Candidates for 106th state house district discuss issues

CHEBOYGAN — There are four candidates in the Aug. 6 primary for state representative in the 106th district, which includes parts of Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties.

The Republican candidates are the incumbent Cam Cavitt of Cheboygan, who is being challenged by Todd Smalenberg of Hillman. The Democratic Party contenders include Trina Borenstein of Greenbush and Mary Hamilton of Hillman.

The Cheboygan Daily Tribune invited all of the candidates to respond to a series of questions selected by the paper, which reserved the right to edit the responses to account for space limitations, proper use of grammar and Associated Press style guidelines.

Only Borenstein and Smalenberg responded and below are their responses to the questions presented in alphabetical order based on their last name:

Trina Borenstein

Q: Please describe your background (educational achievements, work history and how long you have lived in the area etc.) and if you are an incumbent state how long you have held the position?

A: I inherited a cabin in Alcona County in 1987 and we immediately began to structure our lives to spend as much time there as possible. In 2009 we were finally able to move there full time.

I have an associate degree from Washtenaw Community College. My working life began in secretarial positions, and I advanced to editing and typesetting scientific journals and books. With the advent of personal computers, the need for my expertise largely vanished. Since the 1990s, I have mostly been a homemaker with stints of editorial and managerial jobs.

Q: As more electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids enter the market, the revenue from gasoline and other fuel taxes that is used for road maintenance is expected to decline. What other revenue sources should the state consider for roads?

A: Fuel taxes are not the only source of revenue for road maintenance. I would propose a modest rise in vehicle registration and license plate fees, although there are many good alternatives worth considering. For instance, a tax attached to public EV charging stations, an increase in the tax on EV batteries, and since electric cars weigh more than gas-powered vehicles, the levees already imposed on heavy trucks could be extended to passenger vehicles.

Q: If elected in November, will you release your federal tax return every year that you are in office?

A: Of course and I believe that no one unwilling to do this should consider running for office.

Todd Smalenberg

Q: Please describe your background (educational achievements, work history and how long you have lived in the area etc.) and if you are an incumbent state how long you have held the position?

A: I graduated in 1983 from Oscoda High School, I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and earned the coveted title as a Force Reconnaissance Marine. I deployed throughout my career with several combat tours that included Desert Shield/Storm, Somalia, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and conducted counter-drug operations in South America.

After serving in all active duty Recon Battalions, Force Recon Companies and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, I retired in 2005 as a master sergeant. After retiring, I continued my service to our country for another 18 years working in classified intelligence/operational programs for the U.S. government and deploying throughout the world. I earned my undergraduate and graduate degree in intelligence studies and national security studies during my career and I graduated with honors in both.

I am an ambassador for Move United, supporting individuals through adaptive sports. I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marine Corps League and board member of the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation. I have been happily married to my wife Lynne since 1987. We have two adult children who are happily married to their spouses. They have blessed us with six grandchildren. We moved back home to Michigan in 2020. I have never held an elective office.

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Q: As more electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids enter the market, the revenue from gasoline and other fuel taxes that is used for road maintenance is expected to decline. What other revenue sources should the state consider for roads?

A: A similar tax on EV charging stations and home charging stations should be imposed on those who buy EVs. We don’t need new taxes on those who drive petroleum-based vehicles because others choose to drive EVs. They all use the roads and should pay equally for them.

We are already overtaxed as a state and nation so we need to actually balance our budget and do a better job of spending the people’s money. We need to cut government and get rid of redundant programs, red tape and bureaucracy. This way we use the funds and spend the people’s money wisely.

Q: If elected in November, will you release your federal tax return every year that you are in office?

A: I absolutely will release my tax returns annually while I hold public office.

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com .

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Candidates for 106th state house district discuss issues