Learn from History to Direct Your Vote
Dexter Township residents will choose a supervisor this election and party politics have nothing to do with their qualifications or expected agendas.
The last time James Drolett ran for re-election as supervisor, he was defeated by John Sdao, a complete novice to public service, because Mr. Drolett had lost his focus as a public servant.
Specifically, when the sewer project for Portage and Baseline Lakes, chaired by Mr. Drolett was before the public for consideration, the public was so distrustful of the representations made that a group was able to stop the project with a referendum vote, leaving Dexter Township holding the bag for the to-date project costs. The Township Trustees had to select a new representative, who Mr. Drolett voted against, to get things turned around so the objectors no longer were foes of the project and it then could be completed and Dexter Township get off the hook for project costs.
When the North Lake area folks indicated interest in a sewer, Mr. Drolett worked hard to make that happen, being able to draw on experience he had learned from the Portage-Base project. But the Township Trustees wouldn’t make Mr. Drolett one of four Dexter Township representatives on the Multi-Lakes Authority Board so the miffed Mr. Drolett let those inexperienced folks twist in the wind and screw up the start-up of that Authority. And that Authority is still struggling in part because of that.
One certainly hopes that one’s judgment would improve with age but it doesn’t look like it to this writer. Mr. Drolett now proposes that he as Township Supervisor elect and his wife Elizabeth Brushaber as Township Treasurer elect be a part of the Township Board of Trustees, with that household then having two or the seven votes on that Board. That does not appear to be good democratic representation for the rest of the township.
And while speaking of Ms. Brushaber, I note she wants “revisions” to the present zoning ordinance in her political posturing but also note that she has voted in favor or every change to replace the 1973 zoning ordinance including the 2003 first-edition that was defeated by another township referendum. Except for present Trustee incumbent Carl Lesser, the entire Board then approved another terrible new zoning ordinance with the notion we’ll fix it after it is in place. That’s like saying let’s drill for oil and then clean up the mess. This has been both time consuming and very expensive.
Our incumbent Supervisor, Pat Kelly was a part of this Board action but acknowledges the zoning ordinance “needs fixing” and feels some progress has been made and there is more to do. I think she has learned from the Board’s mistakes. And she is honest. I suggest we give her more string.
I am aware the “steeple people” feel Dexter Township gave the Methodist Church a hard time over zoning fees but they were only treating the church like any other applicant and apparently the church folks didn’t think that should be. No incumbent should be punished for following the law or being even-handed. If the law is wrong, change the law!
Dana Bullen is easily as qualified to be Township Treasurer as her opponent and does not come with the baggage that her husband will be Township Supervisor.
Tom Ehman
Portage Lake
