Bart Clark is running for Independence Township trustee to ‘protect and preserve the quality of life.?
‘I think we need to protect that,? said Clark. ‘I’d like to be able to say I did something to preserve that for my kids, my grandkids, and for your kids and your grandkids.?
The way to ensure that, he believes is through a township manager.
‘The township is now 35,000 people and the budget is $27 million and growing. The structure is the same as it was in 1985 when it became a charter township,? he said. ‘The population was much smaller, things were simpler, now is the time when we need to modify the township government to make it more responsive and efficient for the people.?
Clark says the manager would ‘back up? elected officials in day-to-day operations. Hiring someone who is ‘trained and experienced? would benefit the community.
“We really have a lot here. It’s a charming little town. The community spirit is pretty much unmatched. We’ve got Labor Day parade, Fourth of July parade, Concerts in the Park, Christmas light parade, just more activities than you can shake a stick at, and that’s the type of thing I want to protect,? he said. ‘If we allow ourselves to have growth that is not responsible than we’re going to jeopardize, perhaps squander the great characteristics that make this area such a great place to live.?
Clark says one of the major issues is the economy, not just locally or statewide, but nationally as well. The slowing down of the economy reduces tax revenue to the township, he noted.
‘I anticipate some belt tightening,? said Clark. ‘The people are not going to accept the tax rate increase, nor would I.?
Clark wants to look at ways to reduce the cost of government. He says he wants to have a several budget reviews where they break down each department and look at them one at a time.
Even with a down economy Clark said he believes Michigan’s economy will recover.
“We just have too much to offer in this state. What we’re seeing now is the relatively painful transition from an economy and industry dominated by the auto industry, which is also in transition as we globalize,? he said. ‘Maybe the jobs aren’t here but the workforce is.?
Clarkston schools are ‘superb,? something he wants to keep that way.
‘There are things we can do to perhaps make it more efficient, perhaps more cost effective, but if we allow the quality of education for our students to degrade, we’ll have done a terrible service to the students and the nation,? said Clark.
In order to keep the trust of the people, Clark said government needs to be transparent with ‘almost no secrets,? outside of the township negotiating contracts. He wants more citizen participation.
‘Especially young citizens,? said Clark. ‘If you look around you see a lot of gray hair in government, especially township government.?
He also believes in strict adherence to the master plan and building codes to ‘ensure growth is responsible and orderly.?
One of the key questions to ask, said Clark, is ‘What do you want Clarkston to look like??
Clark is the great, great, great grandson of Jeremiah Clark, one of Clarkston’s founders, and remembers traveling from Detroit where he was born to Clarkston to visit his grandfather, Lee Clark, who lived at 38 Holcomb.
He graduated with a Bachelors of Science with a Mechanical engineering degree from the Naval Academy. He was accepted into the Nuclear Naval promotion program and went into the submarine force and stayed for 26 years. He was a professor of Naval Science at the University of Michigan and retired in 1993.
‘This got us back to Michigan,? he said. ‘I said ‘well here we are in Michigan what do you do?? You build cars.?
Clark went to work for Ford Motor Company in their Vehicle Operations division. He stayed with Ford for 11 years as a body construction engineer and served as launch leader for couple of Ford vehicles until he retired from Ford in 2005, at which time He and his wife of 25 years Diane moved to Clarkston. His Son Ben from a previous marriage lives in Connecticut with Clark’s two granddaughters.
Bart is president of Rotary Club, on board of directors for Clarkston Community Historical Society, a member of ‘Friends of Library,? a member of ‘Veterans of Foreign War,? North Oakland County Republican Club, and the Oakland County Sportsman club.
‘We moved here in 2005, it’s the smartest move we ever made in our lifetime,? said Clark.