EDITOR:

Over the last two decades, Tom Casperson and I waged countless battles against government over-reach. Do you remember: Michigan told its citizens they could not rake the sand on their beach? They could build a garage for one snowmobile, but not two? The couple fined more because the DEQ judged they could afford it? Or, when Republic was told they couldn’t have their 40th fishing tournament unless they did a multi-year study on the impact to fish? Together, Tom and I helped rescue homes from erosion, communities from fines and bills, and citizens from not using their own land. While not all bureaucrats are awful, many are trained to stop the people from using the land and their rights rather than finding a way for them to get it done. The government usually believes the people are the problem, and they love to make rules and memos that go above and beyond the law.

That is why standing against government over-reach is as critical as any role Tom and I played in serving in the legislature. We were often the only voice average citizens had. Thankfully, the Delta County Conservation District, elected by the people of Delta County, often stood alongside us in that fight, including several of those issues listed above. The District understood and stood against this abuse. As a result, it saw fit to empower its employees, including Rory Mattson, to fight for the people for many years. We didn’t always agree. We saw Mr. Mattson have to tell people they were breaking the law/regulation or that he could not permit exactly what they wanted. We also saw countless people get help and relief through his expertise and relentless pursuit of their rights and true interpretation of the law. He is one of the few persons we found in government to have a passion to help the people, speak truth to the powers in government, and have a high level of expertise in the law.

So why is this new Conservation District board running down the old boards and employees after so many years of exceptional service? What penalty can they expect to be meted out on an employee who did as his elected board asked him? And what value is it to hear from the AG and state agencies that always hated the district, Mr. Mattson, and their work for the people against those same agencies? If the old board was doing something wrong for decades, why was it not pointed out in all those past court cases? Why did the agencies lose so often?

The current board’s actions do not help Delta County citizens. This stinks of partisan politics from both the state and locally. It would be best if the District Board would avoid playing political games and would just return to providing real services to the citizens already under duress from governments that do not help them – heaven knows we all need that.

State Senator

Ed McBroom