Addison Township’s top officials – Supervisor Robert Koski, Clerk Pauline Bennett and Treasurer Dan Alberty – currently stand uncontested for their offices in the August 3 Republican Primary; however, the trustee seats for the board will see some tight competition.
The deadline to file nominating petitions for the primary election passed at 4 p.m. on May 11. As of that time, seven individuals had filed for the four available trustee seats including incumbents John D. Sutphin, Ed Brakefield, and challengers Harold Klein, Philip Stackpoole, Claudia Vondrak, Christine Sypitkowski and Deanna Burns. Current trustees Sandra Campbell and Patricia Eisenhardt did not file petitions for the primary.
Supervisor
Supervisor Andrew Robert Koski, 70, has been supervisor for Addison Township for the past 12 years, but still doesn’t feel he has accomplished everything he can for the community.
‘I’m running again because I still have projects I want to finish and that I feel are important,? said Koski. ‘Especially some parks and recreation projects. Even if we don’t need the parks or recreation now, now is the time to do them while they’re affordable, not later when the costs go up and parceling a piece here or there.?
Koski has lived in Addison Twp. for 38 years. He moved to the area with his wife Katherine, now deceased, and their three children, Andrew, 35, Karen Ann, 40 and Axel, 32. Before becoming township supervisor, Koski owned his own tool and die shop, now run by his sons, in Leonard.
‘The most important issue to me in the township is to maintain the rural atmosphere,? said Koski. ‘That rural atmosphere is a way of life, and a way of preserving what we have here in Addison.?
Clerk
Clerk Pauline Bennett is a lifelong resident of Addison Township who decided to run again because she loves what she does.
‘I enjoy working with the residents and enjoy my job,? explained Bennett simply.
The mother of two and grandmother of one, Bennett has been township clerk for the past eight years. Before running for office, she was co-owner of Angie’s Kitchen in Addison Township for 16 years.
Bennett has been highly involved over the years in land development issues, such as maintaining the township’s rural atmosphere while still protecting the owner’s property rights, but highest on her list of priorities is the township residents.
‘I listen and I act,? said Bennett. ‘As a clerk, there are multiple duties and one of those is listening to people and assisting them with their problems, and in order to assist your residents, you have to be a good listener.?
Treasurer
‘I’m running again because I enjoy working with the staff and people in the township,? said Treasurer Dan Alberty. ‘And I’ve enjoyed bringing the township into the 21st Century technologically.?
Daniel A. Alberty, 59, is just completing his first four-year term as Addison Township treasurer. He has lived in the area since 1983 with his wife Kathleen. The couple have two children, Daniel, 33, and April Mary, 29, and two grandchildren, Lauren and Miranda.
Alberty is retired after working for 33 years as an auditor and branch manager for the federal government. He has over 10 years experience with the Addison Township Zoning Board of Appeals and feels his experience will continue to aid him in dealing with township issues.
‘I’m most concerned with controlling development, not stopping it, just controlling it so that we are not taxing our infrastructure,? he stated. ‘I’ve been dealing with issues such as this for years and want to continue striving to make Addison Township the best it can be.?
Trustees
Incumbent John Sutphin, 69, decided to run again for Addison Township trustee ‘because I love the township. I have a high regard for the township. It’s been a wonderful place to live and I want to make sure it stays that way for future generations.?
Sutphin and his wife Joyce have lived in Addison for 40 years. The couple have three children, John, 49, Scott, 47 and Kirk, 35, and four grandchildren. Sutphin retired from Michigan Bell in 1990, retired after 14 years on the Fire and Police Administration Board and has served as an Addison trustee for the past four years.
‘The most important thing to me is to maintain the rural atmosphere of the township,? he explained. ‘I want to make it clear to all the residents that I work for them and I will continue to serve with honesty and integrity.?
Incumbent Ed Brakefield, 53, moved to Addison Township 28 years ago with his wife Catherine. Today, the couple have two children – Derek, 22, and Kim, 26 – and one grandchild, Zander, three months; and they still love the quiet, rural character of their home.
‘I’m running again because I want to keep the rural character of Addison Township to the best of my ability,? said Brakefield. ‘I want to maintain development where it should be, and not allow it to run rampant through the township.?
Brakefield works as a sales/proposals person for United Industrial Engineering. He is also president of Creative Insights, Inc. In addition, Brakefield is an Addison Township planning commissioner and the board representative for the Polly Ann Trail Commission.
