ALPENA — Voters in Alpena County’s District 3 will decide on Nov. 6 between incumbent Republican Commissioner Nick Modrzynski and the Democratic candidate, Richard Neumann.

The winner will serve on the county board of commissioners for a two-year term.

MODRZYNSKI

Modrzynski was appointed to the county board in March 2017 after Camille Nerkowski resigned because of health issues.

Modrzynski graduated from Alpena High School in 2005 and attended Alpena Community College before enlisting in the U.S. Army, where he served as military police. He stayed for eight years in the Army, with two deployments — in Afghanistan and Jordan — and with a special assignment in Miami. He served as an MP protecting generals and the like while traveling extensively.

Voters may have noticed Modrzynski was absent from several county board meetings last summer. His daughter was born in July 2017 with a heart condition that required multiple surgeries and specialized care. She was transferred to the University of Michigan hospital, and Modrzynski stayed downstate with his family during that difficult time. His daughter died in October 2017.

During his year serving the county, Modrzynski also said he greatly enjoyed creating new relationships on the smaller subcommittees he has been part of, including his role as chairman on the security subcommittee. That subcommittee pushed significant security updates at the courthouse and the annex building.

He said it was fulfilling to see those plans come to fruition, and he hopes to be able to do more, including in the schools. Modrzynski has made safety a priority for his community, and he said his security experience is also why he is such an advocate for the sheriff’s office.

In addition, Modrzynski said he would like to see more growth in the area and is eager to attract more jobs and people anyway he can. It is why he supports the Northern Lights Arena and would like to be able to attract more people to the east side of the state though the arena.

He said he has been vocal about local job openings at MichiganWorks! boards, especially with the current need for correction officers, and he said he is in support of the new airport terminal.

Modrzynski said that, since returning home from the military, he has felt the need to do something for his community.

“I’ve got to give back,” Modrzynski said, “to be part of something bigger than myself.”

NEUMANN

Neumann has spent his life living and working in the Alpena area. He attended Alpena High School and Alpena Community College. After graduating, Neumann went on to a four-year apprenticeship for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and was employed at Lafarge for 26 years before retiring.

Neumann is a self-proclaimed politics and news junky who is active with the Alpena Democratic Party. He also worked on his brother Andrew Neumann’s campaigns, when Andrew Neumann served as a state representative for the 106th District. Neumann said that inspired him to pursue his own career in local politics.

This is Neumann’s third try for a seat on the county Board of Commissioners. He said that, during the first try, he lost by 12 votes and, during the second run, he lost just by one vote. He chuckles when he says he went back and forth about trying again.

“I decided it’s either third time’s a charm or three times and you’re out,” he said.

When it comes to duties of a county commissioner, Neumann said he will focus on the budget and bringing revenue back to the area.

He said maintaining a responsible budget is the first priority, and he would like to focus on prioritizing issues such as public safety and roads. Neumann said the loss of property tax and state funding has hurt the area. There is also the building of the new airport terminal and the new jail, which he feels requires closer budget observation.

Neumann said he would like to work closely with the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce and Target Alpena to support existing businesses and encourage small business growth.

While he stresses that he does not want the city to become as tourism-based as Traverse City, he does recognize its importance and role within the local economy.

He also said he would like to better promote the work of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

“I will be out there listening to their concerns and respond and use a common-sense approach to our local issues.”

Kaitlin Ryan can be reached at kryan@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 989-358-5693.

The Neumann file

∫ NAME: Richard Neumann

∫ AGE: 69

∫ LIVES IN: Alpena

∫ PARTY: Democrat

∫ ELECTED EXPERIENCE: None

∫ OCCUPATION: Retired

∫ EDUCATION: Associate’s degree, Alpena Community College

∫ COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Alpena Democratic Party

∫ FAMILY: Two grown children, two grandchildren

The Modrzynski file

∫ NAME: Nick Modrzynski

∫ AGE: 31

∫ LIVES IN: Alpena Township

∫ PARTY: Republican

∫ ELECTED EXPERIENCE: One year on Alpena County Board of Commissioners

∫OCCUPATION: Firearms trainer

∫ EDUCATION: Associate’s degree, Alpena Community College, studying for bacherlor’s at Western Michigan University

∫ COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Hockey volunteer

∫ FAMILY: Married, 8-year-old son, 2-year-old daughter