Shelby Township Police Officers MIA at Awards Ceremony

During the Township Board Meeting held on Tuesday, October 16th, several Shelby Township police officers and their families stood up and left the board room after the Supervisor started speaking about police and fire pensions.  The comments made by Mr. Stathakis during his "stumping speech" were, to say the very least, inappropriate.   If one wants to seek a win-win with regard to pensions and pension funding you do not go out of your way to offend a principle party to the negotiations.   One of the primary reasons why so many police and fire contract negotiations have gone to arbitration in the past 20+ years is the lack of trust demonstrated by the township's negotiating group.   Great leadership comes from team building, earning trust, doing what is right rather than what is politically correct, and keeping your word.  It does not come from degrading those around you.   I am all about the former, not the latter.   Unfortunately Mr. Stathakis has focused his blame on the symptom instead of the root cause of the problem.  His approach is to politicize an issue rather than resolve the issue.   Over the past 3+ years Mr. Stathakis has not accomplished any significant progress on an issue he states is very important to the community, yet he wants another four years to try and work it out.  It is my opinion that the time of the gentleman has expired and he needs to move on.   Shelby Township pays for a full-time Supervisor yet does not have the full attention and full effort from Mr. Stathakis.   You cannot run a private business and give your all to the taxpayers.   I have no outside interest that will keep me from providing a solid day of effort each and every day to serve the township taxpayers.   I will use all of the tools that I have developed in gaining successful results for the past 40 years for the benefit of the township as a whole and not for any personal gain.  My approach will be to think outside the box and develop unique solutions as may be needed to best serve the township.   Tenacity and resolve will be demonstrated on a daily basis.   Residents will be heard and respected and answers to questions will be given.