BY ELAINE STIEB
Lake Orion Review Editor
Voters going to the polls on March 8 will have a choice of eight candidates for four spots on the Lake Orion Village Council.
Hoping to return to office are incumbents Tom Albert, Douglas Dendel, Bob Hollenbeck and Ken Van Portfliet. Others on the ballot are Patricia Kartje, Mark Brancheau, Lisa Simpkins and Jeff Waldecker.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. This year residents are being asked to vote at the Lake Orion Schools District administration offices at 315 North Lapeer Street.
Candidates were asked to fill out a profile for The Lake Orion Review. Dendel did not respond.
TOM ALBERT
Lives On: South Broadway
Family: Wife Sue
Age: 53
Education: Wayne State
Occupation: Commercial photographer
Clubs/Organizations: Past president of the Lake Orion Lake Association
Reasons for Running for Reelection: Albert said he’s enjoyed representing the residents of the village on the village council and would like to continue in that capacity.
‘I feel my four years as a councilman, one as president, has been an invaluable experience that will help me better serve the community in the future.?
Because he is both a resident of the lakeside and the downtown, Albert believes he has a good understanding of the issues that are a concern in these two areas. He feels the small town character and the quality of life that the village has to offer must be kept.
‘These are the two reasons why I moved to this area and I feel we are in danger of losing them. I also feel we need to protect the lake from overcrowding and pollution which are a threat to one of our most important assets.?
Important Issues: Albert said the problems and concerns of the residents must be addressed and resolved in a timely manner.
‘The economic viability of the village is of utmost importance. We need to keep an eye on expenditures rising faster than revenues.?
Albert believes lakeside development must be of low density and a keyhole ordinance needs to be enacted.
‘Future development should be to maintain the charm and character of the village. The new Master Plan needs to be followed and the zoning ordinance needs to be enacted. Open spaces should be preserved.?
Albert wants the DDA to be more accountable to the needs of the residents. ‘Projects within the DDA area such as road repair or aging infrastructure needs to be paid out of this fund which is over $400,000.
‘We need the right balance of money spent between the downtown area and the rest of the village.?
Albert would like to see a continuation of upgrading the village’s park system by following the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
MARK BRANCHEAU
Lives On: South Broadway
Family: Wife Jennifer and two children
Age: 39
Education: BA degree from Eastern Michigan University
Occupation: Area manager
Clubs/Organizations: Director of the Lake Orion Lake Association, Lake Orion Men’s Softball League, member of the United Methodist Church
Reasons for Running for Council: Brancheau wants to help out all the citizens in the community and also to protect Lake Orion.
Important Issues: Brancheau wants to clean up blight in the village and make sure ordinances are enforced (new ones for rental property).
He believes it’s important to support the police and Jerry Narsh, the police chief.
‘I want to limit the number of PUDs for development and the village manager should disclose all meetings with developers or outside businesses.?
BOB HOLLENBECK
Lives On: Bagley
Family: Wife Vee and four children
Age: 65
Education: Masters degree in Education
Occupation: Retired in 2000 from teaching in Bloomfield Hills School
Clubs/Organizations: Council member in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, member of the Main Street Design Committee, attends LO United Methodist Church
Important Issues: If reelected, Hollenbeck said he will focus on fiscal responsibilities and quality public services; the Main Street Community Program; the parks and recreation program; improved communication between the village and township; M-24 traffic issues, infrastructure improvements, controlled growth in community development and the quality of the lake environment.
PATRICIA KARTJE
Lives On: South Broadway
Family: Two children
Age: 48
Education: Attended Baker College
Occupation: Medical education; works at POH Medical Center in Pontiac
Clubs/Organizations: Pontiac Housing Initiative, National Ski Patrol
Reasons for Running for Council: ‘Downtown Lake Orion has been my home for 20 years, and while there has been many positive changes, there is still work to be done.?
Kartje said she’s now reached a point in her life where she has more time to devote to the challenges facing the village.
‘While I may have limited political experience, 10 years in management has given me fiscal responsibility and has helped me to become a thoughtful and successful decision maker.?
She believes that, although change and growth can be challenging, they can be positive for the community.
Important Issues: Kartje’s priorities are continued successful management of the village budget? continued revitalization of the downtown area, controlling development and expansion, particularly on lakefront properties.
She would also like to see the development of a pedestrian walkway that would connect the lake to the downtown area; improvements in Green’s Park, including the addition of boat docks, offering lake residents easy access to downtown businesses; a more diversified mix of retail establishments and additional parking.
‘We can’t stop change or growth; they are inevitable. But we can make careful decisions about development that will insure the preservation of the historical nature of our village.?
LISA SIMPKINS
Lives On: Central Drive
Family: Husband Jeff and three children
Age: 37
Education: Masters, Corporate Travel Management
Occupation: Travel specialist at Autoliv North America
Clubs/Organizations: Member of village’s parks and recreation committee, NBTA, Waterford Oaks BMX and LOGSL
Reasons for Running for Office: ‘I want to keep Lake Orion moving in the right direction, protect the waters of Lake Orion and get more people involved in local government.?
Important Issues: If elected, Simpkins plans to work on protecting the lake that includes working on keyhole, overcrowding and weed issues.
‘I want to stop overdevelopment of high density housing on the M-24 Lakeside Business District and throughout the village.?
Her other top issues include updating ordinances to reflect the new Master Plan and supporting the village police.
‘I’d like to investigate alternative forms of government in the village — become our own city or become part of the township as a whole city.?

JEFF WALDECKER
Lives On: North Washington Street
Family: Wife Carole, two children
Age: 42
Education: Graduate of Lake Orion High School; four years in the Seabee’s US Navy
Occupation: Master plumber; works at Express Plumbing and Heating
Clubs/Organizations: Member of LO United Methodist Church
Reasons for Running for Office: Waldecker describes himself as a concerned citizen who wants to work towards a better village government.
Important Issues: He wants to have a council that is accountable to the citizens, one that maintains a focus on the needs and rights of the citizens. Controlling commercial and multi-residents developments are also very important to Waldecker. And that can be done, he said, by using the Master Plan and existing ordinances.
‘I believe in maintaining the overall look and feel of a village not a condominium project.?
He wants to make sure the use of Planned Unit Developments (PUD) are the exception not the rule.
‘I want to assure that areas of conflict of interest are clearly identified and avoided.
Other priorities for Waldecker include having more village representation in DDA activities and having a commitment to the village’s parks and recreation activities for today and tomorrow.
KEN VAN PORTFLIET
Lives On: South Andrews
Family: Wife Sara and son Sam
Age: 48
Education: College
Occupation: President of Entire Reproductions and Imaging Solutions
Clubs/Organizations: LO Lions Club, LO Lake Association, Orion Historical Society, Republican precinct delegate alternate, past member of the planning commission, American Legion, Downtown Organization committee
Reason for Running for Office Again: Van Portfliet is a seven year veteran of the council and wants to continue representing the voters by bringing issues forward and being responsive.
‘Our village has greatly improved, yet faces many challenges. I wish to remain an active part of the momentum for improvement. I love our community I don’t have any personal agendas and will remain hardworking on all issues.?
Important Issues: Van Portfliet’s priorities if he’s reelected include: the zoning ordinance/Master Plan; maintenance and review of the budget; property management; lake quality and accessibility; a key hole ordinance; historic district; Paint Creek Trail; controlled development; downtown development and maintaining a safe community.