Anyone who lives in Livingston County knows it is a very Republican County, and that if you are a Democratic Candidate running for office, you have to work even harder to be elected, but it can — and does — happen.
I am one example.
I have served as trustee for Unadilla Township for 21 years, being elected 6 times, and now I am vying for a seat on the County Board of Commissioners in District 3. Democrats Cindy McAllister Michniewicz, who sits on the Hamburg board, and our great Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin were elected as well, and there have been others.
This election cycle we have amazing Democratic Candidates on the entire ticket, and yet I am confronted with the same old comment: “You don’t have a chance to win.” Buddy Moorehouse’s column in The Livingston Post covering the primary election results is the latest in perpetuating this message. He writes: “Unless one Democrat wins in November (which is not going to happen), the county board will be all male in 2023.”
The Livingston Democratic Party has 9 exceptional women running for County Commissioner, representing each district. Making a public statement like that negatively impacts each and every one of us, who are working really hard to win that seat in November.
Telling the public that the end result of an all-male, Republican board is a given only contributes to the apathy of people not voting, because one will believe their vote will not matter, and this could lead to one of us having a potential loss. In addition, it is a slight to Amber Bismack, Amelia Purdy Ketchum, Kasey Helton, Lorrie McMahon, Lisa Wojciechowski, Caitlyn Perry Dial, Christine Kaczkowski, Michelle Spisz, and myself, Lori Cowan, who are campaigning hard, and trying to stay positive to make that much-needed change on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners. Don’t ever count us out!
So why don’t we switch the narrative, that it is possible for us to win, that we are worthy of being elected, and give all of us the respect that we rightfully deserve.
Lori Cowan
Pinckney
