FeedsTownship races heat up as deadline nears
With less than a week to go until the filing deadline, it’s shaping up to be a busy election season in Van Buren Township.
Ten people have already turned in petitions to seek election to the seven-member board, according to Township Clerk Joannie Payne.
“A lot of other residents have picked up petitions,” she said. “There could be more.”
The filing deadline is 4 p.m. on May 13.
So far, candidates include: trustee hopefuls Philip Hart, Denise Partridge, Kenneth Landstrom, Albert Ostrowski, Walter Rochowiak and Jeffrey Jahr. Jahr, Rochowiak and Hart are incumbents. Lianne Clair, the other incumbent, had not yet retuned petitions as of press time on Tuesday.
Payne said she will run again, as will Treasurer Sharry Budd. Neither incumbent has a challenger as of yet, but Paul White has filed to run against Cindy King for the supervisor post.
King will be seeking her third term as supervisor. She previously served two terms as clerk, too, from 1992-2000. She said experience will be important during the next four years.
“I think the next for years are going to be interesting,” she said. “The economy will certainly make things a challenge.”
She said the board will have to continue to contain spending, particularly if the slowdown in development continues.
“I think we’ve done a good job stretching our dollars,” she said.
To be eligible for township office, residents must be registered to vote and have lived in the municipality for more than 30 days.
They also need between 20 and 50 signatures from registered voters. Payne said it was likely that the candidate pool will increase prior to the Tuesday deadline.
“A lot of people like to wait until the last minute,” she said. “I advise them not to do that, because usually people have signatures are not valid.”
Voters will also chose a new state representative this year. Phil LaJoy (R-Canton) is term-limited out of office and will seek election as supervisor of Canton Township. His son, Todd, a current Canton Township trustee, has filed to run for that office, as has Canton resident Dian Slavens.
