By Paul J Sniadecki, MLSA Board Member
In a few short days, millions of Michigan citizens, many of them riparians, head to their polling location to cast votes in the 2024 primary election. This August primary has many local office positions (state, township, village), as well as some federal offices, up for grabs. There are also some tax millage proposals for residents to consider.
What’s also on the ballot is the future quality of your watershed. Local office holders have the most direct say as to how the local government can develop provisions to protect surface and ground water quality. Do your local officials understand the water cycle, wake-sport watercraft issues, invasive species threats and costs, and septic concerns? Do they care enough to assist you to improve watershed quality, and said so publicly?
If you don’t know their positions, there is still time to find out. If they are unaware, there is time to give your watershed a chance for a better future by making your concerns known. Your lake or stream association should not be making candidate endorsements. However, the association can definitely share what the candidate’s positions are on issues of vital concern. Just make sure you give all same position candidates a chance to respond to your questions.