Meet the Delta County District 1 Republican Primary Candidates

ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) — In just over a month, several Delta County commissioners will face off in the Aug. 6 primary election that will determine which names voters will see on the November ballot.

In District 1, Delta County Commissioner and Council President John Malnar is running for his fourth term.

“I won the first election by running,” Malnar said. “Then I lost the second election. My 10 communities begged me to come back and run again.”

During his three terms, Malnar said he has proven and been recognized for his dedication to the county.

“I’m probably the only living commissioner to receive an award from the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC),” he said.

He says recognition and his efforts to strengthen the local workforce are the pillars of his program.

“It’s mostly the county commissioners who take care of county business,” Malnar said. “The first quarter, I really tried to get young people interested in construction. We went to schools; I had a lot of people from the industry with me. It worked really well. I really worked hard and it helped because there are young people coming up through the ranks.”

Malnar’s primary opponent is Sandra Skiba of Maple Ridge Township, who describes herself as an “ordinary person” with a passion for politics.

“I’m a mother, a wife and a grandmother who loves her great-great-grandchildren that I don’t know,” Skiba said. “Everything I do today is for the future. Over the last three years, I’ve been paying attention to local politics and saying to my husband, ‘How can we complain about how our county is run if we’re not doing what’s necessary to make a difference?’”

If elected, Skiba says her priorities would include energy independence for the UP, safe and affordable housing, increasing revenues without raising taxes and caring for veterans and their spouses and children.

“My husband is a 100 percent disabled veteran,” she said. “We would go to the Veterans Affairs office and I would say, ‘With all due respect, I understand our veteran is the most important here, but what about the families?’ because I felt alone a lot of the time. It would be nice to see some of these programs a little more active in our community.”

Skiba says his goal as commissioner would be to act as the voice of the people.

“I strongly believe that people need to be heard,” she said. “People need to be represented. I’m here to represent everyone.”

Malnar says his record makes him the right choice for District 1 voters. Skiba says she would be a “breath of fresh air” to the council.

“I think I’m the most experienced, I have the knowledge and I use my brain,” Malnar said. “You have to attend MAC meetings, understand how a commissioner works, have ethics, trust and be honest.”

“I respect my opponent’s position as the current commissioner,” Skiba said. “However, I feel like that passion and drive is not there. I feel like I bring an energy, a passion, a message that Delta County needs.”

On Friday, July 5, WZMQ 19 will host interviews with candidates in the Delta County District 2 Republican primary.