I ran, and won.

One of the issues I ran on, (albeit a minor one) was a straight forward shot at the county board for taking on a 60+ year tradition and making it a government program.  In 2010, the Grand traverse County board voted to "take over" the 62 year old American Legion youth baseball program.  All manner of excuses were made for the overreach, but none of them in my view justified taking on a program that was conceived, built and carried out by our local veterans.  

Immediately, and with the help of a couple other new commissioners, (and a couple others who previously tried to fight the takeover) I was able to get the issue up for a vote and return control of the program to the vets where it belonged. The parks director and big government types on the parks board fighting us all the way, but I had my contingencies planned, and a last minute attempt to nullify by rule found a solution I had prepared just in case.

Long story short?  the kids have American Legion baseball

500+ Grand Traverse County youth will have the opportunity to play baseball in the American Legion tradition.  No government run operation with high paid 'park experts' and useless reports and political correctness. Just down to earth baseball, good sportsmanship, and volunteers who love the game, the kids, and the community involvement in America's pastime.

At 5:30PM tonight, the official first pitch of the season was thrown.

It was a home run. hit out of the park.

Something I could change. Something I knew I (yes, and others) could change.

As insignificant a thing in the grand scheme of all that happens to us, I'll still gladly take it and rejoice.