Dem Wants an Alternative for Voters in Livingston District 6
A Livingston County small business owner is seeking a spot on the county commission in order to give voters a choice in November.
Matthew McClanahan of Genoa Township is the only Democrat running for the commission in District 6.
“I was sick of never seeing an alternative for our community,” he said.
“I want to make certain that people have options and are not simply forced not to vote, or to vote for someone whose principles and policies they don’t agree with.”
McClanahan, 47, has lived in the county for 20 years and is the owner of Moving Forward Marketing.
He considers the county’s residents its greatest strength.
“While we might not all agree on the best way forward, the community is filled with wonderful people with great intentions,” he said.
But he said too often entrenched local interests are unwilling to accept changes to meet the challenge of a growing community. And he is disappointed with the hyperpartisanship of the current county commission.
“I think George Washington was correct that a two-party system is one of the worst possible outcomes and that partisanship is not any way to govern,” he said.
“Compromise is needed in order to achieve any meaningful outcomes, and when people are constantly worried about passing party litmus tests rather than doing something for the betterment of the community, compromise tends not to happen.”
He said he would like to see a return to civility and honest discussions with a focus on education and public safety.
He would also like to see the county health department increase its inspections of restaurants for compliance with health standards.
The health department’s role should be in providing guidance to the public on health matters so that individuals will act responsibly to prevent the spreading of disease.
County Commission District 6 includes northern Genoa Township, northwest Brighton Township, and a portion of southern Oceola Township.
