Mark E. Crane
Street: Mountainside Drive
Family Info: Married for 13 years to Monica Navarro. Father of Spencer (12), Natalie (10) and Lauren (8).
Employment: Mark E. Crane, PLLC. Self-employed as an attorney in private practice for over 15 years, specializing in family law, business and tax litigation. Prior experience as accounting analyst at Chrysler Corporation.
Education/Background: Bachelor of Arts in Economics (1987) ? University of Michigan. Juris Doctorate (1993), cum laude ? University of Michigan Law School. Managing Editor ? Journal of Law Reform.
Clubs/Organizations: Orion Township Planning Commission, Orion Chamber of Commerce, Orion Township Solid Waste Committee, Women’s Survival Center, Family Law Assistance Project, State and County Bar Associations.
In your mind, what are the biggest issues the next township board will face?
Maintaining township services and infrastructure while revenues are shrinking. Many township residents are struggling. We need to minimize the tax burden on homeowners. At the same time, we need to maintain our local infrastructure and the level of service provided to our residents. Like most families in our community, our township officials need to find a way to accomplish more with less. There will be tough choices to be made in the years ahead.
Why are you running for trustee?
As a business owner, I know what it means to work within a budget. I will work to keep taxes low, while still addressing the needs of our residents. As a member of the township planning commission, I have stood up for the residents of our community. I will continue to do so as trustee. Quality development in keeping with our Master Plan is desirable. Poorly planned development destroys the character of our community.
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Neal Porter
Street: 2330 W. Clarkston Road
Family Info: married to Lois, 45 years; two children; five grandchildren
Employment: Vette Products, Lake Orion, owner; GM, retired 1997
Education/Background: General Motors Institute (GMI) graduate, Industrial Management; Small business owner, Orion Township; developer in southeast Michigan; Orion Township Planning Commission, six years; Orion Township Zoning Board, two years; vintage car collector
Clubs/Organizations: Chamber of Commerce, past president; Orion Veterans Memorial, vice-president; Orion Parade Group; Orion Historical Society; Unity Church, vice-president; National Historical Foundation, trustee
In your mind, what are the biggest issues the next township board will face?
Traffic and roads, reduced tax income, legal issues/lawsuits, township office complex
Why are you running for trustee?
My proposal last year stopped a planned water rate increase. I feel input can reduce residential taxes and my experience as a developer is vital. I will use this experience to impact township government and provide controlled growth. I would promote more co-operation and interaction between the village, school board and township government. I would like to control spending on new capital improvements.
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John Steimel
Street: 980 Ridgeline Ct.
Family Info: Wife ? Julie, married for 25 years, Son – Chris, will be a junior at Michigan Tech ? Army ROTC, Daughter ? Jackie, will be a junior at LOHS ? member of the color guard
Employment: Staff engineer at FANUC Robotics America, Inc.
Education/Background: BS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, Current Orion Township Trustee since 2004, Member (former chairman) of the Planning Commission since 1999.
Clubs/Organizations: Member – Orion Area Chamber of Commerce, Member – Engineering Society of Detroit, Precinct Delegate – Michigan Republican Party, Volunteer ? LOHS Band
In your mind, what are the biggest issues the next township board will face?
This new board must commit to working together and respecting differences of opinion. Every challenge must be met with an open mind, a passionate desire to do what is right and an eye towards doing what is best for the township as a whole. Once a track record is established that decisions will be made in an open and creative manner, then the board can work on earning back the respect of the people.
Why are you running for trustee?
There will be many fiscal, land use and policy-issue challenges that must be faced over the next four years. Experience will be a powerful tool. Our township has an opportunity to pull together and continue to make our community an example for others to follow. I want to be one of the positive, motivating-factors that brings back the creative thinking and passion of residents far beyond the seven who sit on the board.
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Michael Toth
Street: 231 E. Flint Street
Family Info: wife, Annalisa; children, Benjamin, 5, and Noah, 1
Employment: Athletic Director, P.E. teacher and coach at Kingsbury Country Day School in Oxford
Education/Background: Bachelor’s Degree from Oakland University, Major: Psychology, Minor: Philosophy
Clubs/Organizations: Member of the Village Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, North Oakland Transportation Authority, Orion Township Parks and Recreation, Orion GOP, Lake Orion Village Council
In your mind, what are the biggest issues the next township board will face?
