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Kalamazoo County Commissioner Stephanie Moore listens to speakers during a Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 7, 2017 at the County Administration Building. (Carly Geraci | MLive.com)

(Carly Geraci)

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Democrat Stephanie Moore said her decision to swing a vote to elect Republican Dale Shugars to chair of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners was about business, not politics.

Shugars' election to chair the 11-member board was a surprising turn of events, considering his party held a minority presence. A new partnership allowed Moore and the five Republicans to appoint their nominee, who in turn voted to elect Moore to vice chair.

Responding to criticisms from county residents and fellow board Democrats, Moore took time to defend her decision during time set aside for commissioner comments at a Tuesday, Feb. 7 meeting.

"I'm not your enemy," she said. "I guess we're not friends -- I've definitely learned that -- but at the end of the day the work has to be done."

Citing the ineffectiveness of the Democratic caucus, Moore said her party spent 10 months unsuccessfully deciding who would be nominated to control the county board. Democrats split their vote between commissioners Julie Rogers and Kevin Wordelman in January.

"They refused to work with one another -- not just me -- with one another," Moore said. "I wanted to be able to come to a County Board of Commissioners meeting, have an agenda, and be able to go about the county's business in a reasonable and fashionable manner. That's why I made the decision that I did."

A week after the vote, the other five Democrats responded with a strongly-worded statement. Signed by the Democratic caucus but excluding Moore, the statement condemed "insiders who make backroom deals to benefit themselves" to the detriment of Kalamazoo's "most vulnerable" residents.

Moore balked at the notion she isn't acting the interests of needy citizens.

"I have a stellar record of being a champion for civil rights, for equality, for poor folk, black folk, women folk, whoever," Moore said. "I've never mistreated any person. I've always done what I've felt is in the best interest of not just me but the community I serve, who sends me here every single day expecting me to get work done on their behalf."

Since the vote, Moore has made it known that she wants to work with everyone on the board. There are more pressing matters at hand, she said, like ensuring health equity, starting a Kalamazoo County identification card program and protecting homeless citizens.

Commissioner Kevin Wordelman said he "couldn't agree more."

"With us 11 up here we can talk and think about power, but the power is (with voters)," he said. "As long as we remember the people that we represent have the power and we are privileged to represent them, then we can focus on getting things done."

The people used that power to give Moore more than 70 phone calls and emails criticizing her decision to work with Shugars, who served the 21st state Senate District from 1994 to 2002 and as a state Rep. for two terms from 1990 to 1994.

Shugars has previously said partisan divisions are better left for Lansing and Washington. He's confident that both parties will be able to work together to solve issues that have little to do with partisan ideology.

Moore said citizen engagement is critical, and hopes it will continue as the board moves to tackle a laundry list of big decisions this year.

"All of this mean-spirited attacking of folks is just not productive and that is what I was trying to sway from, being stalled from getting anything done," she said. "Do I like it? No. Will I take it? Yup, every day."