Pleasanton Township Primary Election Candidates

The candidate yard signs have been in place for weeks, and today, even robo-calls for at least one Pleasanton candidate were being made.  How much importance does the primary election have for Pleasanton Township - and how much information does one have to make a decision?

First, the basics.  The candidates for Pleasanton Township offices are:


Township Supervisor

David McNeilly - Republican Party

Carol Merrill - Republican Party

Township Clerk

Amy Cross - Republican Party

Township Treasurer 

Judy Girven - Republican Party

Township Trustee

Vote for not more than 2 candidates

David E. Ertel - Republican Party

Kit C. Potter - Republican Party

Vote for not more than 2 candidates

Rochelle Rollenhagen - Democratic Party

The Republican Precinct Delegate (up to 4 allowed) is Art Sippola.  Up to 2 Democratic Precinct Delegates were allowed on the primary ballot, but none appeared on it.  Precinct delegates, also known as county convention delegates) commonly participate in their parties' election of officers at the local and statewide level.

As far as candidates go, only one question in Pleasanton will be decided by the August 7 primary election - that of the Republican nominee for township supervisor.  David McNeilly and Carol Merrill are each seeking the nomination.  The winner of that contest will either run unopposed to claim the seat, or face a candidate without a party affiliation in the November general election.

In the other township races (treasurer, clerk and trustees), the candidates for the primary election don't face opposition within their own parties.  As there are two open trustee seats, both Republican trustee candidates (Dave Ertel and Kit Potter) will advance to the general election, as will the single Democratic trustee candidate (Rochelle Rollenhagen).  In November, voters will then have to choose two of the three candidates.

As with the supervisor office, additional, new candidates (without party affiliation) could appear on the November ballot if they filed by the July 19 deadline.

The Three Pines Gander asked all candidates the following questions:

1. Why are you seeking the office of (Trustee/Treasurer/Clerk/Supervisor) in Pleasanton Township? 

2.  What previous experience in government do you have?  What relevant business experience do you have?  What is your occupation (or what occupation have you retired from)?  What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

3.  What are the two most urgent issues facing Pleasanton Township, in your opinion?  If elected to the position that you're seeking, how would you use your position to address those two issues?

4.  Your position may require reading a variety of ordinances, proposed legislation, minutes, correspondence and financial statements.  How many hours per week are you willing to spend on reading and research, outside of meetings?

5.  What are your hobbies?  What sorts of leisure activities do you pursue?

Two candidates responded to the questionnaire.  Their responses are supplied, as written, below.

David McNeilly

Background:

17 years in Public Education-Teacher-High School Principal- Superintendent

23 years State Farm Insurance agent serving Benzie and Manistee Area

6 years Manistee County Commissioner

4 years Pleasanton Township Trustee

            Served on the Board of Review and the Planning Commission

Why am I running?

I am running because Pleasanton Township needs a positive constructive, cooperative approach: one that encourages input and unites the Community.

What can I bring to the position?

I bring Experience and Integrity.

Most Important issue:

            Uniting the Community as Pleasanton Township addresses issues as they arise.

Dave Ertel

1.  To ensure that the Township Government treats all residents with respect and that all business brought before the Township Board is acted upon in the best manner for the resident's health, safety, welfare and also in a positive way to benefit the Township.

2.  I have served the last four years as a Trustee for Pleasanton Township.  My business background was in the machine tool industry in sales and purchasing.  I spent 27 years with Cincinnati Milacron which was the worlds largest machine tool company as a Senior Sales Project Engineer and 10 years as Materials Control Manager for Goldcrown Machinery a leading supplier of industrial grinding machines.  I graduated from the University of Cincinnati with an Associates Degree in Industrial Management.  I retired in 2006.

3.  The Townships Master Plan and Wind Energy ordinance are the two most urgent issues facing Pleasanton Township at the moment.  As the Master plan is a living document it is imperative that it contain sections that coincide with the Township's ordinances.  Therefore it needs to be brought up to date with a section dealing with all Natural Resources of which Wind Energy is a key part.  Once the Natural Resources section is finished then the Planning Commission can move forward with bringing the rest of the Master Plan up to date.  The Wind Energy ordinance needs to be completed in a manner that is fair to all residents, not just those with a special agenda.  It has been drug out far too long.  If re-elected I am going to push for the Township Board to give guidance to the Planning Commission to get both of these items completed in a timely manner.

4.  It is hard to estimate the time spent on Township business outside of Township meetings, however, over the last four years as a Trustee it would probably average about 20 hours a month.  This is not including attending other meetings, writing ordinances for the Township that I was requested to write by the Township Supervisor and other items.  Obviously, the real answer is how ever many hours it requires.

5.  My hobbies include Amateur Radio.  My wife and I both hold Extra Class licenses.  The other hobby I enjoy is fishing.  I am currently working with a friend designing and building fishing lures.  I spend as much time as possible on the lake fishing.


Carol Merrill sent the following response via email:

I have reconsidered answering your questioneer about running for office.  I explained in detail how my husband was related to Tony Merrill and instead of stating that you took a little piece of what I said and put it on your web page, so I have choosen not answer your questions but instead have sent my response to the News Advocate for their publication.

(Note:  The Three Pines Gander responded to Ms. Merrill's concern about how it reported her relationship to former Supervisor Tony Merrill.  We updated our June 27 story by changing our description of the relationship, to reflect Ms. Merrill's verbal comments.  We also added additional details at the end of the story.  After receiving her response, above, we invited her to supply us with her own description that best summarizes the family relationship, and to print the clarification verbatim.  We also welcomed her to submit her questionnaire responses if she so chose.  We did not receive a response to either offer.  --Eds.)

All candidates that appear on the November ballot will be invited by the Three Pines Gander to answer another questionnaire.

In addition to the political candidates, there is a millage proposal for Pleasanton Township, which is:

FIRE MILLAGE RENEWAL
Shall the previously established constitutional limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed each year for all purposes on real and personal property in Pleasanton Township be renewed so that the Township Board of Trustees is authorized to levy the amount previously authorized which, as reduced by required millage rollbacks, is currently 0.47860 mills ($0.4786 per $1,000 of the taxable value of such property) for a period of 4 years beginning with 2012 and running through the year 2015, inclusive, for the purpose of providing fire protection services in the township?

Said millage would generate estimated revenues of $22,372.80 in the first year.

The proposed millage is a renewal of a previously authorized millage.

YES 

NO

Complete election information, including candidates and proposals at the county, state and federal levels, can be found here:  https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/