Some Grand Traverse County residents are asking Rob Hentschel, the chair of the Board of Commissioners, to resign.
An online petition began circulating two weeks ago and has more than 450 signatures from county residents.
The petition included links to documents recently made public, detailing allegations of abuse from two years ago when Hentschel’s wife at the time sought an order of protection against him. That order was not granted.
Chairman Hentschel said the accusations were false.
Wendy von Courter and three other community members asked the board to investigate.
“I’m hoping that the Board of Commissioners on the whole take a look at the [criminal justice] system and insist on his resignation but then look at what’s a system that allowed this to happen,” von Courter told IPR.
Commissioner Hentschel declined to be interviewed, but at the start of the meeting said opponents were engaging in negative campaigning ahead of next week’s primary election.
“I will encourage us all to focus on making sound policy that solves problems, protects freedoms and improves our lives," Hentschel said. “The political muck-raking and grandstanding has no place here.”
The chairman, a Republican, is facing a Democratic challenger, Bruce Moore, and a Republican challenger, Carol Crawford, in the race to represent Grand Traverse County’s District 5.
Other commissioners did not comment about the allegations during the meeting.
