Brandon Twp.- The petitions are in and there will be 18 candidates for the Brandon Township Board on the August primary ballot.
Eleven people are seeking four trustee spots, while three people are seeking the supervisor position, two seek the clerk position and two seek the treasurer position. With the exception of two candidates, all are running as Republicans.
‘This is the most people running for trustee that I’ve ever seen,? said Elections Coordinator Karen McArthur. ‘I thought we’d have a lot more (for supervisor, clerk and treasurer), because they are jobs. People are out of jobs right now and it wouldn’t have surprised me at all.?
Previously announcing their intentions to run were incumbents Ron Lapp (supervisor), Jeannie McCreery (clerk), Linda Owen (treasurer) and Charlene Carlson, Sandy Willett, and Bob DeWitt (trustees), as well as newcomers Robert Flath and Dave King, both seeking trustee positions.
Challenging Lapp for the supervisor position is Cynthia Strehle (Democrat), 55, a paraprofessional in the Clarkston Schools who says she wants to be supervisor because the board isn’t listening to the taxpayers and she wants to change that. Also pursuing the supervisor position is Kathy Thurman, a 51-year-old substitute teacher in the Brandon School District who also manages a small farming and equestrian business and says she wants to improve the unnecessary spending of tax dollars, allow for fair assessments and promote affordable recreation programming.
Challenging McCreery for the clerk position will be current Township Deputy Treasurer Linda Cotton, 50, who is running to have ‘more respect and better communication between the township offices and the public.?
Challenging Linda Owen for the treasurer position is Tyrone Beltramo, 67, who is retired from Ford Motor Company as an information technology manager.
‘I want to promote teamwork in the township offices and I think we can do better than the strife I’ve seen in newspaper articles and serve the community better,? he said.
Also joining the pool of trustee candidates are incumbent Tom Stowell, 55, executive director for Lighthouse Emergency Services who is running because community service is an important part of his life and he wants to continue. Joining him in pursuit of a trustee position are newcomers, Jason Gault, 35, a realtor who is concerned about the manner in which the township is growing and wants to ensure ‘it’s done in a way that gives heed to our past and ensures the future protection of our historical character?; Mark Gilbert, 52, previously a banking consultant for various major banks who wants change in the township; Mary Halstead (Democrat), 58, an insurance biller for McLaren Health Corporation who is running because ‘I think it’s time to do something for the little town I live in?; Graydon Like, Sr., 72, who is retired, but previously owned a construction business, was a church pastor and worked for General Motors and feels there is something wrong in the political organization in Brandon Township, and would like to make a change and be involved; and M. Vivian Roy, who could not be reached for comment at press time.
‘I think the race will be contentious on the whole, but that is how the election process is,? said McArthur, and then laughing, added, ‘I don’t think it’ll compare to Clinton and Obama, but it ought to be exciting.?