Politics & Government
Shelby Fails to Elect Clerk, Supervisor Appointed as Temporary Replacement
Board's next chance to decide on Terry Kowal's replacement is Jan. 17.
The Shelby Township Board of Trustees failed to elect a new clerk Dec. 20 and appointed Supervisor Rick Stathakis to the role.
Stathakis will serve as interim clerk until the next board meeting, Jan. 17, 2012, when Trustees will vote on a candidate. That person will fill the role until the August 2012 elections, where they will have to run for re-election. A clerk has full Board voting rights.
, who served in the role for more than 20 years, accepted a similar position in Auburn Hills. The Dec. 20 Board meeting was her last, but her last official day with the Township will be Jan.2.
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Richard Batchelder, Fran Gillett, Stan Grot, Jared Maynard, Raquel Moore, and Leanne Scott were given 15 minutes to interview with the Board Dec. 14.
Candidate Allen Shaw dropped out. Grot was just one vote shy of getting the job.
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“I’m really bummed,” Moore said at Tuesday's meeting.
If a vacancy occurs in an elected township position and the spot is not filled within 45 days, the county clerk calls a special election. Michigan law does not allow for the time frame to be added to the Feb. 28, 2012 ballot. However, Stathakis noted that the Board was close to a decision and said a special election will not be necessary.
“We’re one vote away from having this problem behind us. I don’t want there to be an election. It costs $35,000 and it’s a lot of trouble. It’s a lot of money and a lot of trouble. None of us want to do an election,” Stathakis said.
Trustee Lisa Manzella said during the meeting, “Any decision we’ve made in haste has always come back to bite us.”
Stathakis was voted in by a 5-2 margin; Kowal and Manzella voted no. Stathakis said he’s capable and willing to take on duties as clerk, in addition to his supervisor role.
“I’m looking forward to the new challenge and I’m happy to serve wherever I need to serve. As part of my duty as the supervisor, you need to fill in, and I know the Trustees are going to be very helpful, too,” he said.
