I am seeking the office of Muskegon County Drain Commissioner as the culmination of a career of doing good works. I am proud of what I have accomplished as an engineer and hydrologist, and you can study the projects I have done over the last ten years elsewhere in this web site. However, I can do so much more good at the desk of the Muskegon County Drain Commissioner than from where I now sit.
Muskegon County is my homeland, and I know very well that we are blessed with some of the finest water resources in the world. We must continue to respect and serve the needs of our citizens for adequate drainage of their lands. We also need to respect these wonderful waters our children will someday inherit from us. I am ready, willing and able to take on this sometimes difficult balancing act.
I am running for drain commissioner as a Republican for one reason: because I am a Republican. As a conservative who believes strongly in the art of conservation, I will administer this office to minimize impacts upon our resources and our pocketbooks. Yet, neither the drain office nor the commissioner himself should be too political. It is a position of service, not tribute. The rain falls on us all, and if you elect me, I promise to serve all of Muskegon County’s citizens equally.
David L. Schultz
June 19, 2008
BIOGRAPHY:
David L. Schultz was born on October 26, 1954 at Shelby Hospital and spent his entire childhood growing up in Montague, with his brothers Chuck and John and his sister Cheryl (Parker). Upon graduating in the top 10 of Montague High School in 1972, David went to Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree with high honors in Civil/Environmental Engineering in 1977.
Until 1984, David worked in many places across the country, managing the construction of highways, power plants and skyscrapers. An interesting two years was spent in the Upper Peninsula, working with the Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians, assisting their re-establishment as a tribe by performing community planning for housing, economic development and other improvements.
In 1984 David returned to school to follow his passion - hydrology and hydraulic engineering - and acquired a Masters Degree in Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1986. While at U-M, David worked for NOAA in their Environmental Research Laboratory, modeling the flow of the St. Clair and Detroit River systems. He also performed basic research in landfill design by monitoring fluid flow through clay landfill liners.
After performing combined sewer overflow studies on the Connecticut River with Metcalf & Eddy, David returned to West Michigan in 1988 to assist Holland Engineering, Inc. as their hydraulic engineer. At Holland Engineering he developed strong working relationships with Steve Van Hoeven, the Ottawa County Drain Commissioner and Lynn Fleming, the Allegan County Drain Commissioner - relationships that have spread to their staff and their successors, Paul Geerlings and Becky Rininger, respectively.
In 1998, after 5 years in Holland and 5 years as a partner in the Whitehall consulting firm, Sandel, Chappell & Schultz, David hung out his own shingle in his Montague hometown. Since then, he has served his clients from Muskegon County, specializing in advanced hydrologic and hydraulic studies, as well as the more mundane drain clean-outs, design reviews and small-scale land development projects.
David attends Faith Lutheran Church in Whitehall, and was married for the first time, in 2005, to his wife Laura, along with her four children - Greg, Tayler, Alyse and Baylee. It was at this point in his life he began taking to heart the lessons his parents, Roger and Joanne Schultz, had shown him through their lives of volunteering and sacrifice: That the greatest fulfillment in life is rooted in service. By helping others, you enhance your own life immeasurably. David is now convinced of this and wants to become Muskegon County Drain Commissioner to take his service to the highest level possible, while still remaining here in Muskegon County.
