MEET CANDIDATE Ben

Leading with Integrity

A 35-year resident of Wexford County dedicated to public service, committed to building a community where every voice is heard and every neighbor thrives through compassionate leadership and proven results.

The Foundation of My Commitment

A Life of Service on Boards and Committees

Networks Northwest 10 County Board for 8 years (Currently Serving).
Council of Governance 10 County Board in Northwest Michigan for 6 years.
Cadillac/Wexford County Library Board Liaison for 6 years.
Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Board for 8 years (2 years as Chairman) (Currently Serving).
Wexford County Airport Board for 7 years (5 as Vice-Chairman) (Currently Serving).
Wexford/Missaukee MDHHS Board for 2 years (Currently Serving).
Deputy Supervisor of Springville Township for 7 years.
Served 6 years on the Wexford County Commissioner Board. Sheriff's Safety Committee, ARPA Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Rec. Committee, Prosperity Group for Tippy/Hodenpyl Dams Committee, Cadillac-Wexford County Library Board.
Honored to represent Wexford County at the White House for a day of Briefings from White House Cabinet Secretaries, and a personal tour of the White House by White House Staff in October of 2019.

A Life of Service Recognized

Made an "Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonel," Awarded by Kentucky Gov. Martha Lane Collins, Oct. 1984.
Made an "Honorary Captain of the Belle of Louisville" by Judge/Advocate Mitch McConnell of Jefferson Co. in 1984.
Given a "Doctor of Laws" degree (LL.D., Honorary) by Heritage Biblicist College in 1985.
Made an "Honorary Captain" in the Indiana National Guard in 1985.
Given a Certificate of "Citizen Planner" by Michigan State University in 2016.
Received a "Zoning Administrator Certificate" by Michigan State University in 2018.
Received a Boardworks, "Government Leadership Development Certificate," from CMHA in 2021.
Received a "Certified County Commissioner Award" by the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) in 2023.
Received a "Resolution (24-29) Award" from Wexford County in 2024.

A Life of Service in Authorship

Co-wrote w/Dr. John Wright and Jim Wright - "Approved by God: A Case for Disestablishment" in 2004, 224 pgs.
Co-wrote w/Dr. John Wright - "Approved by Man: A Case for Biblical Reasonableness" in 2009, 213 pgs.
Wrote "Church Polity: In Defense of One Pastor" in 2012, 164 pgs.
Wrote first Novel - "The Powers That Be!" in 2015, 325 pgs. (In 2015, listed at #5 on Kindle's Legal Thriller list.)
Wrote - "T23 North, R12 West: The Story of Spingville Township" in 2018, 157 pgs.
Wrote - The Wexford Joint Planning Commission "Master Plan" in 2022, 103 pgs.
Wrote - The Norman Township, Manistee County "Master Plan" in 2025, 85 pgs.
Working on sequel to Novel with - "The Very Last Mite." (5 chapters done)

A Life of Service to the Public

Trained in Legal Research on LexisNexis at Lexis headquarters in 1995.
Have had a LexisNexis subscription for 35 years, used to help attorneys and churches defend their freedoms.
Served Churches nationwide as Research Director of the Ecclesiastical Law Center (ELC) in Indianapolis.
Served as the Director of the ELC for 20 years, coordinating attorneys to defend churches nationwide.
Head Lobbyist for the Coalition of Religious Freedom (CRF) at the Indiana State House, 7 years.
Did week-long seminars in Legal Research for attorneys and paralegals for 30 years.
Now serving as Zoning Administrator for the Wexford Joint Planning Commission in Wexford Co. for 10 yrs.
Now serving as Zoning Administrator for Norman Township in Manistee County for 10 years.

A Life of Service in Christian Ministry

Associate Pastor, Music Director of the 1,200-member Metropolitan Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, 4 years.
Interim Pastor, Metropolitan Baptist Church in Louisville for one year.
Associate Pastor, Music Director at the 8,000-member Indianapolis Baptist Temple in Indianapolis, Indiana, 7 years.
Founded Bible Believers Baptist Church in Mesick, Michigan and pastored for 24 years.
Helped build Liberty Baptist Church in Zambia, Africa, where oldest daughter Jennifer has been a single missionary for 23 years. Jennifer feeds orphans, helps orphans go to college and get jobs, and helps widows start businesses.
Preached in 20 churches all over the Zambia Copperbelt out in the Bush, "to the ends of the earth," it seemed.

A Life of Service in Education

Started teaching Choir, Band, and English at Mill Road Christian High School in Evansville, Indiana for 4 years.
Became Principal and Drama Teacher at Gethsemane Baptist Schools in Evansville for 3 years.
Went to Louisville, Kentucky and became Academic Dean at Faith Bible College.
Moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and taught Choirs, Band, and Senior Government/Economics at Indianapolis Baptist High School for 7 years.
Became Administrator of Baptist Bible College, Indianapolis for 5 years.
Moved to Mesick, Michigan and taught in a private school, Heritage Chistian School, for 3 years.

Tippy/Hodenpyl Committee

Fought hard for 3 years on this committee to save these two vital dams for Wexford and Manistee counties. Thankfully, Consumers Energy sold the dams so the recreational aspect of them can continue to keep the budgets of counties steady.

More Affordable Housing

Received a Grant from the Office of Rural Prosperity to help 11 townships get rid of Junk and Blight, and to lessen regulations to allow Accessory Dwelling Units on parcels with one main house, helping new couples and elderly couples to have more housing for less cost.

Proven Leadership. Clear Results.

A record of service focused on tangible improvements for our families, our local economy, and the community's safety.

Small Business Resilience

Lobbied hard to keep finances in place for small businesses, Apprenticeship jobs in place, and for the MiWorks budgets to be fully funded as a Networks Northwest Board of Directors Member.

Code of Ethics & Conduct

Wrote one of the first ethics policies for County Commissioners in the state with a modernized Code of Ethics and Conduct that commissioners have to adhere to in their lives, with a Reaffirmation at the beginning of each year during the first commissioner meeting.

Zoning Deregulation

In the role of Zoning Administrator, attempting to work with local township officials to deregulate zoning to its "least intrusive means," so that housing is more affordable.

Community Safety Initiative

Actively worked with sheriffs in several counties to ensure inmates were given mental health evaluations from professionals, and that officers and deputies were trained in being first responders to those with mental problems.

Our Core Values

Integrity

Unity

Innovation

Service

Unwavering honesty in every decision we make for the public good and community trust.

Bringing our voices together to build a stronger, more loving community for everyone.

Embracing new ideas and modern technology to solve the unique challenges of the 21st century.

Dedicated leadership that prioritizes your family's future and the well-being of our citizens.

Jennifer Smeltzer

Campaign Manager

With over 40 years in strategic planning, Jennifer ensures our campaign stays true to its core values while effectively reaching every doorstep in the district.

The Team Behind the Vision

Our leadership is composed of dedicated professionals who share a commitment to integrity, transparency, and results-driven service for our community.

Heidi Hoover

Committee Treasurer

Heidi brings an ever-understanding heart to the work of being a candidate's treasurer. So thankful for her gracious spirit.

Racheal Hoover

Designated Record Keeper

So thankful for Racheal serving so faithfully to keep all the records uploaded to MiTN in a a resourceful and gracious manner.

Get Involved

Join our mission to build a better future together. Whether you have a moment to share your views or want to join the movement, your voice is essential to our collective progress.