MONROE COUNTY — Voters in Monroe County have more than 30 contested races in Aug. 6's primary election. The Monroe News sent questionnaires to the candidates in the contested races. Profiles of the candidates in contested primaries will be published over the next few days.
Below are the responses from incumbent Republican Monroe County drain commissioner David P. Thompson of Erie, who is being challenged for the four-year drain commissioner position by Republicans John Gonta of Monroe and Jamie O’Brien of LaSalle. No Democrats filed to be drain commissioner.
Their responses are printed as provided, though they may have been edited for clarity or truncated if the answers exceeded the given word limits.
In-person voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6. Absentee ballots may be requested from township clerks.
John Gonta
Age : 59 Occupation : Attorney Government experience : 14 years Army National Guard as a crane operator and later a recruiter. Volunteer/community service experience : I am the guardian for individuals with disabilities. I am a sponsor for the local chamber of commerce, and I am a contributing member of the Republican National Lawyers Association. I am also the co-chairman for the pro-bono (public service) committee of the Monroe Bar Association. Why are you running for this position? I received many complaints about the way people were treated when contractors hired by the current drain commissioner entered their lands to clear drains. From the destruction of trees, to not removing debris left behind, and even lawsuits for injuries, this concerned me. So, I decided to run. What do you think is the main challenge facing drains and related issues, and what should be done about it? Proper diagnosis of drain problems and customer service is key. I am a Michigan Certified Mechanic (#M176067) since 1987. In order to fix a vehicle, you first need to properly diagnose the problem. The drain commissioner’s role is one of maintaining the public’s health. So, we need to first diagnose our drains to potentially discover any pollutants in the system and identify the source before we start any work. We also need a comprehensive storm water emergency management plan, which I will undertake. And we need to provide excellent customer service to the public while performing the missions.
Why should people vote for you? I have hands-on experience with earthmoving, installing pipelines and dredging/digging ditches. I am uniquely qualified to be drain commissioner because I graduated the Army Engineer School as a crane operator. I have military experience; the other candidates don't. I performed dredging operations, soil testing, operated clam-shell and pile drivers, in the National Guard. Plus as an attorney, I understand the laws and requirements to get the job done. The drain commissioner's role is one of public's health. And because I am a conservative, I will keep an eye on the spending while still delivering excellent service in maintaining the public's health.
Jamie O’Brien
Age : 60
Occupation : Co-owner of engineering firm
Spouse/kids : Married 34 years
Government experience : Appointed to the zoning board in Deerfield.
Volunteer/community service experience : Rotarian; teach Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs class at Monroe Boat Club; Former Court Appointed Special Advocate; second chair of a STEM organization in Michigan; and provided many scholarships through science sair competitions.
Why are you running for this position? According to Sen. Joe Bellino, Monroe may soon lose some 20% of its revenue when the coal power plant shuts down. Only an experienced engineer with 41 years of experience and a specialty in hydrodynamics could start improving the quality of drainage systems while aggressively reducing the upfront and operational costs.
What do you think is the main challenge facing drains and related issues, and what should be done about it? It is not safe with all the deep ditch drains. It also backs up way too often while, at the same time, dumping water too fast into our rivers and lakes, causing secondary flooding.
Why should people vote for you? I managed large and small product development my entire career. I see this as the right time to start giving back even more of my time to the community that has been the place to pray, love and work since 1992.
David P. Thompson
Age : 56
Occupation : Monroe County drain commissioner
Spouse/kids : Married to Jessica (fifth grade science teacher at Ida Public) for 23 years/Twins Elizabeth and William
Government experience : I have worked for the County of Monroe since 1989. I began as a summer employee while I was attending Michigan State University. After graduation, I was hired as a sewer system specialist until being promoted to drainage district agent in the main office in 1998. I was promoted to deputy drain commissioner in 2006. I was then unanimously appointed to fill the last year of retiring Commissioner Daniel W. Stefanski in late 2011. I was sworn it as drain commissioner in January, 2012 and have successfully served three terms as drain commissioner. I have served as president of the Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners for the State of Michigan and held a position on the board of directors for 15 years. I am the current chairman for the Michigan Municipal Wetland Alliance.
Volunteer/community service experience : I have been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Monroe for over 12 years and have served on the board of directors and served as club president. I am a committee member of the Monroe Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. I am a long-term volunteer for the Running Water District of Michigan Crossroads Council of the Boy Scouts of America and currently serve in two troops and am the district chairman. I regularly attend events for our community across the county.
Why are you running for this position? I have spent my entire career learning the skills, knowledge and developing relationships to better serve the people. I have participated in 400 Drain Board of Determinations and have cleaned 1,000 miles of drains. I am the only candidate who is certified as a Storm Water Operator and Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control CEA.
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What do you think is the main challenge facing drains and related issues, and what should be done about it? Keeping cost down in this challenging economy. Since all drain work must be assessed to the tax payer, it is the drain commissioner’s responsibility to keep projects in scope and at a reasonable cost. Keeping a skilled workforce. Current employment trends have employees turning over in seven years or less. It takes several years to learn the intricacies of drain district creation, billing and assessing. We have more county drains than any other county in the state.
Why should people vote for you? I have a proven reputation. Why train someone else? This is my career. Experience! Experience! Experience!
For more information about Monroe County's primary election, visit co.monroe.mi.us/409/Elections .
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com .
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County election guide: three running for drain commissioner
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