Area residents got a chance to meet and ask questions of township candidates at a forum put on by the Independence Township Senior Center Monday, June 2.
Six of the seven candidates for Independence Township Trustee participated in the forum, with Sam Moraco unable to attend. There are four seats on the board available.
Former Trustee Mel Vaara laid out a platform which included exploration into a city form of government, elected library board, controlled growth and the exploration of term limits.
Vaara also touched on the topic of the day which was a new senior center.
‘I am for a senior center,? Vaara said. ‘Maybe I can help get that building built. The one we have is deplorable.?
Incumbent Dan Travis is seeking his seventh term.
‘I don’t count the terms. This is my community service. I continue to find a passion for local government,? Travis said.
Travis said he will continue to serve the community well and mentioned the possible state-shared revenue cuts as one of the greatest obstacles facing Independence Township.
Former Clarkston High School teacher Larry Rosso is seeking his third term. He said the experience and love of the community he possesses makes him a quality candidate.
Rosso wants to control growth by vigorously enforcing the Master Plan. He also wants to improve relations with the schools.
‘We need to communicate better with the school district. I think this is where we have been very deficient in the past,? Rosso said.
The third incumbent is Dan Kelly who is seeking his second term.
‘I am proud of the service I have been able to provide the township,? Kelly said. ‘I will just continue to do what I have been doing.?
Candidate Michael Kohut said he has the time to roll up his sleeves and attack some of the issues affecting the township. The retired General Motors employees already has a list he wants to start with.
‘I want to open up some drains, pave some roads, build a skate park and put the utility lines underground,? Kohut said. ‘I am going to need everybody’s help to accomplish these things.?
Charles Dunn’s platform includes balanced growth and generating a grass roots effort to open dialogue on the issues of Independence Township.
‘I want to see a senior center built and it has to be done correctly,? Dunn said.
The two candidates for Supervisor, incumbent Dale Stuart and challenger Dave Wagner, also attended the forum. Stuart, who has been Supervisor since 1992, highlighted his accomplishments.
‘We have implemented some creative and innovative programs. We have a lower tax rate today than we did in 1999. We have a sound fund balance. We are fiscally conservative,? Stuart said.
Wagner, a current Trustee, trumpeted his experience as trustee.
‘I spend five days a week in the township offices so I have a good feel at to what is going on out there,? Wagner said. ‘I think it is time we have a better communications with the community, the businesses and schools.?
Clerk candidates John Lutz, Tim Sievers and Shelagh VanderVeen were also in attendance.
Sievers is a lifelong Independence Township resident who wants to continue a fiscally responsible budget.
Lutz is a former township treasurer who wants to continue to provide residents with the services they are accustomed to despite the possible state shared revenue cuts.
VanderVeen, who has been endorsed by retiring Clerk Joan McCrary, said she wants to look for ways to share cost with other communities.
The primary election is slated for Aug. 3.