By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
Ten-year Orion Township resident Ron Sliwinski has spent the better part of that time learning the community and its residents.
He’s been an educator at Lake Orion High School since 2006 and now he’s making a run for township trustee in November.
Sliwinski, who teaches special education, is looking to become a voice for not only the current residents but also a voice for new residents. He believes his desire to problem-solve and his intimate knowledge of the school system would make him a worthy candidate for voters.
“I’ve always been drawn to serving and helping, I’ve always found myself a problem solver,” he said. “With the influx of so many young families moving into the area I think they need a voice in the township.”
The 38-year-old is also the junior varsity football coach and he said coaching his players allows him an opportunity not many have. He said he’s able to communicate with families and students from all kinds of social and economic classes which allow him to witness different struggles some families might be having.
During his campaign push throughout the year he’s looking to focus on three specific areas of the township. A graduate of Oakland University, he wants to focus on Orion’s thriving businesses community and supporting the local entrepreneurs that have set up shop in the township. He’s hoping to promote and highlight the school system and maintain much of the township’s green space.
“I would like to focus on managed growth. Getting feedback from the community there seems to be some push back with some people that have been here a little longer and I really want to protect the parks and the green space that we have,” Silwinski said. “I feel I have a very solid understanding of the people that make up this community.”
He grew up in Detroit until he was 20 and moved with his family to Clinton Township. After finishing his ungergraduate studies at OU, he completed his Masters Degree at Wayne State University. His wife Kristin also works for Orion Schools as the Learning Options Supervisor at CERC.
The couple have three children, Owen, 7, and twin 15-month old girls Coley and Bailey.
“As I started to get to know the kids, got to know the families and parents, the businesses and the community, I pretty much fell in love and felt I needed to be here,” Sliwinski said. Even though it’s a big high school, I think it’s still a small community feel and I love that small town feel.”