Monroe County election guide: Frenchtown Township voters to elect four trustees
FRENCHTOWN TWP. — On Aug. 6, voters in Frenchtown Township will head to the polls to select officers for the municipality. The Monroe News sent questionnaires to the candidates in the contested races. Profiles of the candidates in contested primaries will be published over the next few days.
Candidates running for trustee include Republicans Sheila M. Bussell, Christiaan Carlton, Chris Collins, Gary D. Klemz, Matthew Rimel and Kraig Yoas. No Democrats filed to run for the position.
Their responses are printed as provided, though they may have been edited for clarity or truncated if the answers exceeded the given word limits.
In-person voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6. Absentee ballots may be requested from township clerks.
Sheila M. Bussell
Age: 64
Occupation: Realtor
Spouse/kids: Curtis Alan Bussell, deceased 2023, children Alan (Sherry) Bussell of Frenchtown, Marty (Tony) Bacarella of Frenchtown, Christopher Cupp of Berlin, Shawn (Jenny) Cupp of South Carolina, Tiffany (Matt) Vasey of Florida, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren
Government experience: This is my first political race and I am hopeful that my run will be successful given my commitment to the community and to Frenchtown Township.
Volunteer/community service experience: Raised funds to provide hats/gloves for children at Jefferson Schools; Provided decorative placemats for the nursing homes of Monroe County; Led local community initiative to procure laundry soap and cleaning supplies for families who are part of Jefferson School district; Developed annual Indian Trails Scholarship Fund for eligible Jefferson School Graduates; Local fundraiser to procure laundry supplies to homeless shelters; Lead and coordinate community volunteers to provide meals at homeless shelter once per month. Volunteer positions: 2015-present, Board of Directors Miss Monroe County; 2023-present, MLS Board of Directors Southeastern Michigan Board of Realtors; 2024-present, Vice President Monroe Chapter of Lions Club
Why are you running for this position? I am proud to have called Frenchtown home for over 50 years and have witnessed significant positive changes, however there are opportunities that I look forward to representing the community voice to ensure our community remains a safe community for families to call home.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Frenchtown Township, and what should be done about it? Through my professional work as a realtor in Frenchtown, I have had the privilege to interact with the township hall and would like to improve this experience for the businesses and citizens of Frenchtown. The townhall experience impacts the economic growth of the community as well as future citizens through their contractors, builders, and realtors. Providing a venue for citizens to participate in strategic discussions as well as working collaboratively with the leaders of the township, will have a positive impact on the community citizens while ensuring Frenchtown continues to thrive economically.
Why should people vote for you? I have called Frenchtown home for the past 50 years and am committed to the community and the citizens that represent the community. I have built my professional career here in Frenchtown for the past 45 years and that has allowed me to interact with the community members and really understand challenges that they face. As a Frenchtown trustee, I will be the community voice and will ensure their voice is heard at the highest level.
Christiaan Carlton
Age: 51
Occupation: Owner of NC Inc.
Spouse/kids: Wife Stephanie and children Jack, Theo and Macy
Government experience: 4 years
Volunteer/community service experience:
Why are you running for this position? To continue the positive changes that we as the current board has initiated and encourage more businesses to call Frenchtown home.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Frenchtown Township, and what should be done about it? Frenchtown’s biggest challenge will be finding people to work all the new jobs we are bringing in.
Why should people vote for you? For four years, I have helped the Frenchtown board bring in new businesses and have increased police presence. I bring small business knowledge, am honest and trustworthy.
Chris Collins
Age: 54
Occupation: Retired
Spouse/kids: Married 28 years, two children, two grandchildren
Government experience: Desert Storm Veteran; four years Trustee; four years Planning Commission; four years Resort District Authority
Volunteer/community service experience: Editor of the Frenchtown Newsletter, Frenchtown Recreation Department volunteer/participant and I have also volunteered with Monroe Exchange club among others.
Why are you running for this position? The continuing success of Frenchtown is dependent on re-electing someone without any personal agenda or ideological bias while maintaining focus on the goals and overall betterment of Frenchtown.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Frenchtown Township, and what should be done about it? In 2020, Frenchtown was a community brimming with potential but woefully lacking in direction and a vision for the future. We have since taken great strides in our approach to growth while simultaneously overhauling our reputation within as well as outside of the community. This was accomplished largely in part through a change in personnel combined with comprehensive ordinance reform. A final remaining obstacle to fulfill our march toward prosperity and growth is an outdated Master Plan. We must develop a plan that is suited to the ever-changing needs of our residents while attracting new developers to our community.
Why should people vote for you? Prior to taking office in 2020, Frenchtown had an unfavorable reputation among its residents, business owners and potential developers alike. A reluctance to change coupled with an overzealous adherence towards impractical ordinances and overbearing enforcement had taken their toll on our community. This was demonstrably obvious in the form of its plateaued development and virtually stagnant growth. Since then we are burgeoning with prosperity and growth including dozens of new businesses and hundreds of new homes. We are just now in the process of implementing strategies within our newly developed corridor improvement authority but I cannot happen without your help.
