BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
David Lohmeier, candidate for Independence Township trustee, has been elected to office before ? as a high school student in Groveland, he ran for and won a precinct delegate seat.
This is his first campaign for township trustee, though.
‘I saw an opportunity to make change,? said Lohmeier, who grew up in Groveland Township and moved to Independence Township in 1988.
If elected, he would support efforts to hire a township manager, reducing supervisor, clerk, and treasurer positions from full- to part-time.
‘A professional manager would be tremendously beneficial,? he said. ‘It’s a better way to run local government of this size and complexity.?
Political candidates usually campaign and are elected for reasons other than technical expertise, he said.
‘They run on achievement. They run on name recognition,? Lohmeier said. ‘Voters rarely get a resume from a candidate.?
Leadership would still be provided by the elected board of trustees, he said.
“We don’t want to take away the right to vote for who will lead the township,” he said. “The board hires someone with the needed technical skills. If it doesn’t work out, they don’t have to wait for the next election to find a replacement.”
As an appointed member of the Independence Township Planning Commission, 1999-2004, his priority when considering variance requests was the township’s Master Plan and Vision 2020, he said.
‘They needed a strong, compelling reason,? he said. ‘It’s not that we never allowed exceptions, but they needed good reason. We expected a lot of developers, but we would get it.?
He was also active with the township Parks and Recreation Board for 2 ? years, advocating for a new senior center.
‘That’s work I’m very proud of,? he said. ‘I believe we would not have gotten as far as we have without the millage proposal.?
Lohmeier earned his electrical engineering degree from Oakland University. As a college student, he sold real estate in Independence Township.
‘I learned every square inch of every neighborhood and building,? he said.
‘I loved Clarkston. It was growing, like it is now, but there was still some open space. Sashabaw was a two-lane road. Traffic was always backed up.?
It was a bedroom community, similar to now, he said.
“Pine Knob ski resort and music auditorium was a central attraction to the area, but the schools? reputation was the main draw for new residents,” he said.
He and his family were transferred by General Motors to Baltimore, Maryland, from 1996-1998. After that assignment, they moved back to Independence Township.
‘We enjoyed being in Baltimore ? it was like a vacation,? he said. ‘It had areas in development like Clarkston. Big box stores, a hospital wanted to come in. There were examples of good planning and some where it was, what were they thinking??
Bad planning resulted in traffic backups and improperly large or located signs, he said.
‘Their schools would redistrict themselves from year to year ? people would cluster near the schools they wanted, creating congestion,? he said.
Another priority if elected would be to set a timeline for capital improvements.
‘I’m big on planning,? he said.
He would also continue to resist big-box stores.
‘We don’t have the infrastructure,? he said. ‘We can’t afford cut-and-run developments ? we need businesses that will be here long term.?
He plans to accomplish these goals in a single term. His plans don’t go beyond that right now, he said.
“I’ll reevaluate, see if I’m still needed,? he said. ‘This is not an ego thing with me.?