Doug "Hawk" Erickson for County Commissioner

Doug "Hawk" Erickson for County Commissioner Official page for Schoolcraft County Commissioner Doug "Hawk" Erickson.

Please feel free to ask questions or state your concerns regarding issues in Schoolcraft County.

08/01/2022

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds

Schoolcraft County has received so far $786,082.50 in ARPA Funds with another amount coming in the future. Schoolcraft County has already committed $228,659.51 of those funds. My opponent, Paul Walker, has placed pet projects on the board agenda at the last minute, resulting in thousands of dollars spent with little to no public input. I believe an advisory committee should be instituted to make recommendations to the County Board on how to spend these funds. Remember, these funds are the property of the Schoolcraft County Taxpayers, not a private slush fund to pay for any pet projects that come along. Money has been dispersed from these funds without a quote or invoice to prove what the money is being spent on – just the word of individuals requesting the funds. Any funds being dispersed should have a quote or invoice to back up that request. Funds have even been dispersed to agencies that received their own ARPA funds to pay for their projects. That is what the Federal Government does with our tax dollars, which is one of the main reasons the average person is struggling so hard today – spending our tax dollars on everybody and everything except making the lives of our own citizens better.

You can’t leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution.

Please vote for Doug “Hawk” Erickson, candidate for County Commissioner, District Four, Schoolcraft County.

07/26/2022

My opponent, Paul Walker, says he backs the 2nd amendment. He let guns be taken away from law-abiding citizens and CCW carriers on county property and never questioned the authority or the law. I dealt with this issue 20 years ago, when this was tried then, under my watch as county commissioner. I vigorously fought this and got that order and those signs removed, as the Attorney General deemed it unconstitutional. If I am elected, I will fight vigorously to get this order removed and protect our 2nd Amendment Rights.

My opponent, Paul Walker, recently voted to give money to upgrade a piece of property that the county does not even own. He also just recently voted to give away $65,000 to an entity, even through it was not originally on the agenda. According to their own Board Rules, commissioners are supposed to have a five-day notice for anything on the agenda. This allows commissioners time to review and research agenda items to make an informed decision, as well as giving the general public a chance to see the agenda and come to the meeting to be heard on these topics before commissioners rule on them. Only emergency items are to be added at the last minute and I would hardly believe this qualified as an emergency.

Lastly, I leave with my quote of the day: “When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them want they want to hear.”

Please vote for Doug “Hawk” Erickson, candidate for County Commissioner, District Four, Schoolcraft County.

07/18/2022

My opponent, Paul Walker, approved a $20,000 pay increase for a county employee with no job description or additional duties to be performed.

My opponent, Paul Walker, voted to create a County Administrator position. There was no job description, and no idea where the money for this job is coming from. As of June 28, 2022, the average salary range for a County Administrator in Michigan is between $79,159 - $111,439, plus benefits. I did a survey in 2003 and less than half of the counties in the UP had administrators, and 20 years later, there are still less than half of the 15 counties in the UP with administrators. Why?

My opponent, Paul Walker, has allowed the MERS Retirement System to be in a 7.82 million dollar deficit. Schoolcraft County is so underfunded that they received a notice from the State of Michigan to put more money in the retirement fund. If the County is so underfunded they are receiving notices from the State, how are they able to afford a $20,000 pay increase for an employee or hire a new position for a minimum salary of $79,000?

We don’t want to end up like Ontonagon County where they are requesting voters approve a 20 mill increase on their property taxes ($20.00 per thousand of taxable value). Example: if you have a $100,000 home taxed at ½ the value would be $50,000. That’s a $1000.00 increase in property taxes. If Schoolcraft County pays an extra $100,000 a year into the retirement system, it would take over 78 years to get caught up at today’s rates.

Vote Doug "Hawk" Erickson for Schoolcraft County Commissioner, District 4.

07/11/2022

My opponent, Paul Walker, has violated the Open Meeting Act on numerous occasions since being in office.

My opponent, Paul Walker, has stated that "the Schoolcraft County Board of Commissioners will not answer any questions at board meetings from the taxpaying citizens of Schoolcraft County." He has also limited the taxpaying citizens to a 3-minute time limit on Public Comment, in direct violation of Schoolcraft County's own Board Rules. If elected, I promise to try and answer every question from the taxpaying citizens of Schoolcraft County. If I don't have an answer, I will get you one.

My opponent, Paul Walker, has scheduled numerous meetings in the morning or early-afternoon hours, when the majority of taxpaying citizens or county employees can't attend.

My opponent, Paul Walker, states he wants transparency in Schoolcraft County Government. If his idea of transparency is violating the Open Meeting Act, not answering questions from the taxpaying citizens, or holding meetings when the majority of taxpaying citizens can't attend, I guess his definition of transparency is different than Webster's Dictionary and mine.

Vote Doug "Hawk" Erickson for Schoolcraft County Commissioner, District 4.

06/04/2022

If anyone is interested in putting a sign in their yard for the campaign, please call (906) 286-0406, and we would be happy to set you up. Thank you all for your support!

05/12/2022

I’m Doug “Hawk” Erickson. I’m running for Commissioner in District Four for Schoolcraft County Board of Commissioners. I’ve been married to my wife, Lori, for 34 years. I have three children: Doug, Don and Holly. I also have two grandchildren: Arianna and Charlotte. I have been a Township Supervisor, a City Councilperson, and a County Commissioner.

I’ve been on the following Upper Peninsula and State Committees: Vice-Chair of the Michigan Association of County’s Transportation Committee, Executive Board member for the Michigan Association of Local Public Health, Eastern Representative on Executive Committee for the Upper Peninsula Association of County Commissioners and Treasurer for CUPPAD.

I was a Governing Board member of the following committees: UPCAP, Community Action Agency, Head Start, CUPPAD, LMAS District Health Department, 4-County 11th Circuit Court Committee, Mid-Peninsula Building Authority, and Resource Conservation and Development.

As you can see, I don’t shy away from commitments or responsibilities. I am very dedicated to the endeavors I pursue and do my best to do justice to each of them.

I am running because I feel my knowledge, experience and leadership abilities have benefited, and could continue to benefit, Schoolcraft County in these ever-increasing times of financial uncertainty. I have the courage to take a stand on hard issues, have the insight to see that our County Government needs to improve, not remain stagnant just because there is comfort in the familiar. I have shown my dedication to the people of this county by keeping my promise of being available and willing to listen to their opinions and concerns. I want to address the needs of our area citizens, from our youngest to our oldest. I believe I am the most qualified, committed and experienced person for the job. I have the time to devote to the job to be able to do it justice. I have the courage to make tough decisions, no matter what those decisions cost me personally. I believe if the people of my district know that I am voting on issues based on what I believe to be the best for Schoolcraft County, and what they indicate are their desired outcomes, they will stand by me for my honesty and integrity, even if we don’t always agree.

If you want to know where I stand on an issue, just ask. I’ll give you an honest answer. You will never have to wonder what I think or what my views are, like others that won’t answer questions in public. If you are at our County Meeting, you have a right to have your questions answered. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll try to find out and report back. If you vote me in as your next County Commissioner, I promise to do everything within my power to be a voice for the people. Thank you for your support.

Address

Manistique, MI
49854

Telephone

+19062860406

Website

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