"Bos" is Dutch for "Forest"

West Michigan is about as Dutch as the Copper Country is Finnish. Both cultures value shared spaces and nature. Growing up in Grand Haven Township, I spent as much time as I could in the woods and forests near my home, places that are today mostly subdivisions. The one exception is the Hofma Preserve, a place I still frequent when I visit my parents. To me, that is the core of the Heartlands project and my motivation for running for this position: creating a space, centered on nature, that is enjoyed by many and used for different purposes, a place where people will return throughout their lives that will change, yet remain familiar.

My connection to the Keweenaw: I first visited here about 40 years ago and the Keweenaw captured my imagination. After high school, I attended Michigan Tech, where I met my wife (who is from Calumet). I proposed to her on New Year's Day at Esrey Park, and 18 months later, with the permission of the landowners at the time, we were married on Brockway Mountain (upper left). As time progressed, we agreed our long-term goal was to return to the U.P. and to make Keweenaw County our home. We finally achieved that goal in 2020. We took the picture on the right on our 10th anniversary; the location of the two photos is almost the same, though the angle is different. As you can see, though, it hardly matters. Such is life in the Keweenaw. It will be 20 years this June.

My wife is from the area, but you may not know her family. Likewise, I have lived, worked, and visited the area continuously for more than 30 years, but you may not know me either, and that is a hallmark of my campaign. At Michigan Tech, we tell our students that the pace of change is faster now than it has ever been. That same change is coming to the Keweenaw, and we need to be ready for it. There is no returning to the past; in some ways, that past never existed as we remember it. We must prepare for our future. At the same time, our families, their histories, and our stories define this place and make it unique. My goal is to honor those traditions while preparing the Keweenaw for the future to come.

This is the core of the Heartlands project:

• Preserve what we have. That means preserving what exists now for the future so current access remains.

• Ensure that access in perpetuity. The Heartlands need to remain accessible as they are now and for their current uses for as long as is practical. But this also means the Heartlands need to produce revenue for the county in proportion to their area and use. People drive on roads, get into accidents, or need other help and that costs real money. 

• Anticipate and welcome new visitors, residents, and opportunities.

To me, that means (i.e. good governance):

• Ignoring personal grievances and focusing on what is best for the community.

• Doing what is best for the Heartlands to ensure it remains a centerpiece community resource in 100 years.

• Honoring our history and the families who have connections to this land.

• Making room for new families, new stories, and new traditions.

• Managing portions of the land as sustainable commercial forest and seeking other revenue streams without relying on property tax levies as a primary means of support.