With the primary elections over, Springfield Township candidates are feeling relieved it’s all over and excited to move forward. In addition, they are grateful to all the voters in the primary election.
Springfield Township Supervisor Collin Walls, who received 1,079 votes, 53.10 percent of the total, said he was grateful to everyone who voted in the primary election.
‘I am honored to have been elected again and excited about the opportunity to continue serving my community,? Walls said.
For him, the primary decided his position and he is thankful he will not have a contest to worry about in November.
Walls also said, ‘the recently completed election was one of the most positive and professional that I have been in.? All candidates were positive and did a good job representing their interest and the community.?
Springfield Township Treasurer Jamie Dubre, said she was honored to receive 1,037
votes, 54.90 percent.
Dubre said one of the challenges of being in office is making decisions, and you learn how, popular or not, those decisions are at election time.
Dubre is happy her position was decided in the primary ? no Democrats running ? so she can spend more time working on the budget. She was also happy about how professional candidates were.
‘You never know what to expect,? she said, ‘but you always hope everybody will be professional.?
Finally, Dubre would like to wish challenger Rita Hawes well and hopes she stays involved.
Hawes, although she did not win her race for treasurer, still had a good experience with the election.
“As a first time candidate, running against a 10 year incumbent, I was overwhelmed with the support of the voters.’I want to’extend a very hearty ‘thank you? to everyone that’voted for me,? she said.?’Your confidence in me means a lot.?
Hawes said she will definitely stay involved in Springfield.
‘I can not rule out’the possibility of doing so again,? she added.
Trustee Judy Hensler, 1,182 votes, 21.86 percent, said, ‘I consider my re-election a vote of confidence from the residents and plan to continue working hard to make sure Springfield Township is a great place to live.’I have learned so much over my’last term as Trustee,’and plan to use that knowledge in the best way possible.?
Hensler added she was very pleased with the primary results because the elected board is very capable.
Dave Hopper, 21.90 percent with 1,184 votes for trustee, said ‘I am most pleased with the passing of our Safety Millage, it continues to prove that our residents will support a worthy cause.?
He added the decision shows the residents have the same priorities as the board and also that the safety level of Springfield Township makes it a nice place to raise a family.
Springfield Township voters also approved a .75 mill increase for police services, with 1,586 voting “yes,” 59.22 percent, and 1,092 “no” votes, 40.78 percent.
The township contracts with Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, which operates a substation in the Colombiere Center. The millage runs from 2012-2015, when it will be combined with a 0.7289 police millage for a single renewal vote. Another 1.5 mill for police services, approved in 2006, expires in 2017. One mill is $1 for each $1,000 of assessed property valuation, or one-half market value.