Community activism comes in all shapes and sizes. But personal contributions to local governance should be hailed as one of the best kinds of contributions to our democratic society.

It’s for that reason that we applaud all six individuals who stepped up and put in an application to serve on the Marquette County Board in Gerry Corkin’s stead. Each of these community leaders had to know the size of the shoes they were stepping into to fill with Corkin’s passing.

Each candidate had a unique pedigree in community service and activism, so it could not have been easy to determine who would fill the District 4 seat on the county board.

Still, we think Dana LaLonde, who was appointed to the board on Tuesday, was a very good choice.

LaLonde describes herself on the online site Linkedin as a “creative and down-to-earth thinker who believes positive change starts with a commitment to growth and community.”

She has served as Negaunee’s mayor, and is currently serving on the Negaunee City Council.

LaLonde serves on the Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board as well as the U.P. Labor Management Council, so we know she sees good-paying jobs as a way to build and maintain strong communities.

But it doesn’t stop there. LaLonde has worked with such non-profit organizations as the Upper Peninsula Diabetes Outreach Network and the Negaunee Lions Club. She has also volunteered at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans, and served on a comittee to help combat blight.

In today’s national political climate, it’s good to know that there are responsible, civic-minded people like LaLonde who continue to work toward helping their local communities.

She stepped up during what could have been an hard and uncertain time for the county in losing an iconic leader like Gerry Corkin. We congratulate her and thank all who choose to step up to serve in a leadership role.