Portage Twp. Ballot Will Include Millage Proposals and Races for Supervisor, Teasurer, Trustees
By Paul Gingras

Donna O'Grady

There are three contested races for four-year seats on the Portage Township Board of Trustees in the Tuesday, August 5, primary. Area residents will vote for their preferred candidates, whether to renew two road millages, and whether to renew a fire and ambulance operation millage.

For the township supervisor position, incumbent Republican Donald Ferris is running against Democrat Donna O'Grady and Republican Harold Reeves. For treasurer, incumbent Democrat Nancy Kister is running against Republican Nancy Seegert and Democrat Bradley Kohvakka. Candidates for two trustee positions include incumbent Republican Mark Devereaux, incumbent Republican Patrick Abram, Republican Shirley Gehrett, Republican Jeffrey Burton, and Democrat Mike Soder.

The first road millage up for renewal is for one mill, to be levied in 2009 and 2010.

Revenue estimated for the first years is $72,447.07.

The second, also for county road improvements, is for two mills. It is to be levied in 2009 and 2010. Revenue for the first year is expected to be $144,894.14.

The third millage, to be levied in 2009 and 2010, is two mills to provide operational funds for fire and ambulance services; 1.5 mills are for the ambulance corps, 0.5 mills support the fire department.

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

Donna O'Grady

Mrs. O'Grady is a Democrat running for township supervisor. She is a retired former director of Isabella County Human Services. She has more than 28 years experience as a Michigan public servant, she said.

She served as county director for state social services for three years, supervised case workers for 12 years, was a social services case worker for four years, supervised volunteer services for four years, and provided oversight for Michigan assistance payment programs for five years. She is experienced in grant writing, and owned a small business for 19 years.

In addition, she served in volunteer positions as president, campaign chairperson, and board member of the Crawford County United Way, served on the Grayling Township Compensation Committee for four years, and was a mentor for Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy for one year.

Locally, Mrs. O'Grady volunteers for the Curtis Independence Day Committee, the Curtis Area Chamber of Commerce, the Portage Township Parks and Recreation Committee, the Three Lakes Area Education Committee, the Curtis Garden Club, and the Curtis Octoberfest Committee.

Married to retired Michigan State Police Sergeant Patrick O'Grady, she has three sons and nine grandchildren.

Mrs. O'Grady is running for office because she cares deeply for her community, she said.

"I have been a taxpayer in Portage Township for 24 years. I have lived all over the state of Michigan and chose Curtis as my retirement home. I am very active in this community and believe I have the leadership skills and experience necessary to ensure a prosperous community," she told The St. Ignace News.

Stressing strong connections between area citizens, notably area youth, she focuses on community organizations and township government.

"Our township needs to ensure that we have good public schools, a place for family, safe streets, and a sense of community to make Portage Township a desirable place to live," she said.

To achieve these goals, Mrs. O'Grady said coalitions are needed to ensure a healthy community.

"That will require skills in collaboration, team building, and reaching consensuses," she said.

The state of area lakes, notably water quality and lake levels, is a critical issue for Portage Township, she said. She has pledged to work with citizens and state agencies to ensure clean water and appropriate levels.

Another critical issue is the closure of Curtis Elementary School. She has promised to work to resolve whether the township or the Tahquamenon School District owns the building and to assist in any way possible to have the school reopened.

A third issue, equally important to Mrs. O'Grady, is the condition of area roads. To ensure that important road projects are complete, she stresses stronger partnership with the Mackinac County Road Commission.

Donald Ferris

Mr. Ferris, 72, is a Republican running for reelection as township supervisor. He was graduated from Tahquamenon Area Schools and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, a master's degree in education, and he has taken a variety of additional classes.

Now retired, Mr. Ferris has been Portage Township supervisor for more than four years.

"In that time we have solved various problems, human and technical," he said.

The township board has upgraded fire and ambulance services, roads, and township facilities, however, Mr. Ferris feels there is more to do in these areas. Parks, recreation, and zoning issues need to be addressed, also, he said.

"I would like to have one more term to work on these upgrades as well as on protection of our lakes and to help establish an elementary school in some form," he added.

Making Portage Township more attractive to new businesses is a major issue in the area. New business are needed to provide jobs, especially for young citizens, Mr. Ferris said.

Improving area roads is another major issue for the township, he added.

Jeffrey Burton

Mr. Burton, 34, is a Republican running for a township trustee position. He was educated at Tahquamenon Area Schools and Lake Superior State University. He is a lifetime resident of Curtis and has served 16 years on the Portage Township Fire Department, where he is now assistant chief.

He is a salesman and has a son, Jacob T. Burton, 14.

"I am running for office because I feel I can benefit the community," he said. "I have lived my entire life in Curtis. I have seen many changes, some good, so not so good, and that is where I feel I can affect the future of our unique and beautiful township, our community."

Mr. Burton has attended every monthly board meeting for the last several years, he said.

