| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: Leadership for Scio |
| May 13, 2008 | info@leadershipforscio.com |
LEADERSHIP FOR SCIO
Announces Slate of Democratic Candidates
Leadership Experience Knowledge
“Proven Leadership for Scio Township”
“Small Democratic Government Made Up of Concerned Citizens”
“Now is the Time to Again be a Serious Player in Regional Government”
Scio Township and Village of Dexter, MI – Leadership for Scio a Democratic slate of experienced and knowledgeable leaders announced today its “Proven Leadership for Scio Township” candidates for Scio Township Supervisor, Treasurer, and Trustee. The Candidates are:
E. Spaulding Clark – Supervisor
Gordon T. Darr – Treasurer
Richard A. “Dick” DeLong – Trustee
Jean Ledwith King – Trustee
Lynn Phillips – Trustee
Each member has extensive leadership and experience in helping shape, nurture and, protect Scio Township and Washtenaw County’s green landscape.
Announcing a promise of fiscal responsibility and an end to deficit spending, the slate believes in “small democratic government made of up of concerned citizens.” After winning the Democratic primary on August 5, 2008, the team will petition to slash the Board Officers’ salaries thus returning valuable tax dollars to the general fund. When elected on November 4, 2008, they will return to a smaller part-time government that will better serve Scio citizens. Attention to inquires, requests, and concerns from Scio residents and businesses will be a priority of the Board.
“Leadership for Scio will aggressively defend Scio’s Master Plan,” said Spaulding Clark, candidate for Supervisor. “We will fight to keep Scio Township rural, beautiful, and green.” Clark called also for increasing police coverage along with administrative changes in Police and Fire Services. “We need to increase police coverage and yet address the fire and police budget without adding to the tax burden,” said Clark. “It is time to obtain more federal and state grants for training and equipment to reduce the Township’s general fund costs. If Scio had been a smaller part-time government for the past four years, we would have the funds right now for additional Sheriff road-patrols. Scio Township could properly fund the Scio Township Fire Department budget with the savings from the bloated Board Officers’ and township management salaries.”
Jean Ledwith King, candidate for Trustee, added, “Unlike some current Board members and other candidates, Leadership for Scio will not bond for and build a Mega-Million-Dollar waste water / sewage treatment plant leveraged on growth, sprawl, and expensive tap and utility fees. Instead we will keep Scio green by using dedicated funds to safeguard open space, farms, and woodlands. We will protect and defend the water quality of the Huron River, its watershed, and all Township tributaries.”
Dick DeLong, candidate for Trustee, called for a vibrant business corridor. “Leadership for Scio promotes an exciting business community and strongly support the Downtown Development Authority and an economically sound Jackson Avenue,” said DeLong.
Gordon Darr, M.B.A., candidate for Treasurer, added, “By systemically updating the Treasurer’s office, Leadership for Scio can reduce costs and save taxpayer’s money. The goal of Leadership for Scio is to better serve the citizens of Scio Township. Our Master Plan should embrace the long-term viability of Scio Township and Dexter and Delhi Villages.”
Lynn Phillips, candidate for Trustee, said, “Now is the time to again be a serious player in regional government. Aggressively defending the Master Plan, increasing police and fire services, protecting water quality are all wonderful issues, but we will have failed if we do not use our leadership, experience, and knowledge to lead Scio Township to a better place now and create a legacy for the future.”
More information can be found on the team’s website: www.leadershipforscio.com
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Meet the Proven Leadership for Scio Township
E. Spaulding Clark, J.D., LL.M. – Candidate for Township Supervisor
A Scio resident since 1986. Under Spaulding Clark’s leadership as Township Manager and then Supervisor from 1996 to 2004, Scio Township displayed unprecedented fiscal responsibility increasing General Fund reserves by over $1.1 million. Prior to serving as Township Manager, Spaulding was Township Trustee from 1992 to 1995 and Deputy Supervisor from 1988 to 1989. Spaulding’s experience includes service on the Board of the Loch Alpine Sanitary Authority from 1994 to 2000, service as the Scio Township Planning Commission Chair from 1987 to 1995, and service as Scio Township Zoning Board of Appeals Vice-Chair from 1987 to 1995. Spaulding has served the Township as a member of the Ann Arbor Utilities Cost of Service Study Team and Ann Arbor Water Treatment Facilities Study Team.
An Elder and Chair of the Property Committee at the First Presbyterian Church, Spaulding graduated from Albion College and received his Law Degree from the University of Michigan and his Master of Laws (LL.M) from Wayne State University. Spaulding is Admitted to practice law in Michigan, Colorado, US District Court, and US Tax Court.
