Three compete for two seats on Cottrellville Township Board of Trustees – The Voice

Voters in Cottrellville Township will choose between two Republican candidates for supervisor and three Republican candidates for two trustee positions in the August 6 primary election. (MediaNews Group file photo)

Voters in Cottrellville Township will choose between two Republican candidates for supervisor and three Republican candidates for two trustee positions in the August 6 primary election.

Greg Abbey is challenging incumbent Mary Agnes Simons for the position of Supervisor. Both positions on the township board are up for election this year. Incumbent Eugene Moore Jr. is running for a seat and is being challenged by Lisa MacKenzie and Kris Rients.

Angela Brelinski is running for secretary and Sara DiStefano is running for treasurer; both candidates are unopposed.

Brelinski said the trustee’s salary is $2,700 and the supervisor’s salary is $29,500.

The Voice sent questionnaires to all candidates in the hotly contested primary, asking them to write a biography and answer two questions. Responses were limited to 75 words. Some answers were shortened for space. Abbey and Rients did not respond.

Meet the candidates for the position of Supervisor

Q: Biography: Please provide information about yourself, including age, education, occupation and any previous political experience.

Mary Agnes Simons: 70, 1971 graduate of Algonac High, attended SC4, majored in advertising design. I worked in the Clay building department, was a recorder for the Clay Board, Planning Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals. I was office manager for Wes Simons Trucking and Excavating Inc. for 44 years. I have a real estate and construction license. I built the Anchorage at Algonac Condominium. I was the assistant secretary from 2008 to 2012. I ran for supervisor in 2015 and have served since then.

Q: What do you think makes you the best qualified candidate?

Mary Agnes Simons: My background is in working for the community, construction, real estate sales, and working with planning commissions, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the County Health Department, the County Road Commission, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (now known as EGLE) in obtaining permits for all types of excavation work. I have been very fortunate to work for the Town of Cottrellville and have worked in every department of our offices.

Q: What do you think is the biggest problem facing the community of Cottrellville and what would you do if elected to solve it?

Mary Agnes Simons: I have expanded services to our community, passed ordinances to raise a small tax for police and protection, repaired roads and prepared two municipal water mains for installation that are still awaiting funding, hired a permitting officer and a bylaw officer in the building department, reduced the salaries of officers in the office and we now have people working normal hours. I have plans and ideas to improve our services, community parks, ditches and roads.

Meet the candidates for the trustee position

Q: Biography: Please provide information about yourself, including age, education, occupation and any previous political experience.

Lisa Mackenzie: My name is Lisa MacKenzie and I have lived in Cottrellville Township for 20 years. During my time as a resident, I have been an active member of the community through various volunteer activities and employment opportunities. I have served on several PTO boards as president and treasurer and worked for the East China School District. I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration and currently work in purchasing and finance.

Eugene Moore Jr.: I am 57 years old and have lived in Cottrellville since 2011. My education began at Detroit Engineering Institute, then moved to Wayne State University and also took courses at Macomb Community College. I have been the Campus Maintenance and Facilities Manager at my current company for almost four years, and before that for almost 30 years. I have been a member of the Cottrellville Planning Commission for about 10 years and was Chair for over two years. I currently serve on the Board as a Trustee.

Q: What do you think makes you the best qualified candidate?

Lisa Mackenzie: I am the most suitable candidate because I have been a regular attendee of community meetings for several years and am familiar with the functioning and issues of the community. As a trustee, I bring many years of training and experience in trust matters, legal and ethical conduct, and teamwork. I am familiar with contracts, Robert’s Rules of Order, accounting principles, and risk management.

Eugene Moore Jr.: Conservative, level-headed, and wants the community to remain rural and follow the master plan. I am an active member of the St. Clair County Republican Party.

Q: What do you think is the biggest problem facing the community of Cottrellville and what would you do if elected to solve it?

Lisa Mackenzie: The biggest issue facing the community of Cottrellville is the development of the 26 mile corridor. This issue needs to be evaluated by the citizens and development needs to be managed in a way that maintains the beauty and tranquility of our area. To address this issue, I believe we need to form a working group of citizens to get the community’s input on the direction we want to move as a community.

Eugene Moore Jr.: Enforcement. I would like to see enforcement of ordinances move faster, but I realize that sometimes the system works slowly and sometimes board members are unable to address certain issues. I would like to see our park have electricity in the pavilion and the grounds better maintained.

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