Village residents need to mark Tuesday, Sept. 11 on their calendars, and put a visit to the polls in their ‘to-do? list for that day, as it’s the date for the village council elections.
Residents will have the opportunity to elect four individuals to the council.
These four seats are available as Council President William Siver, President Pro Tem Kenneth Van Portfliet and council members Robert Hollenbeck and Douglas Dendel all have terms expiring.
Voters will not see either Siver’s or Hollenbeck’s name on the ballot, as both decided not to run for reelection.
Van Portfliet, along with newcomers David Churchill, Robert Reetz and Ron Zilka, all have a place on the ballot.
Member Dendel, who due to a deadline mix-up is not on the ballot, has filled paperwork to run as a write-in.
According to Village Clerk Arlene Nichols, as of Monday morning, Dendel is the only candidate that has filed paperwork to run as a write-in, but any other individual considering running as a write-in has until Friday at 4 p.m. to submit their paperwork.
As The Review previously reported, the three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to a four-year term, while the candidate receiving the fourth highest number of votes will be elected for a two-year term.
Here’s a closer look at some of the candidates running for village council.
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Robert Reetz
Age: 43
Street: East Shadbolt
Family Information: Divorced, 17-year-old daughter, Raney Jane, a senior at Lake Orion High School
Employment: Engineer for AT&T. Also, works part-time for the Lake Orion Police Department as an Ordinance Officer and a Reserve Police Sergeant. I am currently on a leave of absence from the Police Department for the duration of my campaign.
Education/Background: U.S. Army, 1982-1986; B.A. 1994, Oakland University, Journalism
Why are you running for the village council? I have several ideas that I think would benefit the village. Development is always a major issue but I feel there are other ways to improve the quality of life in the village. I would like to see tighter ordinances on the rental properties in the village, a location for the children to ride their bikes and skateboards without reprisal and also want to preserve the level of service the village provides to the residents.
What are the important issues facing the village in the next few years? Preservation of the village atmosphere while encouraging development will always be an issue to the residents of the village. Also, the village needs to remain fiscally healthy in order to survive as a village and not be absorbed into the township. Staying financially healthy also ensures that the village can continue to provide the level of service that we residents have come to expect.
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Kenneth W. VanPortfliet
Age: 51
Street: S. Andrews
Family Information: Wife Sara, Son Sam (10)
Employment: Vice President of Sales, Dunn Blue Reprographics
Education/Background: Grand Rapids Community College, Oakland Community College, Professional Accredited Seminars.
Clubs/Organizations: Republican Party Delegate, Orion Historical Society, Lake Orion Lions, Village Planning Commission, Orion Cable Commission
Why are you running for the village council? I have a passion for our community and maintaining a quality of life here that provides enjoyment for all families. I’m committed to a government that is fair to all citizens, and one that provides a safe, healthy and economically secure presence.
What are the important issues facing the village in the next few years? Budget is number one. The fiscal health of our community is at the top of the list. The ordinance review and rewrite project has long been needed and I’m happy to say we are close to completing it. Other concerns high on my list are traffic management, historic preservation and new development.
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Roland H. Zilka
Age: 66
Street: Park Island Drive
Family Information: Married with four daughters, 13 grandchildren
Employment: Currently retired
Education/Background: Graduated from Waterford High; attended two years at Lawrence Tech; Business owner of Heights Heating & Cooling, Fenton Hotel, Vintage Construction for 34 years
Clubs/Organizations: Knights of Columbus, Oakland Hunt Club
Why are you running for the village council? I feel government is in need of knowledgeable business people who understand budgets and are experienced leaders in their field.
What are the important issues facing the village in the next few years? There are several concerns facing the community today. I feel one of our most important concerns are the disrepair our roads are in.
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The Review will offer any write-in candidate running in the Sept. 11 election an opportunity to complete a candidate profile to run in next week’s issue.