By Carlton Ketchum, Traverse City, published in the RE July 27, 2022 Regulate a pregnant body but not a coal plant. Control the free speech of a teacher but not money as speech of a corporation. Coerce a child to pray in school but don’t keep guns out of their classroom. Locally, you fire/overrule your experts, squander public assets and funds by giving away parks and purchasing assault vehicles, ignore obvious conflicts of interest to the benefit of your personal business.

By Chris Walter, Traverse City, Published in the RE, July 28, 2022 My maternal grandparents came to the United states in the early 1900’s from what is now Slovakia and Germany. Seeking better lives and opportunities, they worked hard, became U.S. citizens, contributed to the American economy and raised their family. They knew their citizenship brought responsibilities and rights. Their right and commitment to vote in every election was passed to my mother, and eventually t

By Marchia Curran, Frankfort, Published in Record Patriot, July 27th, 2022 - Women's reproductive healthcare cannot be legislated in a way that would protect a woman's life--unless women are allowed freedom of choice. The religious ideologues who want to criminalize abortion ignore the complexities of pregnancy and its numerous health hazards. Shame on the politicians and justices who claim to be so moral and right as they deny equal treatment to women. In fact, they are sc

By Beryl Striewski, Dem's LTE Team Published in the RE July 16, 2022: If we can at least harden the parade routes and arm the marching bands, oh and blockade our schools and reinforce doors and lower the age that “good guys with guns” can get more guns with high magazines and let’s move beyond our thoughts and prayers… just so that crooked politicians can continue to accept NRA blood money for their political campaigns… Oh good God… Why. Do. We. Accept. This?

To the Editor: My name is Steve Horne and I am chair of the Grand Traverse County Board of Election Canvassers. The attached Letter to the Editor has speaks to the work last week by that board to inspect and certify the ballot containers that will be used in the August primary and November general elections. At the direction and concurrence of the other three members of the Board and of Bonnie Scheele, County Clerk of Grand Traverse County, this letter has been submitted f

By Dr. Michael Hertz Now that the reality has begun to sink in that SCOTUS has relegated ½ Michigan’s population to second class citizenship, we should reflect on what the real-world outcomes will be as Michigan is potentially plunged into an era of criminalized abortion. We have been there before, as in 1972 when I began medical school. In 1972 the “pill” was only 12 years old, and though the Catholic church railed against it, women adopted it in droves as they faced the una

By Jan A. Miller 2021, Benzie Democrats recruited me to apply for a position on the County Board of Canvassers. I was welcomed to the team of two Republicans and two Democrats by then-County Clerk Dawn Olney. We newbies took an oath of office prior to conducting our first vote count certification last fall. Canvassers perform many vital election-related duties. We conduct recounts, inspect ballot containers and resolve claims about malfunctioning voting machines and defective