To the Journal editor:

Jack Bergman has fooled us again. For the third time and four years, he has defeated a Democratic challenger to represent us as congressman for Michigan’s First Congressional District.

There would be nothing wrong with that if Bergman actually lived full time, year-round in the district. However, the fact is that Jack and his wife, Cynthia, have lived at 13729 Oakley Lane, St. Francisville, Louisiana, for more than 10 years means that it is most likely that they don’t live in the state of Michigan. Using several people locator softwares, the current address that shows up is the Louisiana address.

Jack Bergman inherited two properties in Watersmeet, Michigan. In 2016 and 2018 the Bergmans listed a metal storage building at 5070 South Cisco Lake Road as their single family residence. The problem with this is the fact that the building has electricity, but no rooms nor septic field and was used to store trailers and boats.

In 2020, they claimed that a cottage at N3465 Sylvan Isle Drive was their single family residence. This would be fine except for the fact that the residence is closed after Labor Day and is not reopened until May after the snow on the entrance road melts.

There was no mail box at either property. All mail sent to the Bergmans was put in a P.O. box and forwarded to St. Francisville, Louisiana.

On Jan. 21, 2020, the Michigan Residency Law was changed as that any building claimed as a single family residence must be livable and a place where the family actually lives full time, year round.

Early in March, the Gogebic County Clerk stated that neither property in Watersmeet Township could be used to run for office nor vote for office at any level in Michigan’s First District.

Jack maintains an unmanned office at K.I. Sawyer Air Base as well as offices in Manistique and Traverse City, Michigan. In April 2020, Bergman closed his office in Marquette and all mail is forwarded to his Traverse City office.

What we don’t know is where Jack says he actually lives in MI-1. If he showed us his Michigan driver’s license, we could see where he claims to live. The Mining Journal should contact Bergman and ask him to reveal his residence.

Jack Bergman could do us a favor by withdrawing from Michigan and by running for office in Louisiana.