Cambensy

MARQUETTE — A group of citizens expressed disapproval at the end of a two-hour Marquette City Commission meeting Monday evening, in which the commission voted unanimously to open up an application process to select a replacement to serve the partial term of former Commissioner Sara Cambensy.

Applications are available on the city’s website at www.marquettemi.gov, and at the Marquette City Clerk’s Office, located at 300 W. Baraga Ave. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Nov. 30. The partial term expires November 2018.

Cambensy resigned her seat last week after winning the Nov. 7 special election to fill the remainder of the late Rep. John Kivela’s term in the Michigan House of Representatives. The commission unanimously accepted her resignation Monday.

On Nov. 7, three city commissioners were also elected from six candidates, and Cambensy and others suggested the commission appoint the fourth-place vote-getter, Tony Ghiringhelli.

The Marquette City Charter states that vacancies shall be filled by appointment by a majority vote of the commission within 60 days or a special election shall be held. Many have expressed opposition to a special election, citing the cost. A single election costs about $22,000, according to the city clerk’s office.

About 15 people from a full audience Monday spoke in support of Ghiringhelli, with about a third stating their association with local unions. Ghiringhelli has said he is a displaced steelworker from the Empire Mine and active in the union.

Registered nurse Tammy Sustarich, who serves in the bargaining unit for the Marquette chapter of the Michigan Nurses Association, said the voters have spoken.

“As one of the most trusted professions in this country, I am speaking on nurses’ behalf, placing my trust in him, and I would like to see him in that position,” Sustarich said. “He has been voted there, and he deserves it.”

Robert Anderson, elder law attorney from Marquette, said Ghiringhelli’s working background would benefit the commission.

“I think in the tradition of another man of a working class background, John Kivela, who was one of the best city commissioners (and) mayor that I’ve seen on the city commission in my 35 years of being a resident here, I think that Tony can carry on with that tradition,” Anderson said.

Jorma Lankinen of Marquette said the commission would look like a “good old boys club” to appoint someone other than the fourth place vote-getter, but later stated he would apply for the open seat.

Katie Barglind of Marquette said “as a young worker, that it would be great to have another young worker’s voice up on the commission to reflect those issues and opinons.”

Justin Brugman, the sixth-place finisher in the election, echoed others’ support, saying it’s “only fair.”

Commissioners voiced concern, however, that other residents might feel differently and opted to accept applications, with consideration and a vote at the Dec. 11 meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem Dave Campana said Ghiringhelli is clearly an accomplished person, but that there are other opinions to weigh. Some people have told him they want to see a woman or a young person in the seat, he said.

“Elevating the fourth-place person to the city commission was not part of the election. We never agreed to that. It’s never been followed, so if we do that, we’re setting a precedent. I don’t think that that’s necessarily a good idea,” Campana said.

Commissioner Fred Stonehouse said had people known this would be the commission’s action, they may have voted differently.

“It’s not like it was a closely run race,” Stonehouse said. “It wasn’t.”

The top three vote-getters received more than 2,000 votes each. Ghiringhelli received 1,300 votes.

Stonehouse then noted the “power of incumbency,” and the likelihood the appointee would serve two more terms.

“So we’re really looking at somebody for seven years,” Stonehouse said. “That is one of the most important decisions this commission will make this year or maybe even in subsequent years because of the longevity of that appointment.”

Commissioner Mike Plourde said it would be “imprudent and improper” to assume everyone in the city feels the way public speakers expressed.

Commissioner Sarah Reynolds said she wants to support Ghiringhelli, but appointing a replacement was not on the agenda.

“I have always had a problem adding something to the agenda, or changing the agenda,” Reynolds said. “I have never voted yes for those things because I am not comfortable with the information not being provided to the public. … I want the public to comment on it.”

Public speakers stood up again at the end of the meeting to express disappointment and anger, claiming the commission had taken the decision out of voters’ hands and it appeared they were going to recruit someone.

Matthew Luttenberger, who lost in the August primary for the commission, said only qualified candidates who were selected by voters should be considered.

“I’m really terrified that you may just appoint some former mayor,” Luttenberger said. “Call it whatever you want, in our point of view, you guys are choosing your partner, not us, not the city.”

Sustarich said it was shameful.

“I cannot even begin to express how greatly disappointed I am in you,” Sustarich said, adding it’s “pretty arrogant” to think this appointment will serve seven years.

“Clearly you all assume that you’re going to get re-elected, and I’m going to remember that,” she said.

Cambensy said some commissioners “adamantly worked against” her campaign for the Michigan 109th House District.

“And the reason that they no longer supported me, my guess, is that every time I took a vote as a city commissioner, I never forgot who I worked for,” Cambensy said. “It sounds pretty bad sitting in the audience and hearing this conversation. This is an elected seat.”

There were discrepancies in claims about whether previous appointments by the commission happened around the time of elections.

In a brief review of old meeting minutes, The Mining Journal, assisted by the clerk’s office, found at least one instance in 1991 where an election caused the resignation of a commissioner, who resigned two weeks later. His seat was filled by an application and appointment process.

Plourde said perception is powerful, and the commission is not taking the decision out of the people’s hands, but putting it in the people’s hands, by giving “other people the chance to express their opinions” and apply.

Campana said, “We are not a ‘good old boys club.’ We were elected to represent (the people) and to make decisions for them.”

Mayor Tom Baldini said the commission is governed by the charter.

“It says when there’s a vacancy, the commission makes that appointment. It doesn’t tell them how,” Baldini said. “The commission makes that decision. We are the commissioners, and I don’t say that braggadociously, we were elected by the people to make decisions.”

Mary Wardell can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is mwardell@miningjournal.net.