ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Wednesday, candidates in the only two contested races for the Delta County Board of Commissioners addressed the crowd at Escanaba City Hall.

The Delta County League of Women Voters hosted a forum with segments for four major races. The County Commission segment included Districts 3 and 4.

Myra Croasdell, the incumbent District 3 executive, won her position in the May recall election, unseating Bob Barron. Croasdell, who is again running for office without party affiliation, faces Republican candidate Christine Williams, a former member of the Escanaba Planning Commission.

Croasdell said she has shown that she works well with her fellow commissioners in achieving goals.

“We network together,” Croasdell says. “Kelli (Van Ginhoven) can call me; I can call Mr. (John) Malnar. This is a team effort for Delta County, bringing them all together. We’re just not segmented between District 4, District 3, District 1. We are Delta County.”

Williams previously served as Vice President of Operations at Bay College. She said this role has given her expertise in various administrative areas that could help the board make crucial decisions.

“Not only do I understand facilities and grounds, buildings, information technology and accreditation processes, I have a whole range of skills and experience that I think I could bring to the province that would be very beneficial,” Williams said. “I’m happy to be able to provide these resources and skills.”

District 4 Democratic incumbent Kelli Van Ginhoven also became commissioner in the May recall election, taking the seat from Republican David Moyle. Van Ginhoven was present at the forum, Moyle was not.

Van Ginhoven said the board has made improvements to the county’s operations and resources since the recall vote. She hopes to continue that work as a commissioner.

“I feel like a person who shows up, puts forward great ideas, knows how to fight for what I think is right,” she said. “Our committee is currently a great, collaborative and cohesive unit. We don’t always agree, but we respectfully disagree.”

One of the many questions from the audience was about whether it is important to attend city and municipal meetings as a district commissioner. Van Ginhoven began her answer with an emphatic ‘Yes.’

“What I can bring to the city and what the city can do for us is almost irreplaceable,” she said. “A perfect example was the assessment of our new manager. We took that directly from the city of Escanaba. I saw their new 360 evaluation template that they used a few years ago. I found our manager’s assessment archaic… I contacted Jim McNeil at the council… and we used it to develop our new manager’s assessment. I couldn’t have done that if I didn’t have a good working relationship with city employees.”

Croasdell, whose district includes several townships, agreed.

“They’re the ones who put you in the seat,” she said. ‘You are their representative. They need to see that you care about their townships, their concerns… You need to be there.”

Williams, a regular at local meetings, said township board meetings are a “critical time” to gather information.

“You take information from the province and inform their board,” she said. “They don’t necessarily have the time to attend provincial meetings, so you are the conduit for what’s happening at the provincial level. I think it’s incredibly important.”

The candidates also told voters what they hope to achieve if elected. As commissioner, Williams said she would work to address housing issues and find ways to save the county money.

“I do believe there is data within our townships and cities in their planning documents that will help highlight where our needs really lie,” she said. “I also hope to provide some of the services that I can provide to the county through process mapping or looking at a very detailed process to determine where we have redundant services.”

Croasdell said Delta County is doing very well, and she plans to keep the board “moving forward” if re-elected.

“Keep our governance transparent, keep ethical leadership in it, hold people accountable when necessary,” Croasdell said.

Van Ginhoven’s top priority would be the expansion of Delta County Airport. She said she would also work to increase wages for county workers and establish a mental health court.

“A mental health court would be along the same lines as our drug and sobriety court,” Van Ginhoven said. “I think it could create a lot of potentially excellent partnerships with our justice system if we could make progress on that.”

To hear more voter questions and answers from Croasdell, Williams and Van Ginhoven, watch the full forum on the City of Escanaba YouTube channel. For information about David Moyle’s candidacy, click here.

On Thursday, WZMQ 19 will hear more from the forum on the races for Gladstone City Commissioner and the 108th District seat of the State House of Representatives.