As a candidate for Springfield Township supervisor, Bill Leddy said he’s worried about the gap in leadership come November when the current supervisor and clerk both step down.
‘I was afraid of what could happen in the township without that type of carryover,? he said, explaining his decision to join the township board race. ‘When you have people like (supervisor) Collin Walls and (clerk) Nancy Strole in power for so many years with the township’s interest at heart, there’s going to be a void when they both leave at the same time. People don’t know who is going to step in.?
A career teacher, Leddy received his BA from the University of Notre Dame and served a 35-year tenure before retiring from Lamphere High School in Madison Heights, where he chaired the Math Department chair worked as director of intramural sports.
Experience in the community, as well as 33 years of township residency, he said, make him a good candidate for supervisor.
Leddy served on the parks and recreation board and is currently a member of the planning commission. He has also been active as a coach and served as vice president of the Davisburg Baseball League.
‘I think I am quite familiar with what’s going on in the township and what has gone on in the past,? he said. ‘So I think I have a pretty good idea about what people want in the township.?
Leddy, 67, said he made up his mind to run for supervisor partly because he didn’t know anything about candidate Mike Trout, and wasn’t sure about the motivations of candidate Danny O’Neill.
‘Dr. (James) O’Neill is helping his son run, and I know he has some commercial interests at heart,? Leddy said. ‘I’m not sure that he puts the interests of the township above his own personal ones.?
If elected, Leddy listed the following among his priorities:
? Initiate straight-forward approach to the township planning process so developers know what to expect
? Utilize planning services provided by Oakland County so the township is not duplicating studies
? Adjust assessed property values to reflect current market values
? Look to reduce internal spending so funds can be directed to community projects
? Explore possibility of sewer system for Davisburg hamlet
? Pursue boulevard plans for Dixie Highway Corridor; improve or develop commercial and mixed-use properties to create pleasant, vibrant atmosphere.
The Dixie Highway Corridor, Leddy said, is prime for commercial development, but he wants to make sure any plans for development are carefully thought out.
‘If it’s developed right, it will be a plus for the township,? he said. ‘If its not, it will be the complete opposite.?
His vision, Leddy explained, is to keep ‘the beauty of the township? by incorporating appropriate architectural design and landscaping so any commercial areas blend in with the natural setting.
‘In some areas, they just put up a big box store and an ugly parking lot,? he said. ‘If you drive down Dixie Highway through Clarkston down to Waterford and Drayton Plains, you can see how urban sprawl has really destroyed the view.?
Although the board recently discussed the possibility of reducing the supervisor, clerk and treasurer’s positions to part-time, Leddy said he’s running on a full-time basis.
‘If you go over to the township hall you’ll see it’s been pretty quiet, there’s not much building going on,? he said. ‘But there are a lot of other things, meetings that have to be gone to with the county and different things, so the supervisor position is going to be pretty busy.?
Leddy said he was, however, in favor of finding ways to cut back.
‘I wouldn’t be opposed to cutting back cutting back bureaucracy, not necessarily the services; we still need the police and fire services,? he said. ‘But some of the consulting services, for instance, are offered by the county, and I would look to see if we could cut back on some things that are redundant.?
The biggest challenge facing anyone who replaces Walls, Leddy said, will be personal contacts and information Walls has stored in his own personal memory bank after 32 years in office.
But, he said, the transition should go relatively smooth since Walls has promised to make himself available to the new supervisor.
‘I’m not an overbearing person, so I think I would be fair and I wouldn’t show any favoritism,? Leddy said. ‘The office door would be open.?
Leddy and his wife Kathryn have been married 38 years. The couple has 11 children and 25 grandchildren.
Leddy is running against Danny O’Neill and Mike Trout for Springfield Township supervisor. Primary vote is Aug. 6. For more profiles, check www.clarkstonnews.com and enter candidates? names in ‘site search.?