FeedsDeadline looms for township, state elections
With less than a week before the filing deadline for township offices, the election season is picking up steam.
Township Clerk Sue Hillebrand said the race for the four open trustee seats will be a contested one—at least one newcomer has filed petitions to run against the four incumbents.
Carol Poenisch, a community activist who helped form Citizens for Northville, has filed to run for a trustee spot. Marv Gans and Christopher Roosen are the only incumbents to have filed for the trustee spots, although Marjorie Banner and Brad Werner have indicated they will run again, too.
“I have my petitions signed, I just haven’t turned them in yet,” said Werner, who also serves on the Northville Township Historic District Commission with Banner and Gans.
The entire executive board—Township Supervisor Mark Abbo, Treasurer Dick Henningsen and Hillebrand—have filed for re-election, too, and are thus far unopposed.
Township residents John Sabo and Stephen Lomske have obtained petitions, too, but Hillebrand said she’s not sure which office they’re seeking.
“They don’t have to disclose what they’re running for,” she said. “They just pull a packet.”
The filing deadline is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13.
“We’re open until 4:30, but the deadline is 4 p.m.,” said Hillebrand. “It’s a state deadline.”
To be on the ballot, residents have to be registered voters who have resided in the township for 30 days. They need between 20 and 50 valid signatures—from registered township voters.
Werner said the board faced a number of challenges in the coming term, including the development of the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital site, which is mired in a legal battle that he said he hopes is resolved soon.
“I’d like to see it come to a head,” said Werner. “I’d like to see some protection put in place to protect townships.”
Hillebrand said that although candidates don’t have to disclose what office they’re running for when they pick up forms, the seat has to be labeled on their petitions before voters can sign it.
“Don’t sign a blank one,” she said. “That’ll invalidate the whole petition.”
State Rep. Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) is up for election, too. The filing deadline is the same day and time. He had filed for re-election but was unopposed as of press time Tuesday.
