Monday, July 30, 2012
Get to know this candidate for state representative before casting your vote.
Sterling Heights resident Joseph Bogdan, 25, is running for state representative. This is his first run at political office. He works as a quality inspector/CMM programmer. 1) What led you to try for the post of state representative initially? No one else had filed for it! 2) If elected, what issues would you like to focus on? 1. Fix the economy. The problem is that foreign firms cheat their workers and then undercut American producers. The real fix is at the federal level, but Michigan still has options. I would propose eliminating the state income tax and raising the funds through the state sales tax (noreal change in tax revenue). Michigan exports would then be subject to fewer taxes while foreign imports would be subject to more. To …
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Brent Freeman is running for Trustee. Get to know this candidate before you vote.
Brent Freeman, 53, has lived in Shelby Township for eight years. He has not held public office before. He has been a long standing member of the local Chamber of Commerce, having served as an an Ambassador, a Treasurer, and a Board Member. He's active serving committee at Kensington Community Church. He enjoys photography and have been asked to assist with taking the photos for the Shelby Lions football organization. He is married to Angela Freeman and they have four adult children and five grandchildren. He works as a comptroller for a manufacturing company in Sterling Heights. 1) What led you to try for the post of trustee initially? I believe the Board of Trustees do not listen to the citizens of Shelby Township. Their previous votes …
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Carolyn Gammicchia is running for trustee. Here's what you need to know about her before casting your vote.
Carolyn Gammicchia, 53, is running for the post of trustee. She has lived in Shelby Township for 17 years and has not yet held public office. She has held several elected offices within local, state, and nonprofit entities. She is executive director of L.E.A.N. On Us, a nonprofit. 1) What lead you to try for the post of trustee initially? I was raised in a very active political family. My father ran for the Michigan senate (endorsed by then Gov. Romney) when I was a child and was involved for several years within Michigan GOP. Campaigning was part of growing up for me and I’ve always enjoyed volunteering and being active within legislative issues and taking on leadership roles. My decision to run for trustee was due to my desire to be…
Monday, July 23, 2012
Jeff Farrington is running for re-election as a state representative. Get to know him a little better before casting your vote.
Jeff Farrington, 46, is running for re-election as state representative. He’s lived in Utica and Sterling Heights for 33 years. 1) What led you to try for the post of state representative initially? The initial reason I ran for state house was because of the economic situation; children moving out of state to find jobs and knowing that the state and federal government at that time was hindering economic growth. I wanted to make a change and in our state I think we’re seeing the effect of proper economic policy with the unemployment rate dropping and personal income numbers improving. 2) What do you plan to focus on if re-elected? If re-elected, my primary focus will remain the economy and job growth. Other areas of focus will be in …
Friday, July 20, 2012
Richard Batchelder is running for position of Clerk on the Shelby Township Board of Trustees. Get to know him a little better before casting your vote.
Richard Batchelder, 59, is a life-long resident of Shelby Township. He has never held public office and is retired. "However, I have devoted my life to public service, and feel it is time to give back to my community by serving as Shelby Township Clerk," he said. He volunteers at Marquette Elementary. He enjoys walking his dog, Roo, in River Bends Park, building things, road trips, public radio and TV, and movies. Batchelder and wife, Elaine, belong to Bethesda Christian Church in Sterling Heights. 1). What led you to try for the post of Clerk initially? I love Shelby Township and I am not one who is quick to anger, but our current "board majority," which appointed our current Clerk, has its ownpolitical agenda that includes obvious ties …
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Get to know candidate for Shelby Township Trustee Steven Fick before heading to the polls.
This will be the firt time candidate for Shelby Township Trustee Steven Fick has made a run for public office. The 30-year-old lives in Shelby Township with his wife, 2-year-old son Vaughn and one on the way. His son is due in November, right around the time Shelby residents will head to the polls to cast their vote for the new board of trustees. Fick currently works for the US Army at TACOM, as a Senior Logistician. He has a Bachelors of Science in Marketing from (Oakland University), a Masters of Business Administration with concentration in Finance from Wayne State University and a Masters of Arts in Economics with a concentration in Industrial and Labor Economics from Wayne State University. 1. What led you to try for the post of …
Friday, July 13, 2012
Nick Nightingale is running for position of Trustee on the Shelby Township Board of Trustees. Get to know him a little better before casting your vote.
Nick Nightingale is running for the position of trustee. This is the first time he has run for political office. Nightingale was raised in Shelby Township and lives here with his wife Nicole and two young daughters. 1. What led you to try for the post of trustee initially? I am not only focused on the present but I also am deeply invested in the future of Shelby Township. Over the past few years I have watched the mismanagement and lack of transparency by the current board of trustees. I will be an honest and dedicated trustee. I will work to make the proper modifications to guide our community into a brighter future. I want to restore the integrity and trust back to our township board of trustees. I want to serve the community that is…
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Former Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Leman is running for Supervisor. Get to know him before you cast your vote.
Former Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Leman is running against current Supervisor Rick Stathakis. Leman served as police chief for ten years. In 2011, his contract with the township was not renewed. The 57-year-old resident announced in Febuary he would run for political office for the first time. Leman has lived in Shelby Township for more than 10 years with his wife, Jean. The couple attend Shepherds Gate Church in Shelby Township. Together they have three children, Kelly, Robert, Christopher, and a granddaughter Kalya, a daughter-in-law Lori, and soon to be daughter-in-law Allison. 1. What led you to try for the post of supervisor initially? With 10 years as a major Department Head, I am very familiar with our Township’s …
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Take a look at candidate for Shelby Township Trustee John Holeton.
Let's meet Shelby Township trustee candidate John Holeton. Holeton is the son of Shelby Township residents John and Pauline Holeton. He says he is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and enjoys reading, philosophy and solving physics problems. He spends his spare time with Scruffy, an 18-year-old Terrier that he rescued. 1. What led you to try for the post of trustee initially? A large percentage of taxpayers in Shelby Township feel that their voices aren't being heard. I want to change that. 2. What do you plan to change if elected? I would like to see more funding for the library. In my opinion, it is a valuble asset which must not be neglected. 3. If elected, what township issues would you like to focus on? The $23 …
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Clarence Cook is running for trustee in Shelby Township.
Clarence Cook is running for the position of trusteee on the Shelby Township Board of Trustees. Cook campaigned in 2008, but lost. He is 73, and has lived in Shelby Township for 25 years with his wife Charlotte, their daughter Laura, son Alan and four grandchildren. Cook, an insurance agent and small business owner has never held public office. During his spare time, he likes to enjoy nature by fishing and hunting. 1. What led you to try for the post of trustee initially? This board balanced the budget fine. The state compels them to do just that. There is more to governing then just balancing the budget. Now, what else they didn’t focus on. The concerns of our residents, like listening to the people they serve. The board made our …
Matt Guarnieri
10:27 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
It's not about the people who scream at meetings, it's about keeping the taxpayers interest as the main priority even when ten people with a stake in the project speak to you. The average taxpayer will not weigh in on every decision, no one represents them. Every decision is going to upset a couple dozen citizens; it's keeping the other 60,000 citizens in mind when you make that decision that is … more ›