Thirteen of the 14 candidates for the upcoming township election participated in the first of three scheduled ‘Meet the Candidates Nights? last week at the Orion Township Public Library.
The event was hosted by the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Wes Fuelling.
‘It was very informative,? said Chamber Managing Director Donna Heyniger. ‘It was great to meet the candidates I had not met yet, and I think every candidate is on track for the community.?
Questions, which came from both the audience and the chamber, included general topics such as the sign ordinance and public safety complex. More direct questions asked for budget specifics and the number of pending lawsuits in the township, to which both trustee candidates JoAnn Van Tassel and Ken Van Portfliet answered, ‘too many.?
Supervisor candidates include Republicans Matt Gibb and Dan Myslakowski, and Democrat David Hodges (the only Democrat in the field).
Myslakowski, who was inadvertently shorted one minute during his closing remarks, fielded a question about his decision to switch parties a few years back (see Page 6 for more). He said the switch centered on his ‘Right to Life? views as a Catholic.
‘I’m proud to be a Republican,? he said.
The others were not asked such specific questions.
‘We have the potential and the possibility to become much more than we are, and most of us think we’re great already,? Gibb said. ‘If you believe in the leadership that’s willing to go out and make a difference, that’s why you’re going to look to me.?
‘The person that runs the township as a supervisor has to have the ability to work with people within the township hall and the public,? Hodges said. ‘I have the ability to problem solve, sit down with people and resolve the situation so we don’t have these lawsuits.?
Candidates for clerk are Penny Shults and Justin Dunaskiss.
‘I stand ready to make the tough decision on behalf of our citizens in these tough economic times,? Dunaskiss said, voicing his opposition to spending money on a potential public safety complex or water storage facility.
Shults, meanwhile, summed up her campaign in one word: ‘experience.?
‘I know the people that we serve,? she said. ‘A new course can be set and the board’s going to play a big role in that, as will the community.?
Incumbent Treasurer Alice Young is being challenged by Sandra Dyl, a veteran of many different township boards.
‘I’m not afraid of lawsuits, I’m only afraid of losing them,? Dyl said. ‘It’s a litigious society and we can’t keep from getting sued. But it’s my function to make sure that if we’re going to get sued, we’re going to win.?
‘My enjoyment is my boards,? Young said of her service on 12 different boards. ‘I agree that some of the lawsuits are unavoidable. But there has been some frivolous spending. I look forward to working with a new board to try to contain costs.?
Candidates for trustee include Mark Crane, Neal Porter, John Steimel and Michael Toth, along with Van Portfliet and Van Tassel.
A seventh trustee candidate, Sandy Walker, did not attend.
‘I would like to see civility return to the township board,? Crane said. ‘We do the citizens of this community no good by bickering with each other. There are opportunities ahead, to really try to position ourselves and support our tax base.?
‘I can represent the little guy. I’m the common sense candidate,? Porter said. ‘I believe the master plan is a living document. It’s something we need to work with and it does need an update.?
‘We have to listen to the facts, we have to evaluate and debate, and then we have to make a decision,? Steimel said. ‘I think I’ve shown that I work hard at trying to come to those compromised solutions.?
‘I love doing this stuff, I love learning new issues,? Toth said. ‘I get excited about new ideas and innovations, anytime I see a way to implement something new to make a process more efficient. I enjoy getting people involved.?
‘With my vote as a board member, I’ll demonstrate fiscal responsibility,? Van Portfliet said. ‘I think of myself as a team player. I’ve developed contacts locally and at the county, and I have a passion for the community.?
‘Government exists to do for the people what they, individually, cannot accomplish on their own,? Van Tassel said. ‘I have a wealth of knowledge working with the people of this community. I truly care about people.?