Candidate questionnaire: Barry Cox

The following is Watershed Voice’s candidate questionnaire for the November 2026 local elections. We will be running all remaining candidate questionnaires in the order received today. 

Barry Cox, Sturgis First Precinct City Commissioner candidate filled out our questionnaire, below are his answers as submitted. Cox is running unopposed.

Name: Barry Cox
Age: 59
Are you an incumbent? No  
Family (optional): Married to Connie Cox 

Background/bio

I was born and raised and graduated from Sturgis.  Attended Michigan Technological University to study engineering.  Worked for 2 years for a consulting firm in Michigan before returning to the Sturgis area and working for Village of Centreville’s Public Works for 2 years.  Hired as the Engineer’s Aide for the City of Sturgis in 1996.  Received my Professional Engineer’s license in 2008.  Promoted to Sturgis City Engineer in 2011.  Retired from in June 2026 after over 30 years of public service.

Why did you decide to run for this position, and what do you hope to accomplish if elected?

I wanted to find a good way to use my experience and knowledge for the City of Sturgis.  We have had significant loss of institutional knowledge with the retirement of key staff and last two City Managers.  I hope to help bridge that gap as we move forward as a community.

What professional, personal, volunteer or public-service experience has prepared you to serve in this role?

My past roles in the Engineering Department have provided me 30 years public service experience working with the public to answer resident and businesses questions about infrastructure and figuring out possible solutions when they have issues.  From 2003 to 2009, I served on the Sturgis Township Planning Commission as a member, secretary, and chairperson overseeing zoning and site development projects.

How will you engage with and remain accessible to constituents outside of regular commission meetings?

City commissioners have City email accounts and phone numbers posted on the City’s website for residents to contact me.  It isn’t uncommon to be engaged by community members while attending local events or just when seen around town.  

What do you believe is the most significant issue facing the city right now, and what specifically should the commission do about it? 

The obvious first issue is to find a capable candidate for the City Manager position and hire them.  The sooner we can do this, the better.  I have not cared for the approach taken by City Commission on this point.

What do you do for work, and how do you spend your time outside of work and public service?

I retired in June 2026.  I recently became a member of the Sturgis Kiwanis Club and looking forward to serving the community in that capacity.  I enjoy playing golf, kayaking, watching sports, and spending my new found free time with our basset hound (Henry), aka, my walking shadow.

Serving on the commission requires attending meetings, reviewing agenda materials and communicating with residents outside of meetings. How will you make sure you have enough time to fulfill those responsibilities?

Overall, right now I have significant amount of free time and expect a fair chunk of this free time will now be dedicated for City Commissioner responsibilities.

What do you believe are the most important responsibilities of city government, and what should its role be in the everyday lives of residents?

City government, at its core, needs to respond properly and quickly to known citizen complaints.  We need a renewed focus on serving the citizens and making our residential neighborhoods attractive for those who live within Sturgis.  This can be accomplished by revising the City’s priorities and goals.

Commissioners will inevitably disagree with one another. How would you approach disagreements with fellow commissioners while still working effectively as a governing body?

I would state my position and reasons for my position on an issue and work to convince others why the approach would be best for the community.

What is your position on the development of data centers and related infrastructure in the city? What factors should the commission consider when deciding whether to approve or support such development?

I don’t believe hyperscale data centers can or should be developed within the City.  Right now, I don’t believe there is a site within the City which could even support them from an infrastructure perspective.  Their potential power and water resource needs, along with potential sound impacts, make my position a no.  

A non-hyperscale sized data center, if presented, should be examined.  I would not be in favor providing any financial incentives to build a non-hyperscale data center other than what the City offers to new or expanding industry in the form of an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate (IFEC) on real property.

Describe a personal experience you’ve had with local government—positive or negative—that shaped how you think government should serve residents.  

I have had a number of positive and some negative experiences from my time as a city employee.  The positive one I recall was the two day design charrette for Pleasant Avenue’s Reconstruction.  It took place at 5 Lakes Coffee Shop in downtown Sturgis in 2018.  We had several dozen citizens come to see the design options shown, select the design options they wanted on the opinion survey, and have discussions about what the options meant for the functionality of the space.  It afforded the public the ability to bring their ideas, it gave the landscape architect an understanding of the community’s desires, and ultimately, transformed the area for the benefit of the community.