‘For the last eight years I have proven that I’m honest and trustworthy,? said Brakefield. ‘The most important point to me is that I maintain I will stay that way for the citizens of Addison Township.?
Five new faces have decided to throw their hats into the trustee pool.
Deanna K. Burns, 40, is no stranger to running or holding a public office. Four years ago she ran for Addison Township treasurer, and today she is the deputy supervisor for Oxford Township.
‘I love what I’m doing now, so I’m trying again,? said Burns. ‘I want to give back to the community I live in. I want to give them my heart and soul. I’m hoping to have an opportunity to prove myself.?
Burns is a 1982 graduate of Oxford High School. She grew up in Oxford Township and moved to Addison 15 years ago with her life parent David Cushing. The couple have raised two boys, Bradley, 24 and Timothy, 23.
Burns feels that her experience in Oxford Township, which includes grant writing and completing the Township Government Academy this November, will give her an in-depth and unique perspective. She feels strongly about ‘giving the tax payers something for their money? and would like to help in finding original solutions to township issues.
‘It’s time to stir up the pot and get rid of the slate,? said Burns. ‘To come in with fresh, new ideas without taking from the pockets of the community. I can do it.?
Claudia VonDrak, 57, also has plenty of experience in township government. She has been active in the Addison Township Friends of the Library for the past two years, including serving as president; she is a board member for the Oakland Land Conservancy; she is a member of the Senior Advisory Council for the Oakland-Livingston Human Services Agency (OLHSA); and was recently elected as a replacement board member for the Health and Disability Board of the OLHSA.
‘I decided to run because I feel that Addison Township is such a wonderful community to live in,? said VonDrak. ‘I fell that with all of this experience and knowledge, I can represent the issues, concerns and needs of the residents well.?
A retired information technology supervisor for Daimler-Chrysler, VonDrak has worked for the past year as an independent care manager. She has lived in Addison Township for the past four years, but has actually been a property owner in the area for five – she spent a year renovating an old property on Peninsula Drive.
‘The most important issue to me is that we understand and appreciate what we have in our backyards and that we work continually to preserve and improve that,? said Vondrak.
‘I am always available and willing to listen and consider the residents needs, their opinions and their perspective,? she added. ‘I will hold these opinions in the highest regard as I work with the other Addison Township trustees to come to the best decision we possibly can for the community as a whole.?
Phil Stackpoole, 62, decided to run so that Addison Township residents can have access to a fresh opinion: ‘I think there’s a need for some new blood on the township board with some new ideas.?
Stackpoole and his wife Marlene moved to Addison 12 years ago with their children Meghan, 38, Jennifer, 36 and Peter, 34. Today, Stackpoole is a grandfather of three retired from over 20 years in industrial sales. In addition, he has experience on the fireboard, and worked as an accounting teacher from 1965-1978.
When talking about issues concerning Addison Township, finances are at the top of this resident’s list. Stackpoole said he would like to see the budget brought more under control, matching the income with the expenditures, and for officials to pursue more outside funding, such as grants available for just townships.
‘One thing I would tell anyone is that I would work hard,? said Stackpoole. ‘I would do my best at gathering information and I would do my best to make the most informed decision from the information available.?
Harold Klein, 70, has been a resident of Addison Township since 1956. He and his wife Louise have two children – Randy, 47, and Cindy, 44 – and two grandchildren. Klein retired from skilled trades at Ford Motor Company in 1985. He also worked for the Oxford Police Department from 1968-1980.
Christine Sypitkowski, 52, has lived in Addison Township for the past eight years, and been active in area issues as a planning commissioner for the past four. She is a family physician with her own practice, The Country Doctor Family Practice, P.C., in Lake Orion.
Sypitkowski said that the idea to run for trustee did not actually begin with her.
‘I was asked by some people if I would consider running,? she explained. ‘They saw me on the planning commission and thought I would be good in that position.?
After thinking about the responsibilities involved, Sypitkowski decided that being a trustee would help her to make more of an impact in the community she loves.
‘The most important issue to me is trying to maintain Addison Township as a rural oasis,? she said. ‘That’s why I came here and that’s why I find Addison Township to be an amazing place to live.?
‘If I could say just one thing to someone, it would be that I care about Addison Township.?
In addition to the trustee positions and three township offices, a total of eight individuals have petitioned to be on the Addison Township Library Board: Richard Feuerbach, Jerald Thomas, Paul Woodring, Nina Cjccolini, Susan Scasny James, Sandra Craddock, Karen Koski and Esther Reynolds.