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Dawn Bales vs. Beth Blanco for Lenawee County Commissioner

Dawn Bales vs. Beth Blanco for Lenawee County Commissioner

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A race in Lenawee County’s District 4 is one of six contested primaries for Board of Commissioners positions this year.

The Daily Telegram sent questionnaires to candidates in the contested races. Below are the responses from incumbent Commissioner Dawn Bales of Madison Township and Beth Blanco of Clayton, who is seeking the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in District 4. Their responses are printed as provided, although they may have been edited for clarity or shortened if the responses exceeded the given word limit.

District 4 includes the townships of Dover, Fairfield, Madison, and Seneca, including that portion of Clayton that is in Dover Township.

There are no Democratic Party candidates.

Profiles of the candidates in District 2 and District 3 have been published. The other candidates in the contested primaries will be profiled in the coming days.

The uncontested primaries are in District 1, where incumbent Republican Commissioner David Stimpson and Democrat Bill Swift, both of Tecumseh, are running; District 6, where incumbent Republican Commissioner Terry Collins of Adrian and Democrat Andrew Winckles of Adrian are running; and District 9, where incumbent Republican Commissioner Jim Van Doren of Tipton and Democrat Jeff DiCenzo of Adrian Township are running.

In-person voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6. Early voting for most precincts in District 2 will take place from July 27 through August 4, including weekends, at the Human Services Building, 1040 S. Winter St. in Adrian. Those hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Early voting in Fairfield Township will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from July 27 through August 4, including weekends, at the township clerk’s office, 1023 Pine St. in Jasper. Mail-in ballots can be requested from the township clerks.

County commissioners elected in November will serve four-year terms, a statewide change with this year’s elections. Terms begin Jan. 1.

Dawn L. Bales

Age: 64

Occupation: Vice President/Manager, Retail Community Development, Premier Bank, age 35

Spouse/children: Howard Bales, husband. Two sons, three stepchildren and 11 grandchildren

Experience with the government: Appointed to Lenawee County Board of Commissioners in December 2015, 8 years and 8 months

Experience as a volunteer/social service provider: Athena Lenawee Board, Habitat ReStore Commission, Economic Development Corp./Brownfield/Hospital Authority. Previous Boards and Organizations: Madison School Board, Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce, Habitat of Lenawee and Member of Civitan of Lenawee.

Why are you running for this position? I am running for Lenawee County Commissioner because my eight years on the board and my leadership role at Premier Bank have fueled my commitment to a financially strong county government. I am committed to continuing to improve programs and services that work within our budget. (Editor’s note: Answer truncated.)

What do you think is the biggest challenge for the province and what needs to be done about it? Our greatest challenge is our aging county infrastructure and the increased demand for safe, accessible, and adequate workspaces. For example, our courthouse was built in 1979 and does not meet the needs of our county. We must invest in upgrading our facilities for current and future residents to avoid costly repairs, keep our employees and the public safe, and ensure efficient services.

Why should people vote for you? I am committed to improving collaboration in our beloved county because I believe that strength and resilience come from community connection. As a lifelong resident of Lenawee, I will lead with integrity to ensure a vibrant future for all of our residents.

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Beth Blanco

Age: 53

Occupation: Certified financial advisor.

Spouse/children: Daughter, 31; son, 24.

Experience with the government: Since 2022, representative from the Dover Township constituency, treasurer of the Lenawee County Republican Party (2023-present).

Experience as a volunteer/social service provider: Treasurer for Michigan Conservative Union and member of Lenawee County Conservatives.

Why are you running for this position? Lenawee County needs to change. The purchase of the old Tecumseh Products was mishandled and caused me to take action. They paid $2.3 million without an appraisal; the owner was also behind on property taxes. Two years later when the appraisal was done, the value was only $440,000.

What do you think is the biggest challenge for the province and what needs to be done about it? The biggest challenge for Lenawee County is to improve the economy and attract businesses that offer living wages. In the short term, we need to balance the budget and review spending to make the necessary changes. A strategic spending plan and creating reserves are critical to our economic health. In the long term, we need to carefully examine the proposed $100 million courthouse to see if it is necessary. It is important to explore alternatives that meet the needs of the community and ensure responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Fiscal responsibility is my biggest concern for Lenawee County.

Why should people vote for you? People should vote for me for Lenawee County commissioner because with 29 years of experience in finance and as a financial advisor since 2005, I have helped people plan for spending, saving, debt reduction and credit improvement for nearly 20 years. I will bring this expertise to the commission to ensure responsible financial management. I am not a career politician, but a fellow citizen who will listen to your concerns and work for the best interests of our community.

— Contact reporter David Panian at [email protected] or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @lenaweepanian.

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