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The district includes Franklin, Osceola, Schoolcraft and Torch Lake townships. Kevin Codere is serving on an interim basis to complete the term of Koskela, who died in April. He is not running for a full term.

Republican Joel Keranen is running against Democrat Dan Watrous. U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Timothy Sears declined to be interviewed, as he is not actively campaigning.

Joel Keranen

Keranen said he viewed the position as the next step up in his service to Houghton County from his current role as supervisor of Schoolcraft Township.

“I feel like we’ve done a lot of things well there and it’s been a progression,” he said. “I want to step up and help out the county and help out my community.”

Keranen said he didn’t have specific issues that were priorities, but would work to keep residents in his district involved and implement the policies they want.

He felt the county is heading in the right direction with the purchase of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church property for a potential county jail.

He would also like to see some county offices situated there, such as the sheriff’s office, district court and some courthouse functions such as the equalization department. That could reduce some of the burden on the current courthouse, which employees have said is too cramped for the offices currently there.

He said purchasing the site with American Rescue Plan Act funds was a good idea, as it reduces the amount the county would have to ask for in a millage. A carefully considered design could also lower the burden on taxpayers, he said. He noted that the most recent jail proposal, an expansion behind the current courthouse, had gotten closer to passage than other previous attempts.

“I don’t think we need a top end, shoot-for-the-stars jail,” he said. “It needs to be functional, it needs to be a safe environment for the prisoners and even safer environment for our deputies and our workers.”

Houghton County residents are largely convinced of the need for a new jail, Keranen said. The main issue will be what the final design looks like and the millage request. He suggested holding off on a ballot proposal until construction prices drop.

“This jail’s been working for 60 years,” he said. “To wait another year or two isn’t the best thing, but if it saves us money, we need to be fiscally responsible with that.”

The county is seeking state funding for a feasibility study of a second bridge over the Portage Canal. Keranen supported the general concept, but didn’t think it was important enough if the county has to foot a significant portion of the bill.

If the county’s share of the cost is millions of dollars, he would rather see the money go toward improving secondary roads in the county, he said.

“Drive through Dollar Bay,” he said. “Drive through Point Mills, Trap Rock, Tamarack City … I’d rather see the money spent there and improve our local roads before we get a bridge that is not necessary. Right now, it’s not a need. It’s more of a want.”

The county has about $636,000 left to be allocated of the $6.8 million in ARPA funds. Keranen said he would weigh future decisions based on what provides the biggest bang for the buck.

He cited the example of the funds put towards the Houghton County Land Bank to clean up blighted properties.

“That’s big for economic redevelopment,” he said. “Now that blighted building’s gone, someone’s going to put a restaurant or a business in someplace. With the remaining monies, that just helps boost our economy, boost our tax rolls.”

Keranen said voters should choose him because of his experience serving the community and his responsiveness to constituents. He welcomed the number of contested races for the board.

“Once you get elected, the residents should keep their commissioners or supervisors or school boards responsible and they should be engaged,” he said. “Too often we sit back and kind of lose track and don’t pay attention to what’s going on. I’m receptive to that, and I’m approachable. And I think I’m the best candidate for this district.”

Dan Watrous

A lifelong Michigander, Watrous has lived in the Upper Peninsula for 14 years. He has worked in manufacturing, primarily metal stamping, along with home health care. He also spent three years in Washington D.C. working with the U.S. Air Force.

“I always had an interest in politics, and spending four years in our nation’s capital really helped inspire me,” he said. “And the timing was right.”

Watrous said his main goal on the board will be to keep an open mind and work with the other commissioners and other departments to keep the county economically strong.

“Not having a solid background in politics, it’s really presumptuous of me to comment in any depth,” he said.

Other stated goals include supporting sustainable development such as tourism, high-tech companies and forest services. He also wants to maintain Houghton County Memorial Airport as a hub for commercial and tourist traffic.

Watrous said he supports the plan to build a new county jail on Sharon Avenue. Having spoken with several county commissioners, he believes the plan is fiscally responsible.

He said it was too early to comment on how many beds the new facility should have, or what county offices should be located at the new site.

“What I’d really like to see is our local contractors, and construction workers building the jail,” he said. “If this can bring new jobs to Houghton County, this will benefit our county. What they have planned so far, I fully endorse.”

Watrous said he supports the feasibility study being considered at the state level for a second bridge crossing. Whether a bridge would be a good idea would depend on factors such as location and whether it would have a negative impact on things such as the cruise ships visiting Houghton.

“We could use a second crossing between here and Hancock,” he said. “If the bridge is down, nobody gets across. How many times have you been caught with the bridge up, or construction on the bridge?”

Regarding the county’s ARPA funds, Walrus said he would want to look at get input from the relevant local agencies before deciding how best to spend. He said he liked the idea of the county supporting a proposal to add child care services in Houghton County. (The interview was conducted prior to an October board work session in which the board approved spending $200,000 for local childcare providers.)

“If it means (single-parent families) can get child care and still be able to work, this would be a good plan,” he said. “Diversity in the community is always better than a single source for everything.”

Watrous said people should vote for him because he’s a team player who will work with other commissioners and county departments to make a reasonable decision.

“Common sense in government begins locally,” he said. “I’ve always been about local politics and getting to know what the local people need, and what can I do to assist them.”