Orion, Oakland Township Election Guide

It's a big year for elections both locally and nationally.

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Oakland Township-Lake Orion Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as August — and November — draws near.

Orion Township Board of Trustees: The terms are up in November for current elected officials. Orion resident is running against current Supervisor JoAnn Van Tassel. Likewise, resident  is hoping to unseat current Treasurer Alice Young.

Clerk Penny Shults is the only person on the primary ballot vying for the position of Orion Township Clerk. Likewise current trustees Michael Flood, John Steimel and Neil Porter are running for reelection, along with Safety Path Advisory Commissioner .

Oakland Township Board of Trustees: The ballot is filled with newcomers hoping to unseat current members of the board, whose terms are up in November. Resident is running against current Supervisor Joan Fogler.

Also running for seats on the board are:

• Clerk: Planning Commission Vice-Chairman James Foulkrod and resident Karen Reilly have filed in attempt to unseat current Clerk Judy Workings, who is also running on the 2012 ballot.
• Treasurer: Current Trustee Marc Edwards and resident are running for township treasurer, the position that Sharon Creps holds.
• Trustees: Current Trustees Kathrine Thomas, Sharon McKay and Michael Bailey are running for re-election. Residents Judy Keyes, Robin Buxar and Maureen Thalmann will also be on the Aug. 7 ballot.

Historic District Commission operating millage: In Oakland Township voters will be asked if they wish to renew the Historic District Commission operating millage. If approved it would levy up to .1170 of one mill over the course of 10 years, which would begin in December. The purpose for the renewal is to provide funding for restoration, education, and historic preservation at places in the township, such as the maintenance of the Cranberry Lake Farm Historic District. The ballot language reads: "Approval of this proposal would renew a tax limitation increase of 11.7 cents per $1,000 of taxable value on all taxable property in the township, or $11.70 per year on a home with a taxable value of $100,000.

Orion Fire fund millage: The to approve .9916 mills for four years beginning in December. In the primary ballot language it states "a property with taxable value of $50,000 would be taxed $49.58 for the millage."

Orion Township Police fund millage: As opposed to approving language to levy 3 mills for a period of four years with one ballot question, for the primary which asks voters to vote twice. One item will ask voters to renew the current millage, 1.9832, for the next four years beginning in December, while another item will attempt to levy an additional millage of 1.0168 mills to be imposed at the same time.

of the said in order to keep current staffing levels - at 25 deputies - voters need to approve both the renewal and the additional. If only the renewal is approved, then substation staffing will be cut by six deputies.

Stay tuned to Oakland Township-Lake Orion Patch for candidate profiles and election news.