Delta County Commissioner District 4 Choose 1
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
906-235-8427
Email
moyledavidc4@gmail.com
Age
60
Biography
Born and raised in Escanaba, I am the proud father of a 10-year-old girl. I have roots in Delta County because I am from Delta county and proud of it.
Education
Two masters degrees in blindness, rehabilitation and special education
Why are you seeking this seat?
I was elected to this seat on November 8 of 2022 overwhelmingly. I feel it is the peoples seat, and I also feel it was their decision to return me to my seventh term of Office. This recall falls on political lines and is happening because my opponent is a sore loser in the general election. I’m sorry to say that, but it’s the truth, my first six terms were not marked by chaos, if you look back, historically, he will understand that I’ve done a lot of good things for the county. My policies have been very good for Delta County so my opponent has had to lie to smear my image, it’s unfortunate. Make a decision about how you wanna live and who you want running the county.
What do you consider the biggest challenge facing the County?
We as a nation are heading towards a financial sinkhole, which could leave us in a similar situation to the Weimar Republic.. Delta county needs to stay financially viable, fiscally responsible, and needs to maintain the ability to think outside the box. Protecting the citizens of the county is an extremely important job. Unlike Washington DC we can’t print our own money, and, unlike Lansing we simply can’t mandate laws that are not funded. Maintaining the county operations in the black and providing outstanding services for taxpayers is a critical challenge. We won’t do that by tearing each other down.
What do you consider the biggest challenge facing the Board of County Commissioners?
Currently, it is the destructive nature of political attacks that has come to the county board. Typically, the challenges that face the board are balancing a budget, attracting new manufacturing to the area which increases the number of jobs we can offer our youth. As well as maintaining the infrastructure of the county. For example the new jail, our landfill, providing adequate law-enforcement, and maintaining the quality of life here in Delta county.
In 2010 our parks were a challenge, now they are a destination, I’ve been here for the whole ride and I’m very proud of the condition that our parks are in, that was no mistake. It was by design.
What would be your top three priorities as a County Commissioner?
My top three priorities have always been,…
1. A balanced budget and operating within our financial means. Unlike my opponent, I have never said we need to raise your taxes, it’ll be a cold day in hell before that happens. It’s your money it needs to stay in your pocket government needs to keep out of your hair.
2 Provide law enforcement adequate funding and training needed to keep this county safe.
3 Entice manufacturing through targeted tax credits, bringing in jobs and opportunity to Delta county.
Letting people have their voices heard at the local level is the reason why I got involved in the county commission in 2010.
Have the recent issues at the airport been resolved? If not, how would you as a Commissioner address them? And, what should be done in the future to avoid such issues again?
What happened at the airport was not a manufactured crisis, like my opponent said publicly several times. It was incompetent management that almost cost us our airport. The crisis is now over, we averted a shutdown, and got back in the compliance with the federal government. My insistence on an investigation by corporate counsel yielded very valuable information to prevent this from ever happening again. Keep in mind, the airport manager only reports to the county administrator, not the county board. So from 2021 until February 7 of 2023 Emily DeSalvo was responsible for monitoring the airport manager. We were out of compliance the whole time Emily was our administrator.
In the past, the Delta County Prosecutor's Office represented the County in legal matters. Recently the County hired an outside attorney to be the primary legal counsel. Do you agree with the County's current legal counsel structure? Why or why not?
Let me bring you some historical facts regarding this issue. The county prosecutor, representing the county board of commissioners as corporate council only started in 2017 with Phil Strom, and that was a screaming disaster. The prosecutor is elected to prosecute, currently, Lauren Wickman is not meeting the needs of this community. She is falling behind. The prosecutor has files that have been sitting on her desk for almost a year. That is not the kind of service I want for the people of this county.
Corporate council makes the county board its first priority. As a prosecutor she can’t do that, quite frankly, I’m surprised she tried.
The State of Michigan recently passed legislation that would preempt existing local siting authority and grant siting authority to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for utility-scale renewable energy facilities. Do you support or oppose this effort and explain why or why not?
