Brandon Twp.- Ten residents introduced themselves to the township board Jan. 19 and answered questions as they vie for an appointment to an open trustee seat.
Applying for the appointment are Todd Blake; Jane Crossman; Dana DePalma; Cheryl Gault; Larry Hayden; Clifford Holmyard; Roger Ingles; Nick Kovasity; Lora Newsom; and Cynthia Strehle.
‘I was very impressed with the group of candidates that applied for the trustee appointment,? said Supervisor Kathy Thurman. ‘I was particularly impressed with the amount of community service that this group of individuals has undertaken. I feel we have a lot of good candidates to choose from and people that sincerely want to help the community.?
After brief introductions from the candidates, Thurman posed two questions to all of the applicants, first asking who planned to run for election to the partial term in November, to which all the potential appointees raised their hands. Her second question was what party each of the candidates planned to run under. The responses were mixed, with several answering ‘Republican,’others ‘undecided,? and Kovasity responding, ‘I’m sorry, that’s private.?
Thurman said she asked their party affiliation because the November ballot is partisan and because it would help give her ‘an understanding of what kind of thinkers they are.?
‘All of the questions we had were important, but I was interested in their party affiliation,? she said. ‘It’s not necessarily a deciding factor, but it will help me in my evaluation process.? The board members then took turns asking questions of each, many centering around their application responses about the three biggest issues facing the township. Those issues included the township budget, parks and recreation, gravel road speed limits, services, sewers, and declining property values and population.
The board is using several criteria to judge each candidate, including general qualifications, education, availability, volunteer/community service experience, ability based on experience, board meeting attendance, knowledge of trustee responsibilities, strengths, knowledge of municipal government, knowledge of current issues, attitude/compatibility, and overall impression. They will choose an appointee to fill the seat of the late Charlene Carlson at the next board meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Feb. 1, at the township offices, 395 Mill St.