2012 Primary: Webster Township Candidates Campaign Ahead of Aug. 7 Primary

Webster Township voters will have the chance to elect new representation on the Board of Trustees in August.

One candidate is running unopposed for the supervisor seat, as well as the clerk and treasurer seats. Six residents are contending for the four open trustees positions.

Dexter Patch sent out questionnaires to each of the Webster Township candidates and the following are their responses:

Township Trustees

Candidate: Charles L. Estleman

Office sought: Webster Township trustee

Political affiliation: Republican

Current occupation: Retired rural carrier 

Education: Washtenaw Community College

Previous elected office: Township trustee

What are two key issues in your community? Maintain services and spending tax dollars wisely.

Candidate: Robert J. Mitzel

Office sought: Webster Township trustee 


Political affiliation: Republican 


Current occupation: Information technology supervisor at Ford Motor Company

Education: Michigan Tech (Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering); Michigan Tech (M.S.); Wayne State University (Master of Science in engineering management).

Previous elected office: Novi City Council (1993-1997
)

What are two key issues in your community? Township character and office availability.

How will you address these issues?

 I plan to work to assure that the township's zoning and land use planning and other ordinances will protect the rural character of the township, this may include zoning for larger lot sizes or providing additional incentives in the zoning ordinance for open space and farmland preservation. The Planning Commission is in the process of doing a study to get data to use in analyzing the situation to see what, if any, changes are needed. The lull in development pressure is providing a good opportunity to address this issue.

I plan to work to make township resources more readily available to the community. The current office hours are very limited and inconvenient to many residents that need to do business with the township. I think we need to implement alternative office hours and enable more transactions to be done via the township website.

Candidate: Bradley Gibson

Office sought: Webster Township Trustee

Political affiliation: Democrat

Current occupation: Uniserv Director Michigan Education Association; retired teacher, Brighton Area Schools; former firefighter for the City of Ann Arbor.

Education: Eastern Michigan University (B.A.), Walden University (M.A.)

Previous elected office(s): None

What are two key issues in your community? All local governments are facing financial challenges because of the state Legislature's funding decisions. That challenge could get worse with proposed changes to the state tax code. Secondly, we have to work together with other municipalities to share services providing tax payers with the best services for the lowest costs.

How will you address those issues? I would convince our representatives in the state Legislature that it is essential to create a tax system that is fair and allows local governments to provided basic services to our residents. Regarding working with neighboring governmental entities, we have to put our egos aside and make agreements that are mutually beneficial. The prime example is the inability of the Webster Township officials to negotiate an agreement for shared fire service in the county. One of the stumbling blocks is the name of this new authority, which should not hold up an agreement that makes fiscal sense.

Candidate: John Westman

Office sought: Webster Township trustee

Political affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Laboratory supervisor at University of Michigan

Education: University of Michigan (B.S.)

Previous elected office: Webster Township trustee

What are two key issues that you're seeking to deal with if elected?

Proposed interlocal agreement to create a new fire department serving Scio, Dexter, Webster townships and the Village of Dexter. As current vice chairman and former chairman of the Dexter Area Fire Department Administrative Board, I have taken considerable interest in the proposed regional consolidation of the DAFD and Scio Township fire departments. Discussions regarding the provisions of this agreement are ongoing. If elected I will not commit the taxpayers of Webster Township to any agreement that represents significant financial risk while offering questionable benefits in return.

Land preservation program: I am the chairman of the Webster Township Farmland and Open Space Preservation Board. Our land preservation program, commonly known as the purchase of development rights program has been a huge success. In partnership with other land preservation organizations and private donors Webster Township has participated in the preservation of over 1,200 acres of township land. The millage dedicated to this program has been exhausted so we are now referring applications to the Ann Arbor Greenbelt Commission and county PDR programs. The challenge is to maintain the momentum of our program while additional funding sources are being considered.

Editor's note: Trustee candidates Gary Koch and Richard Kleinschmidt did not respond to Dexter Patch's email questionnaire, which was sent to all candidates who will appear on the Aug. 7 Washtenaw County Primary Election ballot.