It is no secret that our area’s economy is struggling. The biggest issue that the next board will face will be making Orion Township the leader in Oakland County in turning this trend around. We can do this by making our township as attractive as possible to new businesses while working hard to maintain our family-centered community atmosphere.
Why are you running for trustee?
The village council has given me the opportunity to listen to my neighbors and community and also to be active in the decisions that affect all of us. Joining the township board would afford me the privilege in representing the village as well as the chance to listen and participate in decisions that affect us across the township.
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Ken Van Portfliet
Street: 152 S. Andrews
Family Info: Married to Sara Van Portfliet, with one growing 10-year old, Sam.
Employment: Dunn Blue Reprographics, Vice President for FM Sales
Education/Background: College courses, professional and personal development seminars.
Clubs/Organizations: Lake Orion Village Council, Lake Orion Planning Commission, Precinct Delegate, Orion Historical Society, Sons of the American Legion.
In your mind, what are the biggest issues the next township board will face?
Development will continue to make corridor and infrastructure maintenance and improvements a priority. With the current growth trend, we must focus on the needs of businesses and residents impacted. The unique community culture we enjoy must be protected if we are to thrive. Our lakes, our green space, our historical resources are examples of assets that must be safeguarded as we plan for our future growth.
Why are you running for trustee?
My 12 years of experience as a village councilperson and as a member of various committees and commissions has provided me with a good understanding of our larger community. With my vote as a board member, I will be demonstrating fiscal responsibility and voicing the wishes of our constituents, including residents in the Village of Lake Orion. I consider issues carefully and with impartiality, a quality imperative for building consensus on our township board.
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JoAnn Van Tassel
Street: 2726 Saturn
Employment: TEAM Enterprises
Education/Background: Bachelor of Arts degree, University of Alabama; graduate, Honeywell Institute of Information Sciences; various classes in management and planning
Clubs/Organizations: Board member of the Orion Veterans Memorial, Clinton River Watershed Council, ONTV; Life member of the Michigan Township Association, Friends of the Orion Library, the Orion Art Center
In your mind, what are the biggest issues the next township board will face?
The biggest issues are: 1) making sure the township operates within its income & receives the best value for the dollars spent; 2) cleaning up the mess at Friendship Park & working to ensure it doesn’t happen again; 3) using the revenue to provide facilities that benefit the residents; 4) preserving the historic treasures and natural resources of Orion; 5) using technology to improve service to the residents.
Why are you running for trustee?
I am running for township trustee because I care about the community. I was actively involved in the development of facilities at Civic Center Park and in writing the Zoning Ordinance and many other ordinances. I have been called often in the pass by board members and asked for my input because of my wealth of knowledge. Primarily, I’m running because I care and believe I have something of benefit to offer.
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Sandra Walker
Street: 2565 Mueller
Family Info: I am a lifetime resident of Michigan (9 years in Orion), married to my husband Carl for 27 years, and have two children.
Employment: An AT&T employee of 27 years, I am currently a Senior Sales Support Manager, dealing with Federal Government accounts for the entire state.
Education: Graduated from Waterford Mott High School Jan 1980. Started working for Michigan Bell immediately, Extensive on-the-job training in Telecommunications and Federal Government Contracts.
Clubs/Organizations: Member of Concerned Women of America, Member of American Decency Association, Member of Marimont Community Church, Member of the Lake Orion Historical Society.
In your mind, what are the biggest issues the next township board will face?
First, loss of revenue sharing. It will be necessary to make cuts in spending in the township budget where possible. As painful as budget cuts are, it is irresponsible to spend money that we do not have. Second, traffic congestion is a major issue for township residents, especially along the routes of M-24 & Baldwin. Lastly, increase in taxes and utility rates. I will address these three issues below.
Why are you running for trustee?
I will encourage township departments (like the library, for example) to hold fundraisers to raise enough money to make the necessary improvements… It is crucial to work with the Oakland County Road Commission, MDOT, and the federal government to make sure we collect enough money to make the necessary improvements…
Lastly, I will be a good steward with taxpayers? money and do my best to keep tax rates where they are and, if possible, lower them.