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Four vying for two seats on Richfield Township Board of Trustees


 

 

RICHFIELD TWP. — Incumbents Gerald Masters and Keith Pyles, Democrats, will be challenged by Republican candidates Sherry Marden and Scott Natzke for their trustee seats on the Richfield Township board, Nov. 3.

Here is what the candidates had to say:

Keith Pyles, Age: 64

Education: No response

Accomplishments: Throughout my 14 years with Richfield Township I have donated countless hours to the improvement and upkeep of our Little League complex. My position with Richfield Township has also given me the opportunity to work with many residents on a personal level. This has included helping residents resolve issues between neighbors or pointing someone in the right direction for a service they were looking for.

Tell us what your goals are for the community if elected? My goal is to continue to offer my assistance to the Richfield Township Board and the residents of Richfield Township to resolve issues. I also plan to offer my assistance with the continual improvements of our community.

Gerald Masters, Age: 61

Education: Bachelor’s degree/ Magna cum laude

Accomplishments: Richfield Township Trustee (16 years), General Motors Skilled Trades (40+ years), Old Newsboys board of directors for the past 15 years (lifetime member), Joe Leonardi Leadership Award for Outstanding Leadership in Water Stewardship.

Tell us what your goals are for the community if elected? Richfield Township will be facing decreases in shared revenue along with other challenges into 2021 due to the virus and the approaching flu season. I’m sure that whoever is on the board after November, will continue to work with the surrounding communities to improve services in the area, such as Senior Citizens and youth activity services, joint roads and fire protection. Residents will continue to receive police and fire protection that they requested as well. We will need to continue to reduce blight and provide ongoing garbage pickup services. We will work with Genesee County and the State of Michigan when joint programs are available to improve roads and bridges etc. The board will work with employees of the township to find ways to keep costs from rising. Challenges will continue to arise, but the board will find ways to care for our residents. We made it through the 2008 recession and will overcome this current set-back that we are facing now.

Sherry J. Marden, Age: 67

Education/Accomplishments: Ipswich School of Nursing in England, State Enrolled Nursing License (SEN); Hurley Medical Center level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse (NICU); Small Business Owner.

Tell us what your goals are for the community if elected? My priorities include making sure the township is financially sound, reducing the Wasteful spending to lower the tax burden on the residents, maintain strong police and fire departments, fixing our roads, and bumping up transparency on the board. My top priority is the Richfield Township Residents. I’ve spent more than 50 years in the medical field and have helped many people. Now, I am looking to help the people of Richfield Township by serving as Trustee. If you are like me and are looking for a fresh perspective on the Richfield Township Board, with new ideas and thinking, I ask for your vote. Please vote Republican Sherry J. Marden. My goal is to put the “Trust” back in Trustee.

Scott Natzke: Natzke indicated he would not be responding and though he did not say he was discontinuing his campaign, he said he thinks he may run another time for this or another position.