BY MATT MACKINDER
Clarkston News Staff Writer

After recent seat swaps, the Independence Township Board is now set with the appointment last week of Terri Nallamothu to the vacant trustee position.
“I applied for the trustee position because I wanted to serve my community,” said Nallamothu. “I have wanted to be involved more in the past, but our kids were younger and in school and I needed to spend my time watching their sports and theater productions and volunteering at their school. I have the passion for government and politics, and I feel like I stay informed in local, state and federal happenings.
“The timing is just right now for me to serve.”
Nallamothu has lived in the Clarkston area with her husband, Dr. Shivajee Nallamothu, and their children for 20 years and she sees this current board as one of the best in the past couple decades.
“I love the transparency and the updates in The Clarkston News and on Independence Television,” she said. “The board members seem to gel well together, and I see them out and about in the community, which is nice.”
Terri Nallamothu has been a precinct delegate off and on for at least four terms.
“I felt that during those terms, I kept my local precinct members up to date on issues and proposals during elections, as well as inform them of the candidates that are running,” she said.
She also served as a district liaison with state Rep. Jim Tedder when he was in office. Nallamothu replaces Tedder as a township trustee.
“As a trustee, my role will be to stay informed of the things happening in Independence Township, listen to the cares and concerns of its residents and attend the board meetings and vote for issues to better our community,” she said. “I will also join a committee or two, I’m sure, as I get more acclimated to the areas that could use my help and commitment.”
Nallamothu added her biggest challenge as a trustee is “the fact that you can’t keep everyone happy.”
“There will be some people during my term that will not agree with the way I vote on issues, or how the board votes as a whole,” she said. “The people who decide to serve, like myself, do so to bring the best out of our people, local businesses, local law enforcement and our community. I live here and want my community to be the place where my kids will hopefully decide to live and raise their families one day. I love it here.”
Nallamothu’s appointment ends in November 2020 and she plans on running in 2020 to continue on as a trustee.
“I hope I will do a good job for the people of the Independence Township,” she said.