A full slate of nine Democratic candidates is running for seats on the Livingston County Commission in the 2020 election, meaning voters in every corner of the county will have a choice on the ballot this fall.
The nine candidates include people with a wide range of backgrounds reflecting the diversity of the county, including a farmer, teachers, a banker, a lawyer, a home repair specialist, a stay-at-home mom with expertise in parks and recreation, a health care worker, and a band leader.
Improved transportation, expanded services for seniors, protecting Livingston County’s water and environment, better roads, and bringing new viewpoints to the board are among the top priorities of the group.
“The demographics of this county are changing, and Livingston County is not changing with them. A large portion of our population is aging into the senior range, and with that comes needs like adequate public transportation and access to community health and wellness programs,” said Mirullia Morneault.
“Our area is also attracting a lot of new young families and professionals. We need to ensure that Livingston County remains a desirable area to live, with beautiful public spaces, community activities, thriving local businesses, and a safe community.”
“Livingston County lacks balance and choice on the ballot. I hope to provide opportunity for voters who are seeking change or want to see checks and balances at the county level,” said Jennifer Garcia, who also favors making streets safer for walkers and bikers.
The candidates are:
District 1: Bob Sexton. A county resident for more than 20 years, Sexton taught English and speech at the high school and community college levels for more than 30 years, with the last 20 at Fowlerville High School. He was president of the Fowlerville Education Association and helped negotiate teacher contracts. An active member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Sexton worked with youth, visited local nursing homes and coordinated the parish blood drive. He and his wife, Claudia, have been married for 21 years and have three daughters and nine grandchildren. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Central Michigan University. The district covers the northern two-thirds of Brighton Township and all of the city of Brighton. For more information, contact him at sextonrobert81@gmail.com
District 2: Jennifer Garcia. A physical education teacher in Ann Arbor Public Schools, Garcia is a.member of the Michigan Education Association, has been a building representative and caucus chair for the union, and is active in a statewide professional organization called SHAPE-MI that advocates for health and physical education. She attends 2/42 Church. She and her husband, Frank, have been married for 11 years and have three children. The district includes Deerfield Township, Oceola Township, and the southwest corner of Hartland Township. For more information, contact Garcia at jf3garcia@gmail.com.
District 3: John Pallister. Pallister runs his family’s farm, Pallister Farms in Fenton, which sells produce in area farmers markets. A county resident for 23 years, he also has worked in information technology, is a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Fenton and was a former Fish and Water Board member for Dunham Lakes Property Owners Association. He has a bachelor’s in physics from the University of Michigan-Flint, and a master’s in physics from Purdue University. District 3 includes Tyrone Township and all but the southwest corner of Hartland Township. For more information, visit Pallister’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/john.pallister.for.LCC or email him at Pallister.john@gmail.com.
District 4: Bill Cowan. A musician, Cowan has been a band leader in Livingston County for 29 years. His current band, Billy Mack and the Juke Joint Johnnies, has been playing in the area for 17 years. Cowan was also a music teacher for Gretchen House Preschool. In addition, Bill was employed by various companies as a delivery driver around Southeast Michigan. He served on the board of the Livingston Land Conservancy for five years and is still an active member. A resident of Unadilla Township, he attended Western Michigan University and has been married to his wife, Lori, a Unadilla Township trustee, for 27 years. The district includes all of Conway, Handy, Iosco, and Unadilla Townships, plus the southwest corner of Putnam Township. For more information, contact him at billyzoe2@gmail.com.
District 5: Glen Miller, owner of the home remodeling company Glen Miller The Home Doctor, has lived in the County for more than 17 years. He is a member of the Howell Township Planning Commission, the Michigan Association of Planners, and the National Rifle Association. He has been married for 42 years and he and his wife, Michelle, have one grown son. The district covers all of Cohoctah and Howell Townships, plus the city of Howell. For more information, contact Miller at GlenMiller4Lisingston@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Glen-Miller-4-Livingston-115639823315474/.
District 6: Kasey Helton is an admissions triage associate at Michigan Medicine. She has worked for Michigan Medicine since 2010. Kasey graduated from Howell High School in 1995 and attended Eastern Michigan University prior to working in healthcare. Kasey has been married to her husband, James, since 2015. James is a US Navy Vet and union steelworker for Michigan Seamless Tube in South Lyon. District 6 covers all of Marion Township, Putnam Township except the southwest corner, plus the northwest corner of Hamburg Township. Helton previously ran for County Commission in District 6 in 2018 as a newcomer to politics, and is proud of the fact that she moved the needle against the Republican incumbent in that race. For more information, contact Helton at 810-844-9858 or contact her via email at kasey4dist6@gmail.com.
District 7: Mirullia Morneault, now a stay-at-home mother and active community volunteer, worked for nine years as a parks and recreation professional for cities in Ohio and as a church youth director for a United Methodist Church in Ohio. She is a trustee of the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Foundation; co-leader of a girl scout troop; a classroom volunteer at Hornung Elementary School, and attends First United Methodist Church, Brighton. She and her husband, Matt, have one son and one daughter. She attended Ohio State University. The district consists entirely of Genoa Township. For more information, contact Morneault at electmirulliamorneault@gmail.com or visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ElectMirulliaMorneault/.
District 8: Martin Lake is in sales for 700Credit. He is a former commercial lender and prior owner of Commander Cal’s Supply & Surplus in Dundee. He is active with his neighborhood association and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and entrepreneurship from Georgia Southern University as well as an associates of commerce degree from Monroe County Community College. He and his wife, Ragan, a candidate for County Prosecutor, have one son attending Washtenaw Community College and one attending Brighton Area Schools. District 8 includes all but the northwest corner of Hamburg Township plus the western edge of Green Oak Township. For more information, email Lake at Lake4Livingston@gmail.com.
District 9: Bill Bon, a lawyer recently retired after 32 years as the general counsel of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamsters, where he helped negotiate union contracts in an industry that was being deregulated and restructured. Prior to that he was president of UAW Local 122 at Chrysler’s Twinsburg, Ohio, stamping plant. He also has worked in voter protection in Michigan and Ohio to protect citizens’ right to vote during elections. He has a bachelor’s in political science from Kent State University and a law degree from the University of Akron School of Law. He and his wife, Jane, have one grown son. The district includes all but the western edge of Green Oak Township plus the southern third of Brighton Township. For more information, contact Bon at wabon2@outlook.com.
(Paid for by Livingston County Democratic Executive Committee, 8028 Grand River, Woodland Plaza Suite 7, Brighton, MI 48114. Labor donated.)