Four Candidates Running for Two Seats on Hendricks Twp. Board; Road Millage on Ballot
By Paul Gingras

Pearl Caswell

Four candidates are seeking two open seats on the Hendricks Township Board of Trustees. Three will appear on the Tuesday, August 5, primary ballot, which is a race between Democrats and Republicans. The fourth, an Independent candidate, will be on the general election ballot this fall. Remaining positions are uncontested.

All positions are four years.

Running for trustee seats are incumbent Republican Jack Rutledge, Democrat Howard Hood, Republican Pearl Caswell, and Independent Ronald Frazier. Current Republican trustee Russell Nelson is running unopposed for the township supervisor position. Republican Barbara Price is running unopposed for the clerk position, and incumbent Democrat Bernice Hood is running unopposed for the treasurer position. Republican Jerry Eifler is running unopposed for the constable position.

Also on the ballot with be a road millage renewal. The township seeks three mills, to be collected 2009 through 2012. Estimated revenue from the tax for the first year is $23,585.

The following candidates responded to questionnaires sent by The St. Ignace News; photographs are printed if available.

Board of Trustees candidates

Pearl "Dovie" Caswell Ms. Caswell, 67, is a Republican seeking a trustee position. She served on the Brampton Township Board of Trustees for five years.

After being graduated from high school, she completed two years at Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba.

Ms. Caswell, retired, was a chef for 54 years. She is also a cookbook author.

Her family includes her mother, one son, three brothers, and four sisters.

She is running for a trustee position because, like all communities, Hendricks Township needs new ideas to improve and build the community, she said.

"We have always had a great board, but it does not hurt to have fresh ideas," she said.

Two issues facing the township are the need for an new electrical inspector and a need for the community to be recognized, she said.

Anything that will help the community is something she will consider, Ms. Caswell said. To promote the community, for example, she would like to have a sign placed in view of US-2 that welcomes visitors to Epoufette, a township village.

Howard Hood

Mr. Hood, 43, is a Democrat seeking a trustee position. A lifelong area resident, and 1984 graduate of Engadine High School, he is now a heavy equipment operator for the Mackinac County Road Commission.

His wife is Cheryl Hood. His children are Grayson, Phillip, and Aspen.

Mr. Hood seeks membership on the board "to make a difference in our small township," he told The St. Ignace News. Critical issues to the municipality include maintaining roads and the need to consider any issue that can benefit the municipality, he said.

Jack Rutledge Mr. Rutledge, 43, is a Republican running for a township trustee posi- tion. A LaSalle High School graduate, he is now foreman at DeWyse Construction in Engadine. He has a wife, Dani, and two daughters, Shauni and Kacie.

Mr. Rutledge is running for office to regulate how township money is spent, he said, to benefit all taxpayers. Two major issues facing the municipality include zoning and creating a balanced budget, he said.