The 2008 campaign season has begun, and not just for presidential candidates.
In Independence Township, Neil Wallace is working with a group of citizens on a reform ticket.
‘The group is looking at running for office a number of people in a campaign for change,? said Wallace, an attorney in the township.
In a letter to the editor (page 6A), Wallace says the reason for the campaign is Supervisor David Wagner’s handling of the budget.
‘I think we’ve had a fundamental failure of leadership by the supervisor,? Wallace said.
Among Wagner’s mismanagement was submitting the budget late, cutting parks and recreation programs, and wanting to give raises to township officials, Wallace said.
‘It showed like nothing else the need for us to go to professional management,? he said.
Wagner said it is easy to make these sorts of charges and bring them to the media, but harder to actually do the job.
‘People don’t see what goes into the day-to-day operations of the township,? he said. ‘We take care of a multitude of problems and issues ? the list goes on and on.?
Wagner said he has an open-door policy, and welcomes discussion with anyone.
If successful, the reform group would implement a plan to delegate budget duties to a township manager or superintendent position.
According to state law, a superintendent or manager, a non-partisan position, can be appointed by the township board. The person in that position would be given the duty to prepare and administer the budget, along with others as determined by the board. He or she would be able to take part in discussions with the township board, but would not have a vote in its decisions.
Creation of that position and delegation of powers would require majority approval of the township board.
Wagner said the position of manager is something that may be needed in the future. However, the township is still small enough that it doesn’t require a manager.
Wallace said it is too early to reveal who is interested in running for office on the township board.
Wagner said he is definitely running for re-election.
‘There’s a lot of work to do,? he said.