I support power being kept at the local level. The reason why I did not vote for the most recent resolution was because it was a simple window dressing and I won’t do that. Delta county needs to get out of the zoning game because there is no greater way to support local power than to do that. The county cannot enforce ordinances developed by municipalities, and townships. Local municipalities and townships can create their own ordinances, but under state law, the county cannot enforce an ordinance established by municipal zoning.
I think you can see how much that I support power staying locally by what I did with the second amendment sanctuary movement. I understand that is an unrelated issue, but it points to local power.
Delta County Parks and Recreation Department manages the County Forest. What changes, if any, do you see in the management of the County Forest, such as public access and the locking of gates. What changes or vision do you have for them? How would you fund and implement that vision?
The issue of the county Forest has been one used politically to try to damage the current commission. I was on the commission that purchased the 1400 acres for a little more than $40,000.
Look at the condition of our parks in 2010 and look at the condition of them now. That didn’t happen by coincidence, it happened because the county boards that I’ve served on,thought outside the box and took the bull by the horns. Now you’ve got a bunch of environmentalist trying to confuse this issue trying to make the public think that we’re gonna lose hundreds of thousands of dollars , I call BS my plans for the forest would be the same as my plans for the parks. History will tell you what I did on your behalf as a people.
Do you believe the County Commissioners have adequate ethics policies? If not, what changes would you make?
The current ethics policy is fine, unless someone tries to weaponize it, and they have. The ultimate decider of ethics is the ballot box, the decision of the people during elections. Make no mistake about it. I was overwhelmingly reelected on November 8 of 2022. My opponent has launched these recalls on political lines because she’s a sore loser, does that strike you as an ethical concern? Ethics must clearly be defined in order to say that someone is in violation. Conflict of interest and ethics, should be wrapped in common sense and consideration for others.
How would you approach situations that may occur when the views of your constituents do not align with your own political views?
I’ve been doing that for 13 years, in my first 12years as a commissioner, you never heard of all this crazy drama. Different viewpoints are a good thing, I have always been able to talk politics or religion without getting nasty with somebody. But since my opponent had designs on my seat, I have been attacked, politically, and personally, and the lives of my family have been threatened. I do not consider death threats, or smearing someone’s character a difference of opinion.
In 2010 I was elected for the first time. For more than 10 years, I have served on the commission without negativity that should be proof alone that I’m capable of talking to people about a difference of opinion.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
906-399-4209
Age
40
Biography
Life long resident of Delta County, small business entrepreneur, wife and mother. For expanded answers to these questions, please go to my FB page @kellifordistrict4.
Education
Bay College graduate
Facebook page
@kellifordistrict4
Why are you seeking this seat?
Passionate about Delta County, I aim to build a prosperous future for District 4, ensuring a place my daughters can thrive in. As a trustee on the Escanaba DDA, progress excites me. At the county level, I advocate unity over partisan politics, believing in our limitless potential with strong leadership. Observing my opponent's absenteeism in county meetings since 2022, I saw room for improvement; continuing today, my opponent attends no committee meetings, leaving his fellow commissioners to make up for his lack of commitment. I've dedicated myself to thorough preparation, attending numerous meetings, and studying relevant regulations. Confident and ready, I aspire to serve Delta County diligently if elected as commissioner.
What do you consider the biggest challenge facing the County?
According to data from 211, affordable housing is the top request for help in Delta County, but local leadership has overlooked this need, leading to a housing crisis. Projects like a 45-unit apartment complex in 2018 and a 70-unit complex in 2020 were denied due to stigma around "low to moderate income housing." Commissioners rarely attended city meetings to voice support of these projects. The state deems ‘low income’ at around $50,000 per year and the average wage for a school teacher is approx $40,000 per year. The stigma needs to end. However, with a shift in attitude and proactive efforts to collaborate with developers, we can overcome this crisis and provide housing for all income levels.
What do you consider the biggest challenge facing the Board of County Commissioners?
