Nineteen candidates are vying for nine Grand Traverse County commission seats this year – with only one candidate unopposed and the rest facing one or more challengers heading into the August 6 primary. Only one candidate from each party will advance from the primary to the November 5 general election to compete for each district’s single seat. To help familiarize readers with the field, The Ticker has profiles of each candidate in a two-part series that will run today (Wednesday) and Thursday. Today’s story covers candidates in districts 1-4, while tomorrow’s story will cover candidates in districts 5-9.

District 1: Brian McAllister (R), Linda Maginity (D)
Brian McAllister – Republican
Bio: The owner of Hofbrau Steak House & American Grille for 27 years, incumbent Brian McCallister – 62 – previously served on the Green Lake Township planning commission and as president of the Green Lake Township Downtown Development Authority before being elected as a first-time county commissioner in 2022.
Why Running for County Commission: “Because I think Green Lake Township and its residents could use some advocation,” McCallister says. “I just think I can help our residents.”
3-4 Issues/Projects That Would Be a Priority if Elected: “I’ve been working on the Art-to-Tart nonmotorized trail, which I think is really important,” McCallister says. “I’d also like to work on infrastructure, sidewalks, and lights for the township. Housing is solvable, but we need some help – and not just for the homeless. There’s a class of people who have been left behind, like my chefs who make $75,000 a year and can’t afford to live here. I don’t even know what affordable housing looks like anymore.”
Qualities Would Bring to Role of County Commissioner: “I’m honest. I’m probably the hardest working guy I know. I work hard for the people in our area. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make it a better place.”

Linda Maginity – Democrat
Bio: A self-employed bookkeeper and business consultant for over 30 years, Linda Maginity has volunteered for “Voters Not Politicians” giving presentations to voters about gerrymandering. She has also served as an election worker, specifically as a receiving clerk with Blair Township since 2018. Maginity, 65, has also served as a Cub Scout leader and worked in community organizing opposing Blair Township locations of an adult bookstore (“small win”), strip club (“failed”), and a tire service and tow yard (“TBD”).
Why Running for County Commission: “I have been a resident of Blair Township for 40 years and do not know how or what decisions the commission has made that affect the residents of district one,” Maginity says. “In my experience, the only time the board of commissioners makes the news is when their decisions affect Traverse City proper. I’m running to learn, to represent, to share news and topics with the residents of district one, and to ask for their input.”
3-4 Issues/Projects That Would Be a Priority if Elected: Affordable workforce housing, infrastructure, smart growth that protects natural resources, and communication. “Too many businesses are lacking employees simply because people cannot afford to work and live here,” Maginity says. She cites crumbling residential streets as a concern, as is “growth for the sake of growth without considering the consequences to our beautiful lands and waterways.” The county commission’s website “isn’t as user-friendly as it could be, and watching the videos of the meetings can be challenging,” Maginity notes.
Qualities Would Bring to Role of County Commissioner: With an educational background at Northwestern Michigan College in business administration, accounting, and computer software/web development, Maginity has worked as a bookkeeper in industries including hotels, restaurants, general contracting/subcontractors, local government, manufacturing, retail, and medical practices. “I feel that I’m uniquely qualified to serve on the board of commissioners, having worked with and consulted for a number of successful businesses,” she says.

District 2: Daniel G. Smith (R), Lauren Flynn (D)
Daniel G. Smith – Republican
Bio: Daniel G. Smith, 67, has lived in Traverse City most of his life, excepting service in the U.S. Navy and a few years spent in Mesick. He’s previously run for township supervisor and trustee in Garfield Township and served as a deacon at the former Forest Lakes Bible Church. Smith now runs a lawn maintenance and snow-plowing business, but prior to that was the long-time owner of Dan’s Market and Garden Center, which was eventually shut down due to a years-running zoning dispute with Garfield Township.
Why Running for County Commission: Smith originally planned to run for office in 2022, but suffered a personal tragedy when his son died in an accident. Working through his grief, Smith now feels “it’s time to move on and start thinking about the community.” He hopes to bring a more conservative voice to the board in district two. “I want to listen to the people and what their voices are,” he says.
3-4 Issues/Projects That Would Be a Priority if Elected: Smith’s experience in Garfield Township led him to believe “too much regulation” is a significant local issue, saying it “stifles business.” He adds: “Regulation has just gotten out of control. That’s one of my big ones.”
Qualities Would Bring to Role of County Commissioner: “I know the area, I've lived here all my life,” Smith says. While he believes change should be accepted as inevitable, as county commissioner he’d “think carefully through” how that change is impacting the community.

Lauren Flynn – Democrat
Bio: Incumbent Lauren Flynn, 44, is the director of operations for the Grand Traverse County Democrats. She sits on the board of Generations Ahead, a nonprofit that works with teen parents, as well as on the Northwest Michigan Health Services Inc board. In her role as county commissioner, she is part of the Opioid Task Force and serves on the boards of Veterans Affairs, Networks Northwest, Economic Development, and Northern Nexus. She has a master’s in business management and is in school working on another master’s in nonprofit leadership.
Why Running for County Commission: “As a single mother, I have felt I have dealt with many of the crises that face my constituents,” Flynn says. “Daycare affordability and accessibility. Housing insecurity. Mental health accessibility. I ran in 2022 because I want to be part of the solution to our community's issues, and as I run for reelection, I want to continue to be proactive in solving the problems that face our residents.”
3-4 Issues/Projects That Would Be a Priority if Elected: “Housing is number one,” Flynn says. “Continuing to bring transparency to our government. Daycare accessibility. Ensuring that mental health care is available to all.”
Qualities Would Bring to Role of County Commissioner: “I will continue to bring integrity, honesty, and transparency to the role of a county commissioner,” Flynn says. “We are not here to serve our own personal needs, but to serve the members of our districts.”

