Mark Evans has been Hopkins Township Supervisor for 28 years and hasn’t been seriously challenged for the job in the previous seven elections.

But this year in the Aug. 6 primary, he will face Hopkins High School graduate Cade Bolser, 29, a former Viking wrestler and pole vaulter. Bolser, a member of area fire departments and former maintenance worker for the township, says he’s running because he doesn’t think Evans and the board are responsive to public input.

He posted on Facebook, “Every one of our township residents and beyond should be treated with respect, questions answered, and concerns addressed whether it’s in our job description or not. I love to be resourceful for people when they are in need and for people to feel comfortable about speaking up when necessary. I think we should be encouraging more involvement from the residents of our township.

“I’d also like to see the board members have a voice of their own when it comes to voting on things and concerns from the residents.”

Indeed, how Evans and the board handle public comment was an issue brought up at the Hopkins Township Board meeting Monday night.

Citizen Bob Beck, a frequent critic of the board, said, “People come in here begging for votes, and we should have the right to question them (guest politicians) just like you do. Right now, Hopkins Township meetings are not done according to Roberts Rules of Order.”

Ken Blaauw, another citizen at the meeting, said he agreed with Beck, saying, “This should be more open to the public if they have comments.”

Evans was criticized for not allowing members of the public to ask questions of candidates for judge and other political positions during meetings.

Board members unanimously backed Evans on the issue and the supervisor said, “I’ll run this meeting any way the board chooses.”

Evans was first elected Hopkins Township Supervisor in 1996. He has overseen the creation of a Downtown Development Authority along the west side of U.S.-131 and the expansion of township hall for meetings and officials’ offices from the library to the village hall.

Township Treasurer Eric Alberta said mail-in ballots for the Aug. 6 primary have been mailed out and the first day of early walk-in voting is June 27.