Wexford County Commissioner Candidates Answer Questions about the Animal Control Department

photo credit: dogtime.com

On Tuesday, August 5th, there will be a primary election in Wexford County as there will be in counties all over Michigan. There are a few districts where the seat is contested and a decision will have to made about who to vote for. The same questions were posed to all candidates who had an opponent in their district.

District 2: August 5th election

Antioch, Boon (minus Village of Harrietta), Colfax, Hanover

Leslie Housler, Incumbent

No response to questions

Susan Adler

Would you support a split millage with sheriff and shelter services being split up?

They’ve talked about this at the commissioners meeting. Some people thought it would be better to do it that way and some people want it remain the same. If they think that it would make things better or easier and if the Sheriff doesn’t want to continue running the shelter…if that’s the case, possibly it would be a good idea. I don’t have a super solid firm opinion one way or another – I would want whatever would work the best. The split thing has not been tried yet – so possibly we could try that.

Would you support an animal control committee running the shelter instead of the Sheriff’s Department?

I wasn’t there when they were running it by a committee. If the Sheriff really doesn’t want to run the shelter, then maybe it would be better to do it this way. Maybe give it a shot to see if it can be better. I would support this as an option.

What is your opinion about the fact that there has been no disciplinary action against the ACOs at the shelter even though their actions resulted in fines for the County from the Dept. of Agiculture?

I don’t know about the fines (the amount). As far as disciplinary action, I don’t know if the bad behavior was caused by ignorance or deliberate. To me, that would make a difference.

Have you ever been to the animal shelter?

I took a dog there to be adopted a month ago or so – the shelter appeared to be very clean and orderly. The dog that I brought in was adopted the very next day. They use social media and the volunteers there seemed to be people who really care about the animals.

District 6: August 5th election

Cadillac Precinct 2

Alan Deveraux, Incumbent

No response to questions

Julie Theobald

Would you support a split millage with sheriff and shelter services being split up?

I support a split and more important my district does. I am the voice for my people and they want it split.

Would you support an animal control committee running the shelter instead of the Sheriff’s Department?

They also want it run by a group instead of the Sheriff. He has had no interest in it or what goes on there so if we are going to move in a positive direction it needs to be changed.

As far as the ACO’s I would need more information that was fact because all the information I have has been 2nd hand or more. I don’t want to judge on partial information. I do think that it should have been more accessible to the public considering we are paying their wage.

Have you ever been to the animal shelter?

I have been to the shelter. It has been about 3 years or so but I was donating to it on a regular basis until financially I could not do it anymore.

I am for sure an animal lover. My mother is also in the group at Lakeview Manor that does fundraising for the animals. I also try to assist our neighbors that are less fortunate families to keep their animals. We help them with food when needed or other small supplies. Animals are a huge part of the coping machinism we humans use. Unconditional love is hard to give up because you can’t afford a bag of food.

District 1: This election will be in November

Cedar Creek N. of 37 Rd, Greenwood, Liberty, Manton

Robert Colvin, Incumbent

Would you support a split millage with sheriff and shelter services being split up?

Yes

Would you support an animal control committee running the shelter instead of the Sheriff’s Department?

Yes

The fines were sufficient and I don’t believe anything was done intentially

Have you ever been to the animal shelter?

Yes, I have adopted pets from there.

Michael MacCready

Would you support a split millage with sheriff and shelter services being split up?

I do support the split millage that will be on the ballot in November.

Would you support an animal control committee running the shelter instead of the Sheriff’s Department?

If the millage passes and no 501C3 is available a coalition running the shelter is what would have to be done. The question would be if the sheriffs department would be charged for the housing of the animals for the allotted time.

The real offenders that instituted the bad policies are now gone the current ACO only continued to do what they were taught. Things have changed for the better and the discipline would have to be done by the sheriff and thats not going to happen.

Have you ever been to the animal shelter?

I have been to the shelter many tines first when Cole a Great Dane was shot by on of the now gone ACO.(Lt. Denison said the animal control officer who put the dog down, Officer Dennis Rogers, has been with the department almost 25 years, and has been an animal control officer for nearly 20 years) I posted several comments in 2010 with this story www.cadillacnews.com/news_story/?story_id=1756818&year=2010&issue=20100830

Do you have any past or present involvement with the animal shelter as a volunteer, supporter, advocate for the animals, etc. If you are an incumbent/current commissioner, what votes have you taken concerning the animal shelter since January 2013?

I was a member of and videoed the meetings of the useless Animal Control Advisory Board and I have spoken out many times at the BOC meetings. If I am elected I will work hard to have have two separate entities the Sheriff’s Animal Control and the Animal Welfare Shelter and its support system.