I've found it interesting to hear that some of our county commissioners think we need five road commissioners.

Here is some of the history of Mackinac County I will share with you. I hired in as a heavy equipment operator October 3, 1985. At that time, we had an appointed road commission. There were three appointed commissioners: Chuck Blanc from Moran, Con Shoberg from Cedarville, and Richard Pershinske from Engadine. Voters in the late 1980s made a change to an elected board of three for the road commission. I was at a public meeting when people from the west end of the county were afraid they would never get a replacement for Pershinske on their end of the county. I told them they probably would get a replacement if they had a good candidate from up there to run for the position. If my memory serves me right, Lester Livermore was the first one up there to run, and he did win the election. He completed a six-year term and was re-elected to another term. Gary Reid from Cedarville completed two six-year terms as road commissioner. He chose not to run in 2000.

At that time, I decided to run for the position. The road commissioners then passed a resolution stating that if a road commission employee runs for political office, he has to take a leave without pay of 60 days prior to each election.

In spite of this added expense to me, I ran for office. John Duncan of Cedarville won the election by 80 votes. I was allowed to come back to work then.

In 2003, the three road commissioners changed their resolution. It now states if you run for any Mackinac County office, you have to take 60 days off prior to the elections without pay. There are about 40 people employed at the Mackinac County Road Commission, and with this resolution in place, they cannot afford to run for any Mackinac County office.

In the years between 2000 and 2006, people had a lot of changes made they had to accept. We went from four garages to two garages. The commissioners at that time made these changes and picked the locations for the garages. I built the buildings of their choice.

Many voters throughout the county encouraged me to run again. Some voters wanted me because they know I have a lot of road working experience throughout the county. Some people wanted me because they were unhappy with a lot of prior decisions that were made by previous road commissioners. And some voters felt it was time for a change.

I do plan on making some changes. You voters need to keep us road commissioners informed of what changes you want.

Our prior board said they could get by with three road commissioners, and I agree with them. In two years, you will have the opportunity to replace one road commissioner if you would like.

The voters already made their decision. They do not want an appointed road commission.

Here is my view of it as a voter and taxpayer and your newly elected road commissioner.
Frank P. Luepnitz,
                Moran

Editor's Note: Mr. Luepnitz is chairman of the Mackinac County Road Commission.