Latest news with #MarkBrant
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Monroe County Board of Commissioners election Q&A: Dobbs
Three people are on the Aug. 5 primary election ballot vying to fill the Monroe County Board of Commissioners' vacant District 2 seat. While Mark Brant tries to get the seat back, Republicans Dale Biniecki, Dwayne Dobbs, and Democrat Danielle Hoover are throwing their hats into the race. The Monroe News sent questions to each candidate. Answers have been edited for length and clarity. These are Dobbs' answers: What previous experience has best prepared you for this role? I served 30 years with the Monroe County Sheriff's Department and am a proud U.S. Army veteran. My entire career has been focused on service, accountability, and protecting others. I've also spent years giving back to my community through coaching youth sports and organizing fundraisers. I understand how government works at a ground level and what it means to serve people with fairness and integrity. What motivated you to run for county commissioner? I stepped up because District 2 deserves honest, dependable representation. When our seat was left vacant, I showed up at every county meeting to speak out and demand answers. I'm not a politician. I'm a concerned citizen who believes leadership should be about showing up, doing the work, and standing up for the people you represent. What do you see as the county's top three priorities over the next four years? First, accountability in leadership. Our community needs to trust that officials are doing the right thing. Second, investing in infrastructure; our roads, broadband access, and public spaces need to support both families and businesses. Third, supporting public safety and services; those are the things that keep our communities safe and strong. What's your stance on zoning reform and affordable housing development? I believe zoning decisions need to reflect the needs and voices of the people in our communities. Growth should be responsible, protect our rural character, and make sense for the future of our county. Affordable housing is important, but it should be developed in ways that respect infrastructure limits and preserve quality of life. How will you keep residents informed about decisions that affect them? I will be accessible. Whether it's through attending local events, sharing updates on social media, or holding public listening sessions, I believe people deserve transparency and open communication. I want folks to feel comfortable reaching out and confident they'll be heard. What steps will you take to avoid conflicts of interest in office? I have no political agenda and no business interests that would interfere with my role. My decisions will be guided solely by what is best for District 2 and Monroe County. I believe transparency and honesty are non-negotiable when serving the public. More: Just one issue on Aug. 5 ballot in Monroe County Why should residents vote for you? Because I show up. I listen. I do the work. District 2 deserves a commissioner who is present, accountable, and focused on the people, not politics. I'm committed to working hard for this community because it's my home, and I want to see it thrive. — Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County commissioner candidate Q&A Dobbs Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Just one issue on Aug. 5 ballot in Monroe County
MONROE COUNTY — Only one issue will be on the ballot for the Aug. 5 election in Monroe County. Annamarie Osment, Monroe County clerk and register of deeds, said a primary election will be held Aug. 5 for the Monroe County Board of Commissioners' District 2 county commissioner seat. District 2 covers Milan, London, Exeter and Raisinville townships and the villages of Milan and Maybee. Republicans Dale Biniecki and Dwayne Dobbs and Democrat Danielle Hoover are running for the seat. The Republican who wins the primary race in August will run against Hoover in the November election. The District 2 county commissioner seat has been vacant since February, when the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, by a vote of 5 to 3, removed Mark Brant from office. After his September federal conviction for maintaining a drug-involved premise, Brant, a Republican, resigned from the position in October. But, he went on to win re-election to his post in the Nov. 5 general election, beating Dobbs and Hoover, who ran as write-in candidates. Although Brant is currently serving 18 months in federal prison in Morgantown, West Virginia, he took office on Jan. 1 and planned to serve out his term until his removal by the board. The board and its lawyers used a legal opinion based on Michigan election law, which requires elected officers to be registered voters. Biniecki of Maybee ran unsuccessfully in November for state representative for the 31st District. A married father of three and grandfather of four, Biniecki was a truck owner-operator for 47 year, until retiring. He's been an active member of the Monroe County Republican Party for more than 10 years, according to his website. Dwayne Dobbs lives in Raisinville Township. For 30 years, he worked for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, retiring as a correctional officer. Previous Coverage: Second write-in candidate running against Mark Brant Before November's election, Democrat Danielle Hoover of Milan also ran against Brant for the District 2 commissioner seat as a write-in candidate in 2020. In the 2022 election, she was officially on the ballot for the seat. Support local news: Subscribe for all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content. A licensed social worker with 13 years' experience, she is employed as a mental health supervisor in Washtenaw County. Previous Coverage: Danielle Hoover to run for District 2 commissioner For more information about local elections, visit Monroe County's election webpage. — Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Three vying for Brant's commissioner seat; primary election is Aug. 5
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mark Brant removed from Monroe County Board of Commissioners post
(This story has been updated to add new information.) MONROE — Mark Brant has been removed from his District 2 Monroe County commissioner position effective immediately. The Monroe County Board of Commissioners is also planning to hire a law firm to investigate if/how Brant's case affected the board of commissioners. At Tuesday night's Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board voted 5 to 3 to remove Brant from office. After his September federal conviction for maintaining a drug-involved premise, Brant, a Republican, went on to win re-election to his post in the Nov. 5 general election, beating two write-in candidates. Although Brant is currently serving 18 months in federal prison in Morgantown, West Virginia, he took office on Jan. 1 and planned to serve out his term. Previous Coverage: Monroe County Commissioner Mark Brant will start his term behind bars | Opinion At Tuesday's meeting, the board entered a closed session to discuss a legal opinion from Phillip Goldsmith, the county's legal advisor from Lennard, Graham & Goldsmith of Monroe. The legal opinion is based on Michigan election law, which requires elected officers to be registered voters. 'He was not a qualified elector at the time of taking office on Jan. 1, 2025,' said Michael Bosanac, Monroe County administrator and chief financial officer. Brant didn't know about the board's decision to remove him prior to Tuesday's meeting. 'We went into closed session. After that, the opinion was released to the public. It was the first time it was available to the public and Mark Brant. It's now available to everybody,' said Tom Graham from the law firm. See the opinion here. Previous Coverage: Monroe County Commissioner Mark Brant will start his term behind bars | Opinion Brant's seat is currently unfilled. 'There is not any mechanism for an appointment,' Bosanac said. 'His seat is vacant. There will be a move for a special election.' Annamarie Osment, Monroe County clerk, said because Brant's position is a partisan position, a primary must be held. She said the primary is expected to be held in August, with the election in November. The Monroe County Board of Commissioners also plans to hire a legal firm to investigate if/how Brant's years-long legal battle could have affected the board. 'The board did not select anyone (yet),' Bosanac said. The cost of the investigation is not yet known. 'At a prior meeting, the board made a motion for up to $50,000. In discussions (Tuesday night), they didn't believe it would cost that much,' Bosanac said. Monroe resident Katybeth Davis, who has run as a Democrat candidate for local offices, was pleased with the Monroe County Board of Commissioners' decision to remove Brant from the board. Subscribe Now: For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content. "I am relieved that Mark Brant has been removed from his position as county commissioner, but I am also eager to get the results of the independent investigation, and I hope the investigation goes into every single county commissioner and their involvement in any illegalities," Davis wrote in an email message. "I will be requesting that there also be an investigation into the county's finances, state funds and grant money. I think Mark Brant has been doing a disservice to his community and constituents for over a decade, and I do not put it past him to respond and fight back to this ruling. I am hoping that the citizens of Monroe County get the transparency and accountability we deserve from our elected officials. I hope that people start paying attention and doing their research on who they are voting for before they cast their ballot on party lines." — Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Mark Brant removed from office; investigation to begin
