BAY CITY, MI - An incumbent Bay County Road Commissioner is facing a challenger at the polls this fall.
Incumbent Jacob Hilliker is facing Kevin Shark during the Nov. 8 election for a seat on the road commission.
Shark is challenging Hilliker after defeating Michael Greania in the August Republican primary. Hilliker ran unopposed during the Democratic primary.
The Bay County Board of Road Commissioners consists of three commissioners who are elected by a majority of the voting public. The road commissioners serve six-year staggered terms (one road commissioner being elected every two years).
The board is the policy-making body of the Bay County Road Commission and is responsible for establishing budget, holding public meetings and public hearings.
MLive/The Bay City Times partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information for readers. Each candidate was asked to outline their stances on a variety of public policy issues listed below. Each candidate was asked to outline their stances on a variety of public policy issues listed below.
Information on other state, county and local primary races can be found at Vote411.org.
All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for necessary cuts if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.
Describe your background, experience and qualifications for this office and the reasons you are running for it.
Hilliker: I serve on the boards of United Way of Bay County, the Henry Marsh Public Policy Institute, and Bay City Morning Rotary. A lot of great work can be accomplished by serving with these groups but doesn’t fix our water and road system. Like pretty much everyone in BC I’ve been disappointed with the quality of most of our roads outside of a few upscale areas. In 2018, I decided to take my shot and get involved when one of the three seats opened up at the BCRC I narrowly lost. I stayed interested. When one of the commissioners vacated his seat mid-term in 2020, I was appointed by unanimous vote of the County Commission and now seek my own six-year term. I’m the first person in my family to graduate from college. I’m a proud union member of LiUNA Local 1098. I work in the construction industry, co-own a family business, and operate a small farm. I want to keep my seat on the road commission to continue to improve our infrastructure to attract new business and keep families living here.
Shark: I own and operate two businesses. One is a sock business, and the other is a concrete business here in Bay County that I have operated for 10+ years. I have worked on over 1,000 homes personally in Mid-Michigan. I know these roads better than most, from the country back roads to the city streets. I’m not just pushing papers and writing the checks. I have been making the calls, selling the work, executing the work, and every aspect of my business. I’m qualified in it all, but now I want to make an impact and concentrate on the fiscal aspect of making Bay County’s roads better.Before completing my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management I spent time in the U.S. Army both active and reserve.I have been a board member of my children’s Catholic school, when they reached out for me to join. Being on a board is one thing, but donating is another. I have donated funds and socks to United Way, Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, and many more smaller groups across Bay County and MI.
What are the top 2 priority issues that this office should address, and what actions would you take regarding each of them?
Hilliker: #1 increasing and maintaining communication with the public. #2 LOUDLY advocating for local road funding from the state. #1 Since assuming office, I’ve personally invested my own funds to contact BC residents to improve awareness and communication. I sent out a paper newsletter, but this became overly expensive, so I’m launching a weekly update and information channel on Youtube. I have a dedicated cell line if any resident needs to reach out with an issue. Please leave a VM (989) 395-9750. #2 The BCRC doesn’t control its funding. It mostly comes from local and state taxes. We’ve had some recent increases in overall infrastructure (special thanks to the marijuana shop boost to roads) spending, but local roads need a serious and sustained increase to rebuild after the decades-long reduction in local investment. To build off of the meetings I’ve already had with state and fed officials, I’m launching a citizen-involved awareness campaign to bring state attention to local road funding.
Shark: Living in Michigan our roads will always be an issue, because of the freeze and thaw issues that destroy our roads every winter/spring. Our biggest issue is getting the extra needed funds to improve these roads. I will go above and beyond my normal duties of just attending meetings, to making the calls, implementing public awareness, and communicating with our state government to get these funds for Bay County. I have been attending these BCRC meetings and there is nothing loud about them. The only one making any noise and asking questions is the Commissioner who won in 2018.Another huge issue of mine is the safety of M-13 from Kawkawlin to Pinconning. This is another state issue, but the state will also listen to a Bay County Road Commissioner more than an average citizen. The accidents that occur on this road aren’t fender benders, they are collisions of 55-70 mph and can be fatal. I will go above and beyond to work with the state and MDOT on improving safety on all of our roads.
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