Harsh public debates make some wary of holding local elected positions
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LANSING - Many Michigan townships are facing vacancies for elective positions as the tone of public comment becomes harsh.
In Saline Township, for exile, Treasurer Jennifer Zink announced her resignation during a board meeting in May after weeks of public debate over an AI data center in the township.
During meetings, residents voiced concerns over water use, overnight outdoor lighting and emissions, leading to a lawsuit between the data company building the project and the township, which the board voted to settle.
"I can't take it anymore -- the threats that 'I'm going to tar and feather you,'" Zink said during the recorded meeting. "It's disgusting. It's horrible. I can't do it anymore."
Zink's experience is one example of the scrutiny township officials face.
Part of the problem with filling township positions is the influx of attacks on local officials for doing normal work, said Tom Hickson, the executive director of the Michigan Townships Association.
"People show up to the meetings with grievances that the township officials maybe can do nothing about," Hickson said.
"A great example," he said, is a 2023 state law that "took away community decisionmaking for townships and cities for zoning for wind and solar and battery plants" for large-scale projects.
Hickson said that residents can go to their township to complain, but the townships can do nothing because the state took over the zoning, leading officials to be harassed at meetings due to their lack of solutions.
Opinions from the public can turn violent.
According to the Department of the Attorney General, two Michigan residents from Metro Detroit were recently arraigned for allegedly making threats toward elected officials, including Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
"Thousands of Michigan residents answer the call to serve through elected office, be it as the local mayor or in statewide office," said Attorney Gen. Dana Nessel in a press release. "Unfortunately, hate crimes and threats of terrorism against officials at all levels of government are becoming increasingly common."
Hickson said he has not seen extreme levels of hostility against the association's members, but intimidation at meetings is common.
"Something we hear from our members is, 'If I'm making some stipend per meeting, is it worth it to sit there and take the abuse?' For some people, yeah, they can handle it, but it may be a slight deterrent for other people," Hickson said.
A survey from the University of Michigan recently reported that 77% of township officials believe there are not enough residents running for office and serving on boards.
Hickson said that though officials may believe that to be the case, the association has never seen an instance where nobody has been willing to stand for election. He said there is an appointment process in case that happens.
The association is working with its 1,240 township members to find solutions to fill these roles, Hickson said.
"Having a one-size-fits-all approach is not going to work," Hickson said. "Michigan's a very diverse state, and one thing we know is that people love their communities. Hopefully, we can get people to volunteer and do this."