Now that the votes have been counted, newly elected officials in Independence Township will spend the next couple months learning about their new jobs.
The Aug. 3 primary election produced three new township officials in Supervisor-elect Dave Wagner, Clerk-elect Shelagh VanderVeen and Trustee-elect Charles Dunn. The three will begin their four-year terms on Nov. 20.
‘My first order of business is to reinstate director head meetings,? Wagner said. ‘I want to have open communication and have the ability to get to know each other. I also want to reestablish communication with the schools, county and community.?
Wagner hopes to meet with current Supervisor Dale Stuart to get up to speed with the job.
‘I am looking forward to the transition. I think it will be a smooth transition because we both love the township,? Wagner said.
When asked about how the transition will go, Stuart said ‘It remains to be seen. I have not really thought about it.?
Wagner has spent the last four years as a trustee so he is familiar with many of the issues affecting the township. He has already spoken to some department heads and township planner Dick Carlisle.
‘Dick has done a tremendous job for this community and I look forward to working with him,? Wagner said.
Wagner says he has a lot of work to do in the next few months.
‘The day I walk in to the office I need to be up to speed. I need to be making decisions on day one and those decisions need to be right,? Wagner said.
VanderVeen and retiring Clerk Joan McCrary have already talked about the transition. McCrary endorsed VanderVeen in the primary.
‘We talked about it before the election so I guess we were feeling pretty optimistic,? VanderVeen said. ‘We already discussed me coming in and working while she is still there. I am pretty much going to ghost here. I expect the transition to be smooth.?
VanderVeen will also have an opportunity to watch an actual election by job shadowing McCrary during the November election. The newly elected clerk also plans on attending board meetings to get up to date with all issues coming before the board.
‘The November election should be a great learning experience,? VanderVeen said. ‘I am so excited to work with the board. I want to step right in and hit the ground running.?
Dunn, who will be joining three incumbent trustees on the board, is also getting prepared. He attended the Aug. 4 board meeting and is also planning on attending the budget hearings.
‘I am going to take the lead from Dave Wagner as he transitions to his position as supervisor,? Dunn said. ‘We have had no formal discussion on how any of us will work the transition. I am the only new trustee so I will have some issues that they will not have.?
Issues such as the budget and senior center are already on Dunn’s radar.
‘I am grateful the voters put their trust in me. I will serve them with respect,? Dunn said.