District 3: Brian A. Hagerty (R), Ashlea Walter (D)
Brian A. Hagerty – Republican
Bio: Brian A. Hagerty, 54, is in business development and has worked with brands including the National Cherry Festival, Iceman, TCAPS, GTACS, Iron Man, and TC Breakers. He’s coached “many kids' sports teams” and supported causes including “homeless advocacy, affordable housing, and various forms of mentorship as well as the Turkey Trot which has been an amazing journey bringing in almost $200,000 to local area causes.”
Why Running for County Commission: Hagerty says he is “eager to engage and have the time to do so. I look to contribute to a growth plan for the county that will build economic diversity beyond tourism. I will provide responsible leadership that will attract viable industrial jobs in manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and finance.”
3-4 Issues/Projects That Would Be a Priority if Elected: Fiscal responsibility, clean and safe water, homelessness, and localized political power. Hagerty says his business background “lends itself perfectly” to the challenge of responsibly spending public funds and calls the protection of clean water an issue “that must be nurtured relentlessly.” Addressing homelessness will “require cooperation, teamwork, and continuous effort,” Hagerty says. He adds that “political power is best carried out by local governing bodies,” with a need to have a local plan to deal with global issues that will soon impact the region.
Qualities Would Bring to Role of County Commissioner: Hagerty says the quality most associated with him is “persistence” and cites a Cal Coolidge quote: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and always will solve the problems.”

Ashlea Walter – Democrat
Bio: Incumbent Ashlea Walter, 47, is assistant vice president, marketing and communications manager at Honor Bank. Prior to becoming county commissioner, Walter served as a Traverse City commissioner from 2019 to 2022 and was on the Empire Village Council. She now serves in board roles with the Commission on Aging, Area Agency on Aging, and Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency. She is involved with the Traverse City West Choir organization and is a previous board member at Norte and Michigan Legacy Art Park.
Why Running for County Commission: “Our community thrives when we support each other as neighbors and work together to stand up for our values,” Walter says. “I have worked hard for our community as an elected county commissioner, city commissioner, volunteer, community organizer on housing, public education, the arts, our climate crisis, government transparency, and equality for all people. I would be honored to continue to represent district three on the GT County Commission for four more years.”
3-4 Issues/Projects That Would Be a Priority if Elected: “I look forward to continuing to serve Grand Traverse County and keep pushing the needle on our region's most pressing needs: better care for our seniors, affordable and workforce housing, mental health, and childcare,” Walter says.
Qualities Would Bring to Role of County Commissioner: Walter says she works well “with lots of different kinds of people and across the political spectrum.” She also cites her “ability to compromise, find common ground, and work toward better solutions to our community's needs.” Walter says she thinks “critically, broadly, and deeply about issues and place importance on collaboration with experts, nonprofits, and our business community.”

County Commissioner, District 4: Brad Jewett (R), Fern Spence (D)
Brad Jewett – Republican
Bio: Incumbent Brad Jewett, 54, is self-employed as owner of Culver Meadows Senior Living. He is in his sixth year as a county commissioner and third year as vice chair of the board. In his role as an elected official, he serves on the Central Dispatch, Traverse Transportation Coordinating Initiative, Emergency Management Committee, Local Planning Committee, and BATA boards.
Why Running for County Commission: Jewett is interested in running again because he feels the commission has “greatly improved our services for the people of Grand Traverse County” in the last five years. “We have addressed the previous issues with the pension,” he says. “We have greatly improved compensation for employees. We have put several million dollars towards mental health facilities and care. Our list of things that we have done is vast, and I want to continue to serve and see more things to completion.”
3-4 Issues/Projects That Would Be a Priority if Elected: “Issues that we face – as many do in the country – are several but some include housing, employers facing increased cost/inflation, and worker shortages,” Jewett says. “We are also in the process of possibly building a new 911 center, and emergency operations center, and a new facilities building that could house Commission on Aging vehicles and equipment. I would like to see these projects through to completion.”
Qualities Would Bring to Role of County Commissioner: Being a business owner gives Jewett firsthand “experience to help make decisions, especially decisions that affect employees and financial decisions that help keep the county and the finances on track. I am a leader and like to see things get done and keep moving forward in a positive direction,” he says.

Fern Spence – Democrat
Bio: Fern Spence, 56, recently graduated from Michigan State University with a master’s in urban and regional planning “with the intention of serving our community.” She serves on Garfield Township’s Parks and Recreation Commission as co-chair and is also on the township’s zoning board of appeals. “As an MSU Extension Master Gardener, I plan, plant, and maintain the DDA’s planter boxes that exist throughout downtown TC,” she says, adding she’s “not afraid to roll up” her sleeves. Spence is also a former deacon at The Presbyterian Church of TC.
Why Running for County Commission: “I see a need for improved integrity and transparency which can done by encouraging more citizens to be part of our county’s planning process,” she says.
3-4 Issues/Projects That Would Be a Priority if Elected: “I’m a professional planner. I’ll set clear long and short-term priorities, objectives, and goals with an annual strategic plan for tackling those issues effecting everyone,” Spence says. “I will prioritize a healthier community for all, which means addressing our housing crisis, encouraging smarter transportation, increasing childcare options, and improving our environment with practical tools that are available.”
Qualities Would Bring to Role of County Commissioner: If elected, Spence says she’ll bring to the role “big positive energy to achieve goals with good planning and working together to make our county healthier for all. As a planner, I follow a code of ethics, which means I plan for everyone with transparency and integrity.”

Pictured (top, left to right): Brian McCallister, Linda Maginity, Daniel G. Smith, Lauren Flynn; (bottom, left to right): Brian A. Hagerty, Ashlea Walter, Brad Jewett, Fern Spence