She spent many years sitting in the audience at Oxford Township Board meetings. Now, she wants to see what life is like on the other side of the table as an elected official.
Margaret Payne, 61, pulled nominating petitions for a four-year trustee seat on the board.
‘I want to serve the community and help make good decisions for the township,? she said. ‘I would like to see things move a little more smoothly at the board level. I think it’s time for new blood on the board. I’d like to see new faces and I think I could be one of them.?
Payne, who’s lived in Oxford since January 1987, is certainly no stranger to local government.
From 1995 until her retirement last year, she worked for the fire department. She started out as a part-time clerk and eventually became the agency’s finance manager.
Prior to the fire department, Payne was employed by the township’s assessing and treasurer’s departments in the early 1990s.
‘I’ve worked for government all my life,? she said.
Because of this, Payne’s understanding of the inner workings of township government extends to many different areas.
‘I think I have a lot of experience and I have a lot of common sense. I can see through to the meat of a problem very easily,? she said. ‘I know there’s still a lot to learn, a lot I don’t know, but I look forward to embracing those things and learning more.?
One big advantage Payne has is her intimate knowledge of the township’s budget process having been involved with the fire department’s finances for so many years.
‘I’m well-versed in that,? she said. ‘I can’t stress enough how important I think the financial end of things is. The township does a very good job with (its) budget as do parks and rec. and the fire department. They stay well within their budgets.?
If elected, Payne would like to focus on increasing economic development in the township. She wants to help attract new businesses that are going to last and form partnerships in the community, not ‘come and go very quickly.?
‘I’d like to see more businesses in our town to shore up our tax base,? Payne said.
As far as new construction is concerned, Payne said she’s ‘in between? when it comes to the pro-growth crowd and the anti-growth camp.
She believes new development should be encouraged in an orderly fashion based on a well-thought-out plan.
She’s opposed to ‘willy-nilly growth.?
‘I think planning is the key,? Payne said. ‘I see some of these townships that have a strip mall here and a strip mall there, and 10 years later, half of it is still empty, never been occupied. That’s something I’m opposed to.?
What’s her overall opinion of how things are going in the township these days?
‘I think we’re headed in the right direction,? Payne said. ‘I think we’re in good shape. (Providing police and dispatch services) we have the sheriff’s department, which is doing very well by us. We have a great fire department. And our township supervisor, he’s done a great job. He’s Johnny-on-the-spot . . . If you need him, he’s there.?
That being said, Payne believes there’s always room for improvement and she’s hoping to be part of that. ‘I think we could do better or try harder,? she said.
On a personal note, Payne has been married to her husband Pat for 40 years and the couple has three grown children ? Kelly, Roberta and Ryan. Pat spent 17 years as a paid-on-call firefighter.