Race for Board of Trustees Widens with 7 New Candidates

The race for the Shelby Township Board of Trustees got a whole lot bigger Thursday night when seven residents threw their names in the hat.

, the former police chief and a candidate for supervisor, announced seven people who intend to run for Shelby posts during a campaign fundraiser Thursday night:

• Brent Freeman for trustee;
• Clearance Cook for trustee;
• Dave Curtis for trustee;
• Nick Nightingale for trustee;
• Gary Kopp for trustee;
• Lisa Manzella for treasurer;
• Rick Batchelder for clerk.

Patch asked the candidates—who will be sharing Leman's campaign manager—why they planned to run.

"I hate to say anything negative but three and a half years ago, an ill will blew into the Board of Trustees," said Batchelder, who was a firefighter and paramedic in Shelby Township for 25 years. "We need a new township board that is friendly to voters and approachable," he added.

Kopp said he decided to enter the politial arena as a fiscal conservative because he feels the current board is inconsiderate of the residents' wishes. "My platform is the majority rules." he said.

Just two weeks ago, the Shelby Board of Trustees, appointed as the new Shelby Township Clerk by a 5 to 1 vote. Manzella was the lone opposing vote. Grot will carry out the remainder of the former nine month term. He has not indicated whether he plans to run in the November elections.

The only candidate who has announced his intention to run for the November elections is , who will be vying for the treasurer's job, currently held by Paul Viar. 

Manzella said she believes her more than 25 years in business and finance will help her run a tight treasurer's office. "I am going to work really hard and I think I'll be a good steward of township funds," she said.

Leman has turned in the 100 needed signatures needed be added to the August primary ballot. The filing deadline for anyone seeking a spot on the Board of Trustees is May 15.