Commissioner profile: Third District Commissioner Anthony Stanfill

Earlier this month, Anthony “Tony” Stanfill was elected Three Rivers Third District Commissioner, replacing Chris Abel, who opted not to seek re-election. Stanfill, who ran as an adjudicated write-in and received 23 votes, spoke with Watershed Voice to discuss his new role.

Background

Stanfill grew up in Constantine, just south of Three Rivers, but says he often found himself further north. To him, Three Rivers “has always been more of a home than anywhere.”

After attending high school in Constantine and Three Rivers, Stanfill enlisted in the military. He served from 2003 to 2009 in Iraq as part of a military police unit. Stanfill credits his years in the military with building his understanding of community and discipline.

“The military did help prepare me for this role, learning attention to detail, leadership, listening to those above you, and, more importantly, listening to those below you. When you very first come into the military, you’re the one that’s going to be doing all of the details, you know to basically learn how to become a leader later down the road. And then when you become a leader, you need to remember to throw a hand out and extend that … extend that leadership to those who haven’t learned as much as you have. It’s definitely a transfer of trust and a transfer of knowledge.”

Stanfill currently lives in the Third District of Three Rivers. He works as a disc jockey (DJ), primarily at Sam’s Place in Three Rivers, as well as at weddings and private-event requests. His love for music goes beyond DJing – Stanfill is also an independent country recording artist and songwriter under the stage name Paul Jellico.

Most importantly, Stanfill says, is raising his daughter.

“My main interest outside of public works and music is definitely being a father. I absolutely love being a father. My daughter is the absolute light of my life. If there’s anything in life that I would want to be above anything else it would be to be a father. I love it.”

Policy goals

Stanfill said the two biggest issues facing the City of Three Rivers right now are the water system and city-code enforcement. Stanfill committed to addressing water-related internal city processes and said he is hopeful for change, but could not provide further details.

“I believe there’s some positive light headed our way in regards to our water. You know, I’ll let that play out organically and refrain from any further comment on that at this time,” Stanfill said, adding that he doesn’t want to speak for other commissioners or city staff.

Regarding city codes, Stanfill expressed concern that ordinances are being ignored, resulting in trash around the city. He maintains it isn’t an issue with the city codes themselves, but rather with their enforcement. Stanfill says he drives around and sees “heaps of trash in people’s yards, expired tags, and tarp cities in their backyards.”

“As I drive in the Third District and the city in general it’s fairly easy to find several violations,” Stanfill said. “I feel that Three Rivers is a hidden gem here in Michigan, and I’d really like to keep it that way. So we’re going to have to button up on some of the city codes, enforcing the city codes and ordinances.”

Stanfill added that the city has an unhoused issue and has not developed a clear plan for resolving it. 

“I’d like to see the homeless population try to clean up after themselves a little bit better. But on the same front, I’d ask our citizens to remember that our homeless, you know, they’re still human beings, and they should be treated with dignity and respect.”

When asked about solutions, especially with the winter months ahead, Stanfill proposed temporary sheltering for those experiencing homelessness to help them get through the season.

“There’s a lot of open areas, like in the downtown district and things like that. Even some of the industrial areas that maybe aren’t being used, maybe if we could just come up with a plan of attack so we can at least get them somewhere where they can maintain some warmth, somewhere out of the elements to try to keep them safe,” he said.

Stanfill said he wants residents to feel that he’s available and approachable. The easiest way to do that, he says, is to be present and be clear with residents.

“Let your intentions stay clear. You mean what you say, and you say what you mean,” he said.

Residents agree with Stanfill, he says, after conversations during his campaign: that water, city-code enforcement, the unhoused and restoring transparency with the commission are top issues.

Those open lines of communication, however, don’t end with residents. Stanfill believes that transparency and willingness to listen are imperative with his fellow commissioners and city staff.

“A willingness to just listen to what they have to say when we go into these commission meetings and meet with other city officials, there has to be a willingness to honestly, I mean, there’s no other way to say it, you have to be willing to listen and take into account their feelings towards certain situations.”

Stanfill’s decision to run came from a desire to help.

“The decision was made because I decided if I sit here and do nothing, I’m certainly never going to be able to help in any way, shape or form. So I finally made the decision, you know what? I’ll just run as a write-in candidate,” he said, adding that he wrestled with the idea for a long time before deciding to register as an adjudicated write-in. “And if I get it, great, I’m going to do everything I can to help. And if not, then that’s okay, too, and I’m still going to support whoever and encourage them to do their job the same way that I would.”

When asked whether Stanfill would support a measure to resume livestreaming city commission meetings, he said he would be in favor.

“I think that’s a fantastic way to keep our community involved, and it gives them an opportunity to take part in those meetings, even when they can’t be there in person,” he said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, due to an executive order under the Michigan Open Meetings Act, public bodies were temporarily authorized to hold and broadcast remote meetings. The city of Three Rivers later discontinued live-streaming meeting broadcasts after the state’s special remote-meeting provisions expired. 

Stanfill outlined his “everything on the table” approach, sharing that any disagreements with fellow commissioners or city staff should be addressed during the meetings themselves. He noted that commissioners should all engage in discourse this way, and hopes to see residents do the same, especially at meetings.

“The best way to bridge that gap is to encourage our community, ‘Hey, show up to these meetings. Let your voice be heard.’ That’s what that time is for. We want to hear from all of you regardless if you think that we’re going to like what you have to say or dislike what you have to say, I want to hear it anyway, because that’s what you entrusted us to do,” he said.

In closing, Stanfill thanked residents for entrusting him with the position of Third District Commissioner and said he feels encouraged moving forward.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.