This September, the Lake Orion Village Council will hold elections to fill four of its seven seats.
Two of the four councilmembers with expiring terms, John Ranville and Michael Toth, are slated to run again for seats. The remaining two, Julie Drabik and President Robert Reetz, have chosen to leave.
Four other candidates petitioned to run in the election: Ryan Curtis, Douglas Hobbs, Lawrence Stumkat and Lisa Yee.
After the election, the top three vote-getters will hold office for four years. The fourth will stay for only two.
Watch the candidates live, Wednesday, August 12, on Orion Neighborhood Television (ONTV). The public access television studio is hosting a live Candidates Night, and is asking for questions from the public to be used in the forum.
‘Good local government depends on community involvement and this is a way for the community to get involved,? said ONTV Executive Director Diane Griffiths.
According to ONTV, the forum is a great way for community members to find out where each candidate stands on village issues they feel are of great importance.
Questions can be submitted through e-mail at ONTV@orionONTV.org, by phone at 248-693-3377, or through mail or in person at 698 South Lapeer Road, Lake Orion, MI 48362. The deadline to submit questions is Monday, August 10 at 4 p.m.
The election will be held Tuesday, September 15.
Out-going President Reetz says he’ll miss serving on the council. Reetz is an engineer with AT&T and is being transferred to the Bay City/Saginaw area this fall.
‘I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve enjoyed my term,? he said. ‘If my employment location hadn’t changed I definitely would have run again.?
This being Reetz’s first term, he says he feels as though his work is unfinished. There are some projects, like the on-going issue with Atwater Commons and its developer, that he’d like to stick around to see through.
He says he’s also proud of the work the council has accomplished since he first joined it.
‘The village management I think is one of our bigger accomplishment and getting that on track,? Reetz said of Village Manager Paul Zelenak. ‘And Meeks Park bridge ? I view that as a good accomplishment.?
Reetz also listed work between the Planning Commission, Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the village under council highlights.
‘The Planning Commission and DDA had several projects that some were outright stonewalled by the previous administration and we got those moving,? said Reetz.
He added that recently the village offices have sought a friendlier atmosphere, and residents are treated fairly and are more willing to approach village staff when they have a problem.
Before his term is up and he’s on his way to the Tri-Cities, Reetz is hoping to finish up on-going work with the DDA to improve its productivity.
While his term comes to an end, Reetz leaves residents with words of advice: ‘If I could say one thing it would be to get involved because you are in charge of your own destiny. You can sit back and complain but you should get involved instead.?
Out-going councilmember Drabik was unavailable for comment.
Keep reading The Review for further election coverage.