Representative Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) and Senator John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs), who represent the county in the Michigan House of Representatives and state senate respectively, sat side-byside at the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners July 16 regular session to give them a “progress report” from Lansing.
Although Rep. Coffia and Sen. Damoose are from opposing political parties, their presentations emphasized cross-aisle collaboration on legislation that has positive impacts locally. After the presentation was over, several county residents spoke up during the public comment periods to say it was encouraging to see elected officials in the capitol putting the issues before party politics.
“We play politics to get where we are, but the job is to govern, not to play politics,” Damoose said. “And most of that — as you know full well — is relatively boring stuff. It’s routine stuff, but you got to do it. It’s not stuff that gets your base fired up. It’s not stuff that you necessarily even post about.”