"I have seen money, time, and energy wasted, with no good outcome. I have seen Band-Aids put on real problems, without any effective change," he said.

Although Mr. Burton acknowledges that the township government has put in effort, he said he has seen the present board "stagnate."

"I feel that it is time for a change on our township board," he said. "We need to seek answers to longstanding problems. We need to get a refreshed look at our community. We need new thoughts to help our township grow, while still seeking to keep our uniqueness. I feel I am the person who can do this."

Two major issues in the township include roads and preserving the unique community and surrounding areas.

"The roads in our township have been a point of issue for many years," he said. "We have roads that, at times, are impassible. We have our main street flooded on a regular basis and potholes that cause a constant problem. We need to seek funding to improve theses conditions."

"We live in a unique community," he added. "We need growth, but at the same time we want to preserve the life we love. These are serious concerns that have to be dealt with."

Mark Devereaux

Mr. Devereaux, 56, is a Republican seeking reelection as a township trustee. He is retired, has two sons, and has completed one year of college.

He is running for office, in part, because he would like to see all area roads paved or at least become good gravel roads. He also seeks to continue township efforts to establish a legal water level for South Manistique Lake.

Mr. Devereaux seeks to "help the board and the community be the best it can be," he said.

Two major issues in the township include the closing of Curtis Elementary School and the need for a sewer system along South Manistique Lake, he added.

Mike Soder

Mike Soder, 52, is a Democrat seeking a seat as a township trustee. He is owner of the Fish and Hunt Shop in Curtis and the Sunset Pointe Resort.

A graduate of Newberry High School, Mr. Soder has served on the township board in the past. He is a member of the board of directors for the Curtis Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. He a member of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Solid Waste Management Authority and serves on the local ambulance corps.

In addition to these roles, Mr. Soder seeks to serve the community directly as township trustee. He plans to focus on the area's longterm needs. The board needs to focus on short-term as well as longterm issues, he said.

The Curtis and Manistique Lakes area is one of the only localities in the Eastern Upper Peninsula experiencing economic growth, so major issues in the area relate to this. Some include road matters, emergency services, and the need for a sewer system in Curtis, he said.

One way he intends to help is by pushing for grant funding.

The fire department and ambulance corps will eventually need new buildings, he said. He plans push to reopen Curtis Elementary, either as a public or charter school.

Another major issue for the municipality is the reality that it has developed into both a retirement and a resort community. Despite different interests, everyone must work hand in hand for the betterment of the area, he said.

Fortunately, the area has a wealth of talented, civic-minded residents, as reflected by organizations such as the Lions Club, the local arts committee, the Chamber of Commerce, and others, he said.

Marcia McDonald

Mrs. McDonald, 63, is a Republican running for reelection as township clerk. Her family resides in the Grand Rapids area.

A high school graduate, she went on to take college courses, including several classes in governmental accounting, and two years toward governmental clerk certification. She has attended Michigan Townships Association seminars and meetings and earned national certification as a professional in human resource management.

Addressing her reasons for seeking office, she pointed out she has served the community as treasurer and clerk for the past 10 years.

"My commitment to this community remains very strong," she said. "As the laws directing our work continue to change, the way we accomplish the goals this community has set for itself will change, as well. We need officials who are willing to study these changes and find the best ways for our community to continue to grow and benefit. I feel that I am well qualified for this task, based on many years of experience. I appreciate the confidence the community has placed in me, and I promise to serve in their best interests for another term."

State-mandated rules for elections amount to a major issue facing the clerk's office, she said.

"Changes in technology make it difficult for smaller communities to keep pace with the financial burdens required, such as purchasing laptop computers and replacing electronic voting equipment. We are currently working within the state's voter registration file. Rural communities with fire numbers for addresses and post office boxes for mail delivery are at a disadvantage in this system. Voter registration information is now tied to driver's license information, requiring constant follow-up and research into address information," Mrs. McDonald said.

"Major issues facing our community include the status of state revenue sharing, maintaining our natural resources, the closing of our school, as well as the financial issues facing our businesses and residents, to name just a few," she said.

Nancy Seegert

Mrs. Seegert, 55, is a republican running for township treasurer. She is employed by the township as deputy clerk, and she is the local planning commission's recording secretary.

Married to Garland Seegert for 34.5 years, she has three children and two grandchildren. All of them live in Ohio.

Mrs. Seegert went to a vocational high school. She studied accounting and worked as a bookkeeper for 18 years at an insurance company. She was treasurer of a bowling league for 15 years, prior to moving to the area.

She is running, in part, at the recommendation of area residents who feel she would do well in the position, she explained.

"I am a team worker and give 100% to my job," she said.

Critical issues facing the township include roads, taxes, and restoring confidence in the local government, she added.

"I feel we need to find funding to repair the roads of Portage Township and try to keep the taxes down as much as possible, without cutting any services," she said. Further, "we need to repair the confidence in the board with the people of the township. I also feel office hours should be convenient for the people," she noted.