Civic Activities
Spaulding has served and participated in the following organizations:
Ann Arbor Area 2000
Quality of Government Task Force
Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors
Chair, Government Affairs Committee
Leadership Ann Arbor participant
Ann Arbor North Rotary Club
Board of Directors
President
Newsletter Editor
Paul Harris Fellow
Ann Arbor Rotary Club
Chair, International Outreach Committee
Boy Scouts of America – Wolverine Council
Board of Directors/Executive Board
Chair, Explorer Division
Dexter Area Regional Team;
First Presbyterian Church
Elder, Deacon
Chair, Property Committee
Member, Finance Committee
Member, Executive Board
Michigan Association of Township Attorneys
Michigan Association of Planning
Michigan Township Association
Scio Township
Supervisor 2000-2004
Manager 1996-2000
Trustee 1992-1995
Deputy Supervisor 1988-1989
Planning Commission/Chair 1987-1995
Zoning Board of Appeals/ Vice-Chair 1987-1995
Director, Loch Alpine Sanitary Authority 1994-2000
Ann Arbor Utilities Cost of Service Study Team
Ann Arbor Water Treatment Facilities Study Team
South East Michigan Council of Governments
Township Delegate
Board of Directors
Bylaws & Legal Committee
Joint Public Services Advisory Committee
Washtenaw County Bar Association
Washtenaw Estate Planning Council
Washtenaw Metro Alliance
West Washtenaw Business Association
Gordon T. Darr, M.B.A. – Candidate for Treasurer
Gordon T. Darr was a Planning Commissioner and Trustee in Scio Township between 2000 and 2004. Gordon served as Secretary of the Planning Commission for two of those years. Prior to that, Gordon served as a Trustee on the Dexter Village Council. He brings a lifetime of service in various local service groups, working with Dexter schools and helping built collaborative relationships throughout the community.
A graduate of Dexter High School, Gordon completed a BA at the University of Michigan and an MBA from Texas Christian University. Gordon managed major Human Resource Development programs at Nortel Networks and other high-tech companies. In 2006, Gordon completed requirements for elementary teacher certification in the State of Michigan, through the Master of Arts with Certification at the University of Michigan School of Education.
Gordon was a co-founder of the Dexter Area Technology Advocacy group in 1997, an association of subject matter experts and concerned citizens, dedicated to connecting the community to the world via the Internet, and bringing about positive transformation. Gordon was involved in strategic partnerships with schools in different parts of the US, most recently Dexter Schools. Gordon serves as a substitute teacher in Dexter, and is active in the Band and Orchestra programs as a volunteer and piano accompanist.
Gordon is proud of his roots in Scio. Gordon’s father, Richard, was raised in the Delhi community. Gordon is passionate about preserving such historic areas as Delhi and the original Scio community. "Our Master Plan should embrace the long-term viability of Scio Township and Dexter and Delhi Villages," says Darr.
Gordon continues to operate a part time consulting practice, as a professional networker helping develop leadership skills and teams. Gordon is the Praise Band Director at Dexter United Methodist Church. Most recently, Gordon served as the Marketing Director of the Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce, has been active in the ThinkDexterFirst initiative, and enjoys walking the community and visiting with friends and neighbors.
Gordon lives in the Village of Dexter, with his two daughters.
Richard A. DeLong, M.B.A. – Candidate for Trustee
Dick’s leadership and experience includes serving as Scio Township Supervisor from 1984 to 1988 and Washtenaw County Commissioner from 1992 to 2002. Dick is presently chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Executive Director of the Scio Township Downtown Development Authority. Dick’s additional leadership includes serving on the Loch Alpine Sanitary Authority, Dexter Area Fire Board, the Washtenaw Sheriff’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee, Washtenaw County Environmental Board of Appeals, and the Huron River Watershed Council Executive Committee.
Dick was born in Ann Arbor and attended Ann Arbor Public Schools. Dick enlisted in the Army Air Force before finishing high school and served the USA in the Philippines and Korea. Dick attended Michigan Technical University in the Army Specialized Training Program. Dick graduated from the University of Michigan with both a MBA (with distinction) and BBA (Phi Kappa Phi). Dick and Patricia DeLong have been married for 62 years.
Jean Ledwith King, J.D., – Candidate for Trustee
Jean Ledwith King has been a Scio Township Trustee since 2004. Jean is a law review graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and a member of the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
In 2006, Jean was named a Champion of Justice by the Michigan State Bar and has practiced law in Washtenaw County since 1972. As a long-time member of the Washtenaw County Historic District Commission, Jean’s advocacy to the County Commissioners was crucial in saving the viewshed of Gordon Hall. Additionally, Jean’s leadership as Scio Township Trustee and Historic District Commissioner provided important guidance in saving the Delhi Bridge in Scio.
On May 6, 2008, Jean was elected Ann Arbor District Public Library Board Member.
Dorothy Lynn Phillips, Ph.D. – Candidate for Trustee
Lynn Phillips has been a resident of Washtenaw County for 15 years. She and her two children moved to Scio Township in 2007 of her desire to live in a more rural community. Based on Lynn’s deep respect for the environment and keen interest in responsible land management, she helped found COURSE, an Ann Arbor-based organization whose mandate is the prevention of non-sustainable types of development in Washtenaw County. Dr. Phillips has been active for the last five years in the Camp Fire program whose goals are to instill in children a respect for and appreciation of the natural environment. Toward this end, Lynn has helped to arrange fundraisers for the restoration and maintenance of Camp Wathana, a several hundred-acre camp and open green area, whose mission is to provide children from all parts of Michigan access to a natural, wooded area. She has helped to organize educational activities designed to promote children’s awareness of the need for green space with the ultimate goal of helping them become the next generation of responsible land stewards.
Dr. Philips believes all politics is ultimately local and is most interested in working with the concerned citizens that comprise the board to keep Scio green.
Lynn earned her doctorate in clinical psychology in 1990 from the University of Detroit with a specialty in child and adolescent development. She has practiced privately since that time. She is engaged to a Navy Captain who has seen duty in Iraq and will be returning to civilian life in 2009.
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