Gary D. Klemz
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired firefighter/EMT from Frenchtown Fire Department and Baker’s Gas & Welding Supplies, Inc. (aka Baker’s Ace Hardware) and Baker’s Propane, Inc.
Spouse/kids: Wife, Cindy Klemz, and daughters McKenna and Marta
Government experience: Current Frenchtown Township Trustee, former Frenchtown Constable and 34 years Frenchtown firefighter
Volunteer/community service experience: Donor to Gabby’s Ladder and American Cancer Society
Why are you running for this position? I have a passion for the Frenchtown Township community, as I have lived in Frenchtown my entire life and worked as a Frenchtown firefighter for 34 years. I want to continue to see this community thrive and be a safe place to live for all.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Frenchtown Township, and what should be done about it? Public safety should be the top priority in every community. If I were to be elected, I would want to ensure that this continues to remain true in Frenchtown. It would be important to me that the fire department paramedics are equally trained and equipped to transport our citizens to the hospital without delay if the local ambulance service (MCA) is not present or delayed. I would also like to continue to support economic development in the community and make sure that all departments continue to be welcoming to citizens and businesses.
Why should people vote for you? Through my 40 years as a business owner, and 34 years as a Frenchtown Township firefighter/EMT, I feel that I have the experience and passion to ensure that public safety is a priority and that the best interest of community members is the primary focus of decisions being made. I am a strong supporter of the Monroe County Sheriff's Department who helps keep our community safe!
Matthew Rimel
Age: 46
Occupation: Mechanical Inspector
Spouse/kids: Married, one daughter and one son
Government experience: Still active as a first term trustee for Frenchtown Township.
Volunteer/community service experience: I have volunteered at many levels as a trustee, I am currently on the Zoning Board of Approvals, the public safety committee, and the Zoning Ordinance Committee at Frenchtown. I have also attended many meetings with residents and businesses to help resolve any challenges they have had.
Why are you running for this position? I would like to continue to provide my experience from my career, continue to increase my knowledge, and provide the best service to the Frenchtown residents. I am committed to doing what is right and complete honesty to Frenchtown residents even if it is not always the “popular” answer.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Frenchtown Township, and what should be done about it? Public safety: We (the current board) are working with all parties involved both in the township and the county continuously to support Public Safety. Development: Finding the right balance between keeping the township master plan on track and doing it in the least disruptive manner to the residents is very challenging and requires more communication going forward. Recreational activity and events: It is very important to me for residents to have things to do and places to go and gather. This is challenging due to finding activities and the type of gatherings that are going to interest residents.
Why should people vote for you? I have lived in Monroe County for 46 years and in Frenchtown for 25 years. I care about the future of Frenchtown and even more about the future of our younger generation in Frenchtown. I will work hard to do the best I can to continue trying to improve our community and work with the rest of the board, the township employees, and community officials to achieve that goal. I have a history of working hard at the current position of Trustee at many levels and I will continue to do so.
Kraig A. Yoas
Age: 65
Occupation: Self-employed, Yoas Plumbing Heating & Cooling LLC
Spouse/kids: Wife, Debra, and children Cory, Carrie and Kenneth
Government experience: 24 years Frenchtown Township Trustee; 18 years Frenchtown Township newsletter editor; 14 years Frenchtown Township Planning Commission Liaison; 20 years Frenchtown Resort Authority Treasurer; four years Monroe Metropolitan Water Pollution Control Board Commissioner; three years Frenchtown Township Zoning Board of Appeals Commissioner
Volunteer/community service experience: Three years Erie Shores Beach Association President
Why are you running for this position? I enjoy public service and wish to continue my work on the township board. I'll use my 24 years of Frenchtown Township Trustee experience and 45 years' experience as a business owner and employer to assist in the many important decisions for our residents that our board members face.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Frenchtown Township, and what should be done about it? Increased cost of living and increased cost of government are major problems for Frenchtown residents. Supporting the affordable continuation of the services provided thru our tax dollars and encourage cost effective ways to enhance these services. Local government providing youth, adults and senior citizens with safety and quality of life through fire and police protection, roads, recreation, all are important services that I will continue to encourage their improvement. With over 40 years in business, I know real costs, values and needs. I don't believe in taxing just to spend. I want value for every tax dollar, just like you.
Why should people vote for you? I take my position as a public servant very seriously, having perfect attendance in my 24 years of Township board meetings, I'm there to work for you, I don't want to waste your and my tax dollars. I've always kept a watchful eye on contracts, expenditures and the budget. As a lifelong resident with a family heritage of serving you, I listen to the wants, needs and concerns of people, by listening we learn what is important to others. Using this knowledge I'll proudly represent everyone, striving to mold our township into the place we all love to call home.
For more information about Monroe County’s primary election, visit co.monroe.mi.us/409/Elections.
— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Here are the candidates running for Frenchtown Twp. trustee
