Danny Mitchell

ALPENA — Danny Mitchell has made a career out of serving people, and, on Nov. 5, he is asking voters in Alpena to give him an opportunity to do the same for them.

Mitchell, a Navy veteran, is one of three candidates vying for a pair of seats up for grabs on the Alpena Municipal Council. He said his time in the military, as well as elected service in Kinross Township, and his experience in the private sector has given him the skills needed to work with council members to move the city forward.

Mitchell, who is currently on the Alpena Planning Commission, said he moved to Alpena in 2014 from the Upper Peninsula to be closer to his family and he says he is firmly established here.

After he retired, the decision to move was easy, because he already had an affection for Alpena and, most of all, it meant he would be able to spend more time with his grandchildren.

“I’ve never been one to sit on my tail and not get involved,” he said. “I never have been. I think it is wrong to live some place and not be involved. Now, I want to work in the best interest of the people here in Alpena. Not the Planning Commission’s best interest. Not the council’s best interest. The people’s best interest.”

Mitchell, who will square off against incumbent Mike Nowak as fellow challenger Mark Hunter, will have a vote on some controversial issues if his campaign is successful.

MARIJUANA

Voters last year legalized recreational marijuana in Michigan — a decade after legalizing medicinal marijuana — and gave local governments the option of prohibiting marijuana businesses in their boundaries.

Alpena council members voted to allow two medical marijuana dispensaries, but prohibited recreational marijuana stores.

Mitchell said he opposes the drug being sold in any form in the city, and voted as such when the city’s marijuana committee made its recommendation to the council.

He said he has seen the drug, which is still considered illegal by the federal government, destroy lives. Mitchell said he also isn’t buying into the hype that municipalities that allow recreational marijuana businesses will get a windfall of tax revenue.

“There isn’t going to be the revenue that people think,” Mitchell said. “They are trying to sucker you into thinking that, but it isn’t going to be there. What will end up happening is what the city and state spends on marijuana enforcement and other related things will outweigh what they are taking in. I’ll have an open mind, but, if it comes to a vote, I pretty much know I’ll vote no. ”

PAID PARKING

The Municipal Council could be asked to act on a proposal from the Alpena Downtown Development Authority to install parking meters downtown. Revenue from parking could eventually go toward construction of a downtown parking garage.

Mitchell said that could be an important decision.

He said there could be real ramifications for downtown and businesses if a mistake is made. He said that, while he lived in the U.P., he witnessed Sault Ste. Marie take out bonds to build a parking structure, and, now, that city can’t afford the payments or maintenance of it. Mitchell said he has a few questions about why paid parking is needed now and how it would be paid for both before and after installation.

“The first thing I want to know is, why did they get rid of it before, when we had it here?” Mitchell said. “Did it deter people from shopping here? A parking garage isn’t a cheap venture, and it will take a heck of a long time and a lot of quarters to pay for something like that. Do we want to bring back meters and risk chasing business away? I’m not sure we do.”

WATER-SEWER LITIGATION

Mitchell said he is in the same boat as most residents in that he only knows a few details about the years-old litigation between the city and Alpena Township over water and sewer rates.

Mitchell said that, if elected, he would be able to participate in closed-session discussions and help push the matter toward closure.

“I’ll have research and a lot of questions, that is for sure, because so much of it has been done out of the public’s eye in closed session, which should be done as little as possible,” Mitchell said. “I have my opinions on this, but don’t have all of the facts, yet. Right now, I would say water is a commodity that the city sells. They suck it, treat it and push it. The only ones who are hurt by this is the users and taxpayers. This is all coming out of their wallets.”

MICH-E-KE-WIS IMPROVEMENTS

The city is moving forward with a plan to improvements Mich-e-ke-wis Park on Lake Huron, as it has over the years to nearby Starlite Beach.

Mitchell said our shoreline and the view of the lake is precious, and any modifications to the park need to be done with that in mind. He said it is also critical that residents and people who use the park have a voice in what ultimately is done with it.

“If the public doesn’t have input in this, then, chances are, the public isn’t going to use it,” he said. “When I was on the Planning Commission, when the idea of a (recreational vehicle) park was tossed around, I said, ‘Heck, no.’ We don’t want to be Tawas. We do need paved parking and access to that park, and I like the Farmer’s Market being there, but, anything beyond that, I think the people need to have a loud voice in this. I would like to see it used for outdoor activity, but still be a green space with an open view of the water.”

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

The Mitchell file

∫ NAME: Danny Mitchell

∫ AGE: 64

∫ FAMILY: Married, with three sons

∫ OCCUPATION: Retired from the U.S. Navy after 30 years of service

∫ EXPERINCE: Alpena Planning Commission, Kinross Township Board of Trustees, Kinross Planning Commission