Steve Porter’s a man who wears many hats.
He’s a church pastor, police dispatcher, small business owner and a local Realtor.
Now, the 61-year-old lifelong Addison resident is looking to be the next District 1 representative on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
‘I am not afraid of a challenge,? Porter said. ‘I think difficult decisions need to be made and I’m ready to help make those decisions.?
Porter, who’s pastor of Leonard Community Church, will square off in the August Republican primary election against Oxford Village Councilman Tony Albensi and Oxford Township Trustee Joe Bunting.
‘I believe that as a conservative Republican, I’m the strongest candidate that has stepped forward so far,? said the 1967 Oxford High School graduate. ‘I’m for small government, local control, fiscal responsibility and I’m a small business advocate.?
The current District 1 county commissioner, Brad Jacobsen (R-Oxford), won’t be seeking re-election because he’s running for the 46th District seat in the Michigan State House of Representatives.
District 1, which consists of about 48,000 residents, includes Oxford, Addison, Brandon and Groveland townships, plus the villages of Oxford, Leonard and Ortonville. It also encompasses two voting precincts in Independence Township.
Porter is certainly no stranger to the inner workings of local government.
He continues to work as a part-time dispatcher for the Oxford Village Police Department, a position he’s held for the last 25 years, and as one of two police chaplains.
‘I really enjoy serving people,? Porter Assaid. ‘Dispatching can be a few hours of boredom, but then there’s that 9-1-1 call where somebody needs help and it’s a real joy to get somebody where they need to be.?
If elected, Porter’s unsure if he’d give up being a dispatcher, but he knows he ‘wouldn’t let it interfere with my job as a commissioner.?
Out in Addison, Porter served as deputy township treasurer for several years under his late father-in-law, Ray Terry, who was treasurer for 20 years. He also served on Addison’s Zoning Board of Appeals in the late 1980s and on the library board of trustees in the late 1990s.
Outside the public sector, Porter’s got plenty of experience as a local businessman, which he believes would be an asset if elected commissioner.
As the owner of Porter’s Contracted Services, he’s done everything from medical billing for physicians to construction work. He also works as a Realtor for Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty in Oxford.
‘I know firsthand what the economy’s done to small businesses,? Porter said. ‘I’ve had to meet payroll. I’ve had to adjust budgets.?
While working for Rydin & Associates, a consulting firm in Troy, Porter gained almost four years of experience helping businesses streamline and reorganize their operations to become more profitable and functional.
‘I feel we need somebody with a business background (on the county board),? he said. ‘I feel well-qualified to stand strong and help (county Executive L. Brooks Patterson) keep our county in the best shape that we can financially.?
To Porter, one of the biggest challenges facing the county is how to attract businesses here, so they can provide jobs.
He believes the best way to do that is to ‘create an environment in which small businessmen can invest again in their companies.? Such an environment is created by lessening or removing the tax burden on small businesses.
‘I would like to see the personal property tax removed,? Porter said. ‘If small businesses could put money into people rather than into taxes, our economy would be affected fairly quickly.?
As a church pastor since 1986, Porter brings a spiritual dimension to this county commissioner’s race that usually isn’t found in local politics. But Porter assured there wouldn’t be a conflict between his ministerial and governmental duties, if elected.
‘I don’t think it will interfere,? he said. ‘The only affect that my religion will have is my faith has defined me. I am a servant. I want to help people and that’s how it’s going to affect me in being a county commissioner. I am not out to build my church there. I am not out to preach. I’m out to serve the people.?
Residents wishing to learn more about Porter can reach him at steve4commissioner@yahoo.com.