Newton Twp. Ballot To Have Full Candidate Slate

Rick Frisch

A full slate of candidates vying for seats on the Newton Township Board of Trustees will be narrowed down when approximately 345 registered township voters cast their ballots in the primary election August 5. Voters will consider the qualifications of 14 candidates seeking five seats on the board in the highly contested race.

The following candidate profiles were obtained from questionnaires sent by The St. Ignace News; photographs are published if available.

Township Supervisor

Running for supervisor are incumbent Bob Brotherton, Rick Frisch, John McNeil, and Jim France.

Candidate Rick Frisch, 48, a Republican, is a sales consultant for Curran Chevrolet in Manistique and the owner of Walters Antiques in Gould City. Mr. Frisch has been married to his wife, Laura, for 18 years, and the couple has three sons, Killian, 16, Connor, 13, and Carter, 9, all students at Engadine Consolidated Schools. Mr. Frisch has served four years as a trustee for the township, six years on the Engadine Consolidated Schools board, and he is assistant chief of the Newton Township Fire Department, where he has served for 15 years.

"Michigan townships, large and small," he said, "provide services tailored to meet the needs of their residents. Township officials represent the level of government closest and most responsive to the wishes of the people. Newton Township is no different, and I plan to listen to the needs of all residents and tailor my leadership to meet those needs.

"Newton Township has slowly depopulated over the past years," he said, "and one of my goals is to make it appealing to both businesses and residents who are looking to relocate to our area. Keeping our neighborhood clean and attractive is vital to the growth and success of our community. As a small business owner myself, I see the importance of bringing in and keeping businesses in our community and having the attraction for new businesses and residents.

"My other goal," said Mr. Frisch, "is to re-create a community in Newton Township. Recently, one sixth grade community member managed to raise enough money to completely renovate our township park. People from the entire township volunteered their time, equipment, and materials to make this little girl's dream materialize. That sends a message to all of us on the power of teamwork. I plan, as the leader of Newton Township, to initiate a sense of community and continue on the energy of what can be accomplished by working together.

"I am a believer in committees and special projects to make our township a wonderful place to live and raise a family. By creating a philosophy of working together for a common cause, my hope is to meet the needs of all Newton Township residents.

"My plan as Supervisor of Newton Township," he continued, "is to listen and tailor my leadership skills to promote growth, create an environment that attracts new businesses and residents, a sense of community spirit, and a long term plan of working together for a better community."

Candidate John McNeil, 63, a Democrat, is a carpenter and chairman of the Scott Point Tribe of American Aboriginals. He and his wife, Carolyn, have two children, Russell and Carol.

"I personally know virtually every resident of Newton Township," he said, "and I understand their concerns and problems, because they are my concerns and problems, too. I was born and raised in Gould City, and my parents and grandparents were born and raised in Gould City. I volunteer for community programs and projects, and I will live in Gould City the rest of my life.

"I want to bring positive changes to Newton Township government," he said, "by working toward more services for township residents, such as better road maintenance, greater access to our township board through regular office hours at the township hall for the convenience of residents, and assisting with managing the clean-up and restoration of our once-beautiful township park on Lake Michigan and our once-beautiful township cemetery.

"Further, I will use my position of township supervisor to negotiate with the Inland Quarry management an appropriate number of jobs specifically targeted for our township residents, so our little community and our residents can thrive, and our children and grandchildren can stay here and have good jobs. Currently, this company digs out millions of tons of ore from our township land for great profit to them and they employ over 100 people, and not one of them lives in our community, so as supervisor I will work to quickly change this unfair and one-sided situation. Additionally, this international conglomerate provides millions of dollars to local communities yearly for public projects, in several communi- ties in Michigan, in towns in Canada, and in other parts of the world. They have never provided any dollars for Newton Township public projects, so as supervisor I will ensure they include our township in their yearly appropriations of dollars to local communities."

Rising taxes and fewer services, he said, is a major issue which he intends to reverse.

Candidate Mahlon "Jim" France, 68, a Republican, is retired with about 30 years of law enforcement experience. He is a high school graduate and has taken many college classes. Mr. France has been married for 47 years. He and his wife have two children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

"I believe I can make a difference

as supervisor," he said. "I also believe our tax dollars are not benefiting

the residents as well as they should. I would like to see bids going to local residents who qualify before being opened to other areas. I would like to entice new businesses to move to our community."

