Brandon Twp – While election officials predicted a low turnout for the Aug. 3 Primary, Brandon Township Election Coordinator Karen McArthur said that 2,450 voters of 10,680 registered voters was higher than expected locally.
More than 23 percent of Brandon Township registered voters went to the primary polls.
Current Township Supervisor Republican Ron Lapp will face off against Democratic challenger Becky Gilpin in the November general election.
Lapp received 1,300, votes nearly two-to-one over Republican challenger Bonnie Kerin. Gilpin won a spot on the November ballot with 201 votes by defeating Democrat opponent Norm Kapson.
Incumbents Republican Township Clerk Jeannie McCreery snagged 1,067 votes and Township Treasurer Linda Owen, tallied 972, and will join Lapp on the November ballot.
Township Trustees Tom Stowell, Charlene Carlson, and Sandra Willett are also running for a second term, and newcomer Robert DeWitt, Jr. will see the general election for his first term as trustee on the township board.
Following the election Lapp says the residents have made a statement that the current officials are heading in the right direction. Township Supervisor Ron Lapp said he was pleased that the residents of the community said the township is on the right track.
‘By casting their votes I believe they are saying we’re doing okay,? Lapp said.
‘I’d like to thank the community for their support and to say I really do see it as a privilege to serve this community.?
‘I’m looking past the general election because we have big issues in front of us,? Lapp said referring to working toward adopting the new 2005 budget.
Lapp also says that he is looking forward to seeing the completion of the first of many drainage phases on the township roads.
‘We have always stayed on track with road maintenance,? Lapp said, adding that the township spends more than $100,000 on roads per year, continuing the initial road maintenance plan of graveling five miles of road per year.
‘Although the surface of our dirt roads are potted because of the rain, the road bases are sound on our roads,? he said.
‘However, good drainage will always be an issue up here but we’re working toward resolving that.?
While Democratic supervisor challenger Becky Gilpin is pleased to find her name on the November ballot, she was disappointed in the low voter turnout.
Based on the poll numbers, Gilpin says there are nearly 4,000 people in the community who didn’t show up to vote.
‘I’m excited,? said Gilpin ‘but the real challenge and focus will be to let people know who I am and how I can serve this community.?
‘I want to reach those people and while it’s a focus, it’s also a challenge to me to find out what is the reason in our local race.?
‘I want to reach those people to demonstrate to them that I will be the candidate to work for them on my hands and knees in the ditches and not fluffing in the office.?
Opposed to the current township spending policy of allowing up to $2,500 spent, without board approval, Gilpin says she would change the policy for a more controlled spending mechanism.
Like the current supervisor, Gilpin says township roads are a concern to her and she says she would look into setting funds aside for road repair and look at why there has been a reduction in the spending of those dollars.
In conjunction with pursuing additional road repair funding, Gilpin says she would look into building a better relationship with the Oakland County Drain Commissioner.
‘We need to take care of ourselves and not shift the blame to somebody else,? said Gilpin.
‘We can only count on the drain commission to take an active role so far, then we’ve got to come up with a plan.?