Board defends Wessell

Jamie Kramer resigned as Leelanau County’s District No. 1 commissioner on July 9.

In her June 29 resignation letter, Kramer said that among other reasons, she decided to resign over “feelings of being prohibited from decision-making and board choices due to my gender, particularly from our board chair,” Ty Wessell.

At the county board’s next public meeting after Kramer formally announced her resignation, the July executive board meeting, the other commissioners commented on Kramer’s sexual discrimination allegations. Most of the board spoke up in defense of Wessell’s character, except for Commissioner Melinda Lautner.