, you void it," Keith said. "It complicates so many of the races."
He noted one voter had expressed dismay when told that it would be impossible, for example, to vote for a Republican choice for County Commissioner and a Democrat for Governor.
"You vote by the party and by the party only in the state of Michigan," Keith noted.
This is not the situation in all states; and it is different from the November election, when it is possible to split a ballot in Michigan.
Keith, a Republican, who is running unopposed for his seat on the County Board, said Eagle Harbor residents who wish to vote for him or for their present Republican Township Supervisor, Doug Sherk, would then have to forego voting for one of the four Democrats running for a seat on the County Road Commission, even though at least two of those candidates have expressed views very similar to those of Keith and Sherk, who have been very involved in the Keweenaw County Land Use Planning
effort.
Both Bruce Olson of Eagle Harbor and Al Gunnari of Mohawk are running for the County Road Commission seat, to be vacated by Commissioner Fred Gaabo, who will retire in November.
 Olson, a member of the Eagle Harbor Volunteer Fire Department and First Responders, has served on the Eagle Harbor Coastal Recreation Area and Wildlife Refuge Planning Committee and the Eagle Harbor Solid Waste Committee and has helped groom and maintain the Eagle Harbor Ski Trail.
He and his wife Jeane Olson, Eagle Harbor Township clerk, have been full-time residents of Eagle Harbor for the last 10 years.
Olson has said he wants to hear residents' thoughts on "Keweenaw County's Roads and Parks, the Mountain Lodge and the Golf Course."
The County owns the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course near Copper Harbor, and the Road Commissioners serve as a management board for the facility.
 Gunnari, who said he has been thinking about running for the Road Commission seat for the past year, noted more work could be done on the Mountain Lodge, such as adding nine more holes of golf or enlarging the Lodge so that it could accommodate bigger events, such as conventions and big weddings.
"I think that's a jewel in Keweenaw County," he said. "I thought I'd try to do as good a job as Fred (Gaabo) -- or better."
Gunnari said he had talked with Lonie Glieberman, president of Black Bear (Mount Bohemia Ski Hill developer) and Lonie's father Bernie recently about the possibility of winterizing the Mountain Lodge -- a concept that has often been the subject of discussion -- even studied by the County -- but so far not attempted.
According to Gunnari, Lonie Glieberman indicated he would favor winterizing the Mountain Lodge so it could be used by Mt. Bohemia skiers, as well as
snowmobilers.
Gunnari has been involved with Allouez Township's Land Use Planning Committee and often attends township, County Board and Zoning/Planning Commission meetings. Recently, he has not been able to attend meetings as regularly because of a serious health problem of a family member. He said he tries to keep up with what is going on in Keweenaw County and he favors a land use plan.
"I think that tourism and land use planning have to go hand in hand," Gunnari said. "If you don't have one you're not going to have the other."
One of Al Gunnari's favorite places is the Cliff Drive, near Ahmeek. He said he would hate to see it ruined with signage. He also favors making U.S. 41 a Heritage Route from the north end of Mohawk to Copper Harbor. Although Keweenaw County does not allow billboards, Gunnari said he is not pleased with some large business signs either.
"It's so nice to ride through an area like Keweenaw County and not see a billboard," he said. "I want my grandkids and their grandkids to look at the beauty of Keweenaw and enjoy it as much as we have."
Gunnari has four daughters and 11 grandchildren, four of whom he and his wife have adopted. Born in Ahmeek, he has lived in Keweenaw County a good part of his life and has been a year-round resident of Mohawk for about 10 years.
Three other candidates are running for the Road Commission seat: Gary Hubbard of Mohawk (Republican), Jack Ketola of Mohawk (Democrat) and Joel Tuoriniemi of Mohawk (Democrat).
In another primary race, two Republican candidates are vying for a seat on the County Board of Commissioners: Tom Collins of Lac La Belle and Clyde Wescoat II of Copper Harbor are both running for District 1 Commissioner.
Like Keith, Commissioners Frank Stubenrauch (District 4) and Gordon Roberts (District 5) are running unopposed,
but as Democrats.
In District 3, Commissioner Eric Bjorn is running as a Republican, and former Commissioner Annette Gagnon is running as a Democrat. Both are Mohawk residents.
Other candidates running unopposed include: Doug Sherk, Republican, of Eagle Harbor, running for Eagle Harbor Township Supervisor; Karen Trucks-Karl, Republican, of Copper Harbor, running unopposed for Grant Township Treasurer.
For Grant Township Trustee, Richard Powers of Copper Harbor is running as a Republican, and Chuck Brumleve of Lac La Belle is running as a Democrat.
In Sherman Township, Clerk Adeline Schmidt is running as a Republican for re-election, while Ed Kraai is running as a Democrat for Trustee.
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