Election 2012: Sandy Groth, Plymouth Township Trustee Candidate

, candidate for Plymouth Township Trustee

Age: 53
Party affiliation: Republican
Residence: Plymouth Township
Length of residency in Plymouth: 18 years 
Spouse/Kids:

Husband – Larry

Stepson: Larry Jr. and Daughter-in-law Kristi, granddaughter Alyssa, grandsons Ryan and Tyler, great grandson Brayden.

Stepson: Tim and granddaughter Alissa

Daughter: Stephanie and Son-in-law Louis, grandson Jacob

What is your prior political experience?:

I have never run for office before but as a former Deputy Clerk, Election Technician and Election Records Clerk in several municipalities, I have extensive knowledge of elections, election procedures and administration and election law.

What is your prior professional experience?:

I worked for Plymouth Township from 1976 to 1981 in the fire department and from 1994 until 2003 in the Clerk’s Office. While in the Clerk’s office, I was initially responsible for the oversight of the absentee ballot process and eventually became full time and was appointed Deputy Clerk. I was responsible for implementing the Qualified Voter File (QVF) which is the State Mandated voting system and worked with all aspects of the Clerk’s office and affiliated responsibilities. I have extensive knowledge of Michigan Election Law, good general knowledge of the laws governing charter townships as it relates to the individual responsibilities of each elected position. As a result of my long affiliation with the Township I have some historical perspective about where we have been, and where we are which can be very helpful in working toward the future.  I worked for the City of Livonia as Election Records Clerk and for the City of Plymouth as the Election Technician. I have trained up to 400 election inspectors and I have administered elections. I also worked in a small private business for over 10 years and currently work as an Accounting Assistant in Ann Arbor.

What made you decide to seek office?:

I am the daughter of a retired Michigan State Police Officer (now deceased) and the wife of our long serving Fire Chief. I have served our community in a paid capacity and as a volunteer in many different ways. My heart is in public service – it is what I grew up wanting to do and I am happiest when I am able to do that. I believe that my knowledge, experience, tenacity and insight are needed on our Board right now because we have a Board that has lost sight of what the public wants. We need a new Board of people who will stand up for what is right and not follow along with whatever the Treasurer and Supervisor decide.

What issues do you see affecting the Township?:

Essential services are my number one priority because that is what government exists for; to provide the services that citizens cannot provide individually for themselves.  Second, our Board has shown that they are out of touch with the will of the people, or they are unconcerned with the will of the people, either of which is unacceptable. Third, we also have spending that is out of control. We have bonded so many large issues or purchased items like the recent land purchase on Five Mile on time and I am very concerned about where the money will come from to pay the principal.

What is your plan to address those issues?:

First and foremost, our spending needs to be restricted to essential services right now. We do not need to be purchasing more property, we need to be selling property that we have that is not being utilized so that we have the money to maintain the services that we as a government have a responsibility to provide. When it comes to fire department services, we need to allow the citizens to vote on the level of service they want to pay for, only after they have been provided with ALL of the facts. It is the right of the people to make that decision.  Second, the best way to address the issue of a Board that is non responsive to the citizens is to elect a new Board of independent thinkers who will work together for the good of the community who actually care what the community has to say. Third, the spending on non-essential services has to stop, the purchase of new properties has to stop, the long term bonding and financial obligations have to stop. The use of credit cards, the pension, life, health, optical and dental insurance afforded to all full time elected officials needs to stop as well as spending on newsletters, calendars and mailings as these are all non-essential. Serious consideration could be given to part-time elected positions for at least the Supervisor and Treasurer positions so we could hire full time professional people rather than elect individuals who only have to be registered voters and Township residents to serve in these positions. People in these positions make decisions that can be and are detrimental to our community and they are paid full time salaries, regardless of the number of hours they actually work.