Needed road improvements and beautification of the cemetery, he said, are projects that should be a major focus of the board.

Township Clerk

Incumbent Alice Zdebski, 62, a Democrat, is the owner of Green Gables Resort on Milakokia Lake, along with her husband, Jim. The couple has three children and six grandchildren. Mrs. Zbedski has been township clerk since 1992. She has an Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in accounting from West Shore Community College. She has taken computer classes and attended classes offered by Michigan Townships Association that relate to her clerk responsibilities. She has served as secretary/treasurer and president of the Mackinac County chapter of the Michigan Townships Association. Sponsored by the Michigan Townships Association, she has taught a class to new clerks about their duties.

"Since 9-11," she said, "it is imperative that local communities receive their fair share of funds to equip and train our emergency department so that we can respond to any situation that may be warranted. With 16 years experience as Newton Township clerk, I fee that I can provide the honest, qualified leadership that is needed to help our community keep up to date with current requirements. I have continued my education to keep the township up to date with new programs and laws through the Michigan Townships Association.

"I feel we need to be able to maintain our fire department and emergency services with our present funds. It is difficult to provide these services with the township's dwindling revenues from the state."

Township funds, she said, are further stretched as the county road commission continues to ask for assistance in maintaining township roads.

Candidate JoLynn Brawley, 46, a Republican, and her husband, Martin, have one son, Trevor. Mrs. Brawley has 14 years experience as a secretarial/administrative assistant in construction management. She also knows various computer programs, she said.

"I am raising a nine-year-old son," she said. "The Brawley family has resided here for many years. My son is the fourth generation, and I would like to see that the township grows with pride and makes our kids proud to live here."

She would like the clerk to be more accessible and in her questionnaire, pointed out "availability/contact resolutions with existing clerk."

Township Treasurer

Incumbent Marilyn Strickland, a Republican, has been married for 39 years to her husband, Frederick. She has an Associate's Degree in Applied Science, a certificate in accounting, and she has taken 12 computer courses offered by Michigan Technological University and Bay de Noc Community College.

"I have always been interested in the community. I was the building inspector, I served on the board of review, was an active firefighter, and an emergency medical technician for our township over the recent years, and last, the township treasurer," she said.

Mrs. Strickland said she would like to see the township "work together as a well organized community."

Township Trustee (two seats)

Running for two trustee seats are Marilyn McArthur, Donald McNeil, Rachel McNeil, George Tremblay, Kurt Doepke, Kirk Grinnell, and Nikki Tremblay.

Candidate Marilyn McArthur, 69, a Republican, and her husband, Don, have five children. She is a homemaker, has been a member of the Engadine Consolidated Schools board for 13 years, and president of the Newton Township Fire Department Auxiliary for 25 years.

"I was raised in Newton Township," she said, "and have always been active in the community. I believe I can make a difference on the board. The board should be interested in all aspects of the township."

She cites the condition, maintenance, and improvement of roads, the upkeep of local parks, and the need for recreation as major issues the township is facing.

Candidate Rachel McNeil, 74, a Republican, is retired from the State of Michigan as an aide for the Jacobetti Veterans facility in Marquette. She has been married for 54 years, has seven children, 10 grandchildren, and three greatgrandchildren. Mrs. McNeil was graduated from Gould City High School.

"I think it is time our township has new ideas and new blood," she said. "I think we need a change in our township. I think we need somebody with different ideas."

"I would like to bring our town back to life," said Mrs. McNeil. "Basically, we are considered a ghost town and I think we have a lot to offer the area."

Candidate George Tremblay, 53, a Republican, is a high school graduate who is a licensed builder, carpenter, and business owner. He is trained, active, and enjoys being a member of the township fire department, he said.

"As a business owner in the township, I feel it is important to stay involved in local matters. My goal is to help better the community by supporting local business and promoting new. As a relatively new resident to the area, I hope for change, but more so for progress. I feel that I can remain fair and impartial on township issues."

Mr. Tremblay would like to see a program established that would encourage new families and business to the township and welcome them to the community. Snowmobile and off road vehicle trails, he said, should be expanded

Candidate Nikki Tremblay, a Democrat, was born and reared in Gould City and offers a perspective on the changes seen in the community through the years.

"It is a very good thing," she said, "to have new people in the area and new ideas so we don't get too set in our ways. But I feel it is also important to have a voice from the old days on our township board. People here are lately becoming more civic minded after years of apathy, and I would like to help in continuing that trend."