Bruch, Hardy vie for District 3 in next week’s primary.

Bruch, Hardy vie for District 3 in next week’s primary.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

Two Republican candidates are vying for the District 3 commissioner’s seat on the Oceana County Board of Commissioners in the primary election Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Long-time commissioner Denny Powers is not seeking re-election to District 3, which includes Hart City and Hart Township. Candidates Craig Hardy and Steve Bruch are running for election.

OCP sent the candidates questionnaires seeking biographical information, and the following information was provided by each candidate:

Craig Hardy

Craig Hardy, 69, is married to Sarah Hardy.
 His work history includes: vice president and founder of ICT, Inc. (Shelby Gem Factory) 1970-1993; president and founder of Silver Street, Inc. (mediatechnologies) 1980-2015; and vice president of Arctic Foods, Inc. 2012-current.

A 1969 graduate of Hart High School, Hardy attended Muskegon Community College for two years.

Hardy is a member and acting 1st lieutenant of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Reserve, which he joined in 1979. He is also a DNR hunter safety instructor and field safety officer. He has been involved in the program since 1990.

What is the single most important issue facing our county and what do you plan to do to address it? 

With my past experience as a business professional and community leader, my goal is to continue moving Oceana County in a positive direction.

Steve Bruch

Steve Bruch, 43, and wife Brandi, have a 5-year-old daughter, Ellen.

Bruch has worked in the financial services industry since 2001 and has been a financial advisor affiliated with Voya Financial since 2006. He is also a partner in his wife’s travel agency business in Hart.

He serves on the following boards and committees: City of Hart Power Board member; chairperson of the City of Hart Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA); committee member of the Oceana County Conservation District’s committee to improve recycling in Oceana County; and committee member of the City of Hart Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) Steering committee for Economic Development, Marketing and Branding Strategy. Bruch formerly served as board chairperson, project manager, and volunteer for the Hart Main Street Program. He is endorsed by Peterson Farms., Inc.

Bruch is also a Hart Rotary Club member.

“Raised in a Christian home, and we continue that tradition with our daughter attending Oceana Christian School in Hart,” he said.

He has a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University.

What is the single most important issue facing our county and what do you plan to do to address it? 

Oceana County and Hart are a great place to live and raise a family. However, that balance between a small town feeling and improving our growth and prosperity is one of our biggest challenges. As we continue to work towards responsible growth, we can’t sacrifice one for the sake of the other. We need to embrace great organizations like the Council on Aging, while working to ensure better educational opportunities in both vocational and secondary education for our youth. We need to ensure our agricultural businesses can thrive, and diversify where we can by embracing entrepreneurs, and by supporting new or expanding businesses that can add higher wage opportunities for our residents. To do this we need to get beyond “we’ve always done it that way” and we need more than simply being a “lifelong resident” from our perspective leaders. I look forward to continuing my community involvement and work at the next level on the Oceana County Board of Commissioners. I will work tirelessly to promote these values, welcome the input of residents, and will never forget that I will represent all the residents of Hart Township and the City of Hart.

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