Moreno defends seat for Isabella County's 5th district
James Moreno takes lead over Republican candidate Frank Verwey in the District 5 Isabella County Commissioners election.
James Moreno defended his seat over Republican candidate Frank Verwey and unaffiliated hopeful Davie McGuire Tuesday. Unofficial results show he earned 2,325 votes in the District 5 Isabella County Commissioners election and will be keeping his position until 2028.
Moreno, the Democratic incumbent, has been on the commission since 2009.
He’s also the chairperson for the Board of Commissioners Human Resources and Public Works Committee and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. He is a member of committees like the Central Michigan District Health Board, the Community Corrections Advisory Board and other boards.
Moreno, who studied health and fitness at Central Michigan University, said he is excited about the election and the projects he will be working on in his term. Though commissioners only serve two-year terms, the term length has changed to four years this year.
"I feel great," Moreno said. "It's special because...times have changed."
In his new term, Moreno said he will be focused on many projects, geared toward using more sustainable energy. He will be working on projects like building a new recycling center and creating more solar farms and wind turbines.
Verwey is a Republican and has been a resident of Mount Pleasant for most of his life. He attended Mid-Michigan College and Central Michigan University. Verwey said the last time he ran for a position in politics was in 1980 for drain commissioner at the age of 24; he did not win the position.
Community members attend a Democratic watch party, discussing candidates as the night progresses at an election results watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Riverwood's 989 Club. (CM-Life | Soli Gordon)
Though he doesn’t have much experience in politics, he has a lot of experience in other fields, he said. Verwey was a manager for two different companies in the oil and gas business.
Verwey said that one of his concerns is the board of commissioners’ use of budgeting and that his main focus would be spending. He said that the board’s use of spending has affected the cost of apartments and other areas of government, but his main concern was public safety spending.
“Thirty five percent of our budget is public safety … that’s a lot,” Verwey said. “(My goal is) not to cut, not to add, just (to see) that we’re efficient.”
Here are the unofficial results for other Isabella County Commission seats:
District 1:
Republican Steven G. Weber bested Democrat Nicole S. Hagle, 3,635-1,590.
District 2:
Republican Bob Campbell ran an uncontested race, and earned 3,586 votes.
District 3:
Incumbent Jerry Jaloszynski, a Republican, was not challenged for his seat. He earned 3,632 ballots.
District 4:
Republican incumbent Frank Engler topped Democratic challenger John D. Hayes, 2,743 ballots to 2,148.
District 6:
Democrat incumbent Steve Swaney was uncontested in his race. He earned 2,334 votes.
District 7:
Tobin Hope, an incumbent Democrat, received 1387 votes in his uncontested race.
