Mark Hunter

ALPENA — Mark Hunter is a mainstay on local boards, committees, and commissions, but has never held elected office.

Now, he’s hoping to change that as one of a trio of candidates vying for a pair of seats on the Alpena Municipal Council in the Nov. 5 election.

Hunter said he decided to run because he wants the city to reach its full potential for all of its residents.

“I just want our city to be a better place to live,” Hunter said. “I think we do a good job of making the city look nice, visually, but I think we need more and better support for economic development all around. That’s a very complicated thing, but I hope the new city manager will do things that the city hasn’t tried. New ideas and things that worked wherever they currently serve.”

The council on Oct. 5 offered the city manager post to Harbor Springs Downtown Development Authority Director Rachael Smolinski, who is expected to start work in December and take over for retiring City Manager Greg Sundin.

Hunter is well-versed in many aspects of local government. He served two stints on the Alpena County Planning Commission, city Environmental Committee, county Air and Water Quality Committee, Sunrise Mission board, county Older Persons Committee (of which he was chairman), city Planning Commission, county library board, and mental health board.

If elected, Hunter knows he’ll have to make some tough decisions on issues on which the public is split.

An attorney, Hunter described what Alpena and the community means to him with six simple words: “Alpena is the center of my world.”

Hunter will face incumbent Mike Nowak and fellow challenger Danny Mitchell in the race.

MARIJUANA

More than a decade ago, Michigan voters legalized medical marijuana. A year ago, voters legalized recreational marijuana, but gave local governments the option to prohibit marijuana businesses within their borders.

Alpena has voted to allow two medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, but will not allow the sale of recreational marijuana, at least for now.

Hunter said it would be wise to hold off on the sale of both kinds of marijuana until more is known about the impact the drug has on people and the benefits it has on medical conditions.

“We need to know more about what the benefits and side effects are,” Hunter said. “We don’t know enough about that. For recreational, I want to learn more about what has happened in other states where it has been legal for a number of years. I do think it is a losing battle to try to stop it, though.”

PAID PARKING

The Alpena Downtown Development Authority is considering installing parking meters downtown.

Such a move would require approval by the Municipal Council.

Hunter said there are parking issues downtown, but he isn’t sure paid parking is the answer.

“Right now, I don’t think it would solve any parking problems, in my opinion,” Hunter said. “We had it years ago, and it was taken out to encourage people to come downtown. I don’t think I would want to be in a restaurant and have to watch the clock because I only have an hour to get back to the car. To be honest, right now, I don’t have an answer to the parking issue.”

WATER-SEWER

LITIGATION

For about five years, the city and Alpena Township have been involved in litigation over water and sewer rates the city charges the township and how to dive money that has been set aside in an escrow account during the fight.

The case is currently in the Michigan Court of Appeals and is not expected to be ruled on until well after the election.

Hunter said he would like to know the truth about the case and what is being said and done during closed-session discussions.

Being on the council would allow him to participate in those talks and, he said, help find a fair solution to all.

“I want this ended,” he said. “I think the simple solution is what the engineers for both sides presented — that the rate is based on the percentage of the city’s water system that is used to provide the township water. It would be a simple agreement that could be reviewed by engineers every few years. I think creating a true authority that would only be used to set rates could also be a good idea.”

MICH-E-KE-WIS

DEVELOPMENT

The city is in the early process of developing a plan for improvements to Mich-e-ke-wis Park along the shores of Lake Huron. Officials intend to involve the community in that process.

Hunter said the city has a lot of parks and the far corner of the lakeside park may be put to good use to have it developed.

“You have to ask the people, but also consider the budget and what the city needs,” Hunter said. “We have other parks and recreation areas, and that needs to be factored in. I just would want to listen to the public and make sure it is feasible in the budget.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.

The Hunter file

∫ NAME: Mark Hunter

∫ AGE: 62

∫ FAMILY: Single

∫ OCCUPATION: Attorney

∫ EDUCATION: Ohio Northern University College of Law, Michigan State University, Alpena Community College

∫ EXPERIENCE: No elected positions, but served on the Alpena County Planning Commission, Alpena Planning Commission, city Environmental Committee, county Air and Water Quality Committee, and Alpena County Older Persons Committee, among other boards