The Orion Township Board of Trustees selected Neal Porter on Monday night to take the seat created by the resignation of Mike Gingell (who was elected to the County Commission).
Porter beat out six other candidates for the position, including Larry R. Mullins, who narrowly missed the four votes required for the appointment just before Porter’s nomination.
‘I had no idea what was going to happen,? Porter said after his appointment. ‘I was thankful for the support from the board.?
A candidate needed four of the six possible votes to be appointed. Porter received five votes.
Porter was nominated by Treasurer Alice Young, who said his appointment would make the board more geographically diverse in the township.
‘I think he gave a great presentation,? she said, citing his Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission experience. ‘He didn’t hold back.?
The seven candidates gave brief introductions and then answered a couple of questions before the board began the nomination process.
The candidates drew numbers to randomly determine the order of introductions, with Porter going first, followed by Mark E. Crane, Mullins, Michael Toth, Koula Christi, Daniel Myslakowski and Sandra S. Walker.
Many members of the board praised all of the candidates for their preparedness and qualifications, but the board showed a preference for the longer-standing members of the community in their nominations.
‘To me, there are good benefits to all of these candidates,? Trustee John Steimel said.
Steimel, who nominated Mullins, said his decision came down to issues the township will likely face in the next two years, particularly with regards to land-use matters.
‘I think what we’re going to see in the next few years is a lot more commercial and industrial development,? Mullins noted earlier.
The Mullins nomination was supported by Trustee Matt Gibb, but failed to get a majority, as only Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk joined Steimel and Gibb in voting in favor of Mullins.
The board would have had the option to nominate Mullins again had they wished, but Young’s subsequent nomination of Porter received only one ‘no? vote (from Clerk Jill Bastian).
‘We need growth, but we need controlled growth,? Porter had said earlier.
He cited traffic issues as one most important facing the township.
‘The squeaky wheel gets the grease,? he said, perhaps as a reference to his career in the automotive industry.
Dywasuk said the board was advised by their attorney not to talk about the candidates beforehand, saying the nomination process was a ‘spontaneous? one.
Steimel said it was difficult for him to decide between Mullins and Porter.
‘I’m very happy with Mr. Porter too,? he said.
Porter, who said he’s sat on various boards with almost all of the current board members and knows them all personally, said he and Mullins were ‘people with strong property and zoning issues.?
Porter was sworn in by Bastian after the meeting and will be present at next Monday’s regular board meeting.
‘He knows how this township works,? Young said of Porter. ‘He’s been there before.?