After months of legwork and debate, residents of Independence Township voted for a mixed bag of candidates to run the next township board.
Of about 26,000 registered voters, 3,919 made it to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1,262 less than in 2004. However, 612 more voted absentee this time.
‘It was a good turnout, didn’t have too many problems and of course, this time of year the ballots swell a little. Sometimes we have problems with our tabulators, but all in all it was good,? said Sandy Miller, elections administrator for Independence Township.
For supervisor, incumbent Dave Wagner beat out Trustee Dan Travis by 483 votes, 11.66 percent.
‘I’m very happy,? said Wagner. ‘When they voted me in, it was by a substantial amount against someone who is well known in the community, so the people of the township do think I am doing a good job and it was very gratifying to see the amount of votes that I did get. I look forward to four more years.?
Travis said he and his six member team ran a ‘straightforward campaign.?
‘We just missed by about 500 people, gaining enough understanding what we are about with the idea of a professional administrator within the township offices, supporting the township board with their decisions and policy making, but helping them with the day to day,? he said.
Travis still sees the need for a human resource manager. With the addition of Neil Wallace and David Lohmeir to the board, some of their issues will hopefully be implemented, such as budgeting on a monthly basis, he said.
He also noted he was very proud of team members and enjoyed all the meet-and-greets and question-and-answer? sessions with people in the township.
‘We all learned too, and it was kind of a sharing experience. I’m proud and grateful for all the people who did support me by voting for me. I hope they will continue their government interest locally,? said Travis. ‘I’ve been a leader for a lot of years and I’m proud of everything I’ve done. I have nothing to be ashamed of in any way, shape, or form. It’s my community service and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.?
Incumbent Shelagh VanderVeen beat out Joseph Lawrence by 1,041 votes, 25.15 percent.
‘In the race for Independence Township clerk, I worked very hard, walked many miles door-to-door in our neighborhoods, and ran a vigorous, professional, fair, and clean campaign, but in the end, I unfortunately lost to the incumbent,? said Lawrence. ‘As a first-time candidate, I think the results show I was deadly serious in my effort to win the township clerk position, and, although disappointed in losing the election, I was pleased by the level of support I received.?
Lawrence said he was not sure if he would run again.
‘I’ll certainly be following closely how well our township, and its board, functions under the new regime before making any decision,? he said.
VanderVeen was unavailable for comment.
Curt Carson came out top for treasurer, above Jeff McGee, Cheryl Karrick, and Sandy Dubre. Carson beat runner-up McGee by 430 votes, 10.57 percent.
‘It’s great ? we’ve got some work to do. I really enjoyed being out there. I had great competition and I feel honored the people picked me,? said Carson. “I’m ready to do positive things for the township and get things done.?
McGee said it was obvious Carson ‘probably worked? a little harder, but he doesn’t think it’s an indication people were not interested in the manager idea, as some have suggested.
‘We basically ran on a platform indicating what our intentions were. We could have done it the other way easily and done it once we got into office, but we felt inclined to run on the basis of what our intentions were,? he said.
‘The fact that three in our group made it in or retained their spot is an indication that they’re going to do what they can do to make a difference on the board. I think you’ve got some good people there. I’m sure they’ll make a difference.?
For the township’s four trustees, the public picked Larry Rosso, Neil Wallace, Mark Petterson, and David Lohmeier, over incumbent Charles Dunn, Andrea Schroeder, Sam Moraco, Bart Clark, and Dale Massey.
Rosso said he was grateful to all the voters.
“I guess many of my constituents saw fit for me to get re-elected. Apparently most thought I must be doing a good job to elect me for my fourth term,? he said.
‘I really appreciate all the people I’ve come in contact with, not just through this campaign but the entire time I’ve been living in the community and Independence Township.?
Rosso said he is looking forward to new challenges ahead.
‘There will be plenty of those and working with the members of the new board as well as those who were re-elected,? he said.
Petterson said he was pleased with the outcome.
‘I’m very honored and truly humbled that the residents of Independence have chosen me to be a representative of the community,” he said.
“I am overjoyed to be under the excellent tutelage of the very distinguished Larry Rosso. I’m just looking forward to working with other board members, so we can create a working atmosphere where we can give the residents the highest quality of life possible that they so very much deserve. Putting all personal feelings aside, it’s time to get down, roll up your sleeves, and get go to the business of running the township.?
Lohmeier said “it was fun? to find out he won.
‘I was very excited and I’m honored to be elected, but I’m also disappointed for some of the folks I’ve been working with for so long and ran with. It was kind of bittersweet on election night. I’m going to miss some of the folks that were so committed, especially Dan Travis ? that’s going to be a tough one. He just brings a certain element that nobody else does. He just has all that generational knowledge.?
However, Lohmeier said he was glad three members of the slate got in, showing not everyone was opposed to the manager idea.
‘I’m not giving up the township manager idea, I think it’s the right way to go. Probably a longer execution path than bringing everybody in, but it made me feel good,? he said. ‘If none of us would have gotten on, I would have really questioned if people were understanding the value.?
He also noted he was very proud of the ‘morale and general attitude? at each of the polls he visited.
‘We had so many contested races, the judicial one, township and state congress. Every one I went to, people were nice, sharing cold water, I didn’t see any arguments or incivility. I thought that was really a nice statement for the community, that everybody was so civil out there,? said Lohmeier.
‘It was very heartwarming feeling, that you have differences of opinions but you can still be polite to each other at the polls.?
Wallace had no comment.
Lohmeier beat runner-up Dunn by 108 votes, 0.10 percent.
‘All the trustees that ran were certainly well qualified and would have done a great job,? said Dunn. ‘To those who got elected, I think they’ll do a fine job and their hard work in campaigning paid off.?

Independence Township election results

SUPERVISOR
David Wagner, 2,313, 55.82%
*Daniel F. Travis, 1,830, 44.16%
Write-in, 1, 0.02%
Total, 4,144
CLERK
*Shelagh Vanderveen, 2,589, 62.54%
Joseph Lawrence, 1,548, 37.39%
Write-in, 3, 0.08%
Total, 3,703
TREASURER
Curt Carson, 1,579, 38.83%
*Jeff McGee, 1,149, 28.26%
Cheryl Karrick, 745, 18.32%
Sandy Dubre, 591, 14.54%
Write-in, 2, 0.05%
Total, 4,066
TRUSTEE (top four)
Larry Rosso, 1,782, 13.48%
*Neil Wallace, 1,744, 13.19%
Mark A. Petterson, 1,627, 12.31%
*David Lohmeier, 1,614, 12.21%
Charles Dunn, 1,506, 11.39%
Andrea Schroeder, 1,476, 11.16%
Sam Moraco, 1,453, 10.99%
*Bart L. Clark, 1,304, 9.86%
Dale Allan Massey, 708, 5.35%
Write-in, 8, 0.06%
Total, 13,222

All candidates ran as Republicans.
* Members of the slate for change,
to hire a township manager