I'm committed to open communication with my fellow commissioners. Currently, there's a disconnect where three seem informed while two are left out. This must change. It's crucial to trust our administrator and avoid micromanagement, which benefits no one. Rebuilding trust with citizens means ending Commissioner Workshops, which offer no public participation and reintroducing interactive Committee of the Whole meetings. Let's prioritize transparency and collaboration for the benefit of Delta County.
What would be your top three priorities as a County Commissioner?
1. Rebuild trust with citizens by listening to all viewpoints and emphasizing common ground.
2. Restore trust with county departments and employees through increased communication and recognition of their value.
3. Fulfill campaign promises, including enhancing Veterans Services, investing in airport improvements, and strengthening ties with the Sheriff's office
Have the recent issues at the airport been resolved? If not, how would you as a Commissioner address them? And, what should be done in the future to avoid such issues again?
I'm uncertain if the airport issues have been resolved, as specifics remain unclear. However, I believe the Commissioners wasted resources by tasking an outside attorney to investigate before involving the FAA or consulting firms. Prior to the former manager's departure, requests for assistance were ignored by the Finance Committee. The interim administrator took on multiple roles, including airport manager, exacerbating the strain. Additionally, when offered training assistance for the new assist. mgr., it was declined. There are deeper issues than what's publicly known, including gender bias within the board. It's imperative to listen and support department heads in need, regardless of gender, to prevent similar crises in the future.
In the past, the Delta County Prosecutor's Office represented the County in legal matters. Recently the County hired an outside attorney to be the primary legal counsel. Do you agree with the County's current legal counsel structure? Why or why not?
I oppose the decision to hire outside counsel and if elected, I'll push to end Attorney Graham's services. The board's prolonged discussions on Graham (over a 10 month period), led by Chair Moyle, caused chaos within our administration office. Legal counsel roles were constantly swapped, causing confusion. Despite voting to increase the prosecutor's stipend from
$6000 to $12000, the board later favored Graham, who has personal ties to Moyle. This misuse of taxpayer money warrants scrutiny. We must question why some commissioners were insistent on hiring Graham over utilizing the Prosecutor's office.
The State of Michigan recently passed legislation that would preempt existing local siting authority and grant siting authority to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for utility-scale renewable energy facilities. Do you support or oppose this effort and explain why or why not?
I do not agree on decisions being made in Lansing to override our townships’ decisions. No one knows their community better than the people living in it. Period.
Delta County Parks and Recreation Department manages the County Forest. What changes, if any, do you see in the management of the County Forest, such as public access and the locking of gates. What changes or vision do you have for them? How would you fund and implement that vision?
If elected, I'm committed to repairing relations with the Delta Conservation District (DCD). Unlike current commissioners, I won't allow further damage to this important partnership. The DCD offered valuable resources like their tractor, which was unjustly denied in favor of an expensive purchase. Collaboration with our Parks Manager, who prioritizes proper procedures, is crucial. I oppose gate closures that limit public access. Commissioner Petersen admitted to locking gates, as did Mr Mattson. I do not agree with their actions. Lastly, I will ensure Mr. Mattson's exclusion from county affairs.
Do you believe the County Commissioners have adequate ethics policies? If not, what changes would you make?
This past January, a concerned citizen filed an ethics complaint, in which all three members of the Ethics Committee recused themselves. It took the complainant over two months to receive a response, the complainant was not invited to attend the meeting, and the letter of judgment was written by someone other than a member of the Ethics committee. To say the committee and its purpose needs an overhaul would be an understatement. But it does need to exist as a committee, absolutely. Our constituents deserve the opportunity to redress their government, as stated in our 1st Amendment rights.
How would you approach situations that may occur when the views of your constituents do not align with your own political views?
If elected, I keenly understand some citizens may not support me, but I'm committed to listening and engaging in respectful dialogue with all constituents. Representing everyone equally is my priority. I've demonstrated this by reaching out to both local parties in the past, despite resistance from one. Being a commissioner means real, personal communication—face to face, phone calls, emails—not just social media posts. I aim to work for all taxpayers and be a leader you can trust. Please vote for me in May.