As far as supervisors go, it will be all eyes on Peninsula and Whitewater townships in the Aug. 6 primary election.

Those are the only two of Grand Traverse County’s 13 townships that feature contested races. As all four candidates registered for both races are running as Republicans with no Democratic opposition, the primary will effectively decide both contests.

None of the candidates are incumbents, which also means that both townships will have new leaders no matter what.

Ardella M. Benak and Linda Slopsema will square off in Whitewater Township, while Kelly J. Clark and Maura Sanders are vying for the Peninsula Township post. The Ticker reached out to all candidates with questions about themselves and their races. Their responses (some edited for length and clarity) are below.

PENINSULA TOWNSHIP

Tell us about your personal and professional background.

Clark: I am running for supervisor for the same reasons I was an educator for 25 years, the same reasons I am in real estate, and the same reasons I am publishing a children’s book that gives 50 percent of proceeds to the non-profit I am in the process of creating to protect and preserve the Great Lakes: To make a difference and lead with a servant’s heart. As far as experience goes, I received my BA from Hope College in Spanish and my MA from CMU in Administration & Community Leadership. As a former Trustee for TCAPS Board of Education, I served on multiple committees and was instrumental in keeping Old Mission Peninsula School in the hands of our community.

Sanders: As a former commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, I have acquired the requisite leadership knowledge and practical skills necessary to lead the township. I have a solid background in operations and logistics management within the Department of Defense. My Bachelor of Science degree is in Oceanography and General Engineering is from the U.S. Naval Academy and I have a Master of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from the University of North Carolina - Wilmington. I was also the COO for a multi-million dollar strategic advisory firm during its period of rapid growth. For the past 24 years, I have been married to a now retired U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer, while raising two exceptional young women through the challenges and trials of being in a military household. Currently, I am the broker/owner of a successful small real estate company, having sold real estate in Michigan since 2013. I am also privileged to serve as a township trustee.

Why should voters choose you as supervisor?

Clark: At some point voters need to say "Enough is enough, and we are not paying permit fees to put a fence on our property, a deer blind in our field, a hoop house on our farm or a dock on our beach." The current board demands more in fees and wants to raise property taxes while simultaneously making it impossible for taxpayers, be they farmers, wineries, builders, architects, landscapers or homeowners, the ability to generate revenue. There are two names on the Republican primary ballot for August 6th who are running for Township Supervisor. One of us actually has the support of the Republican Party. If you think there is room for improvement, I appreciate your vote. If you’re happy with increased fees and pressure to increase property taxes to pay for lawsuits and a lack of creative problem solving, vote for my opponent. 

Sanders: Experience and Leadership matter. I am currently a township board trustee, appointed in the fall of 2023. I was formerly elected a trustee in 2016 and prior to that, I was the Peninsula Township Park Commission Chair. This work experience has afforded me a unique knowledge of the Township’s operations and staff and has allowed me to get to know personally many of our wonderful residents. Peninsula Township is now at a point where we need a full-time supervisor. If elected, I plan to hand over the reins of my real estate business in order to devote myself full time to the important and complex work of being the supervisor of Peninsula Township. As a full-time supervisor, I will lead with the highest level of ethics, transparency and consistency.

What are the most important issues facing your township?

Clark: My first priority is to remove barriers to the township offices. Buzz-in security systems and glass panels separating elected officials from those they represent sends the wrong message. It does not say "we are here to help you". My second priority is to lean into agritourism. If we do not give farmers the opportunity and ability to generate income, the last crop will be houses. I propose having wineries adopt parks. By using the Round Up app at their point of sale, those funds could go toward park maintenance and improvements. Peninsula Grill, the Boat House, Mission Table, Jolly Pumpkin & Seven Hills could help fund a non-motorized lane on Center Road. The better our establishments do, the better our community does.  My third priority is to ensure working septic systems. More than 1.3 million septic systems treat millions of gallons of sewage each day. A recent report by Public Sector Consultants estimates 130,000 and 325,000 of systems are failing, threatening drinking water & public health. I am hoping my non-profit will help with some costs.

Sanders: First, communication and transparency between township leadership and all residents.  Our community benefits from honest, open and active dialogue. New and/or reinvigorated channels of communication can significantly impact the sharing of information and dispel proliferation of rumors that misinform the public and erode their trust in our elected officials. Second, Resolution of the winery lawsuit.  I will continue to fight to defend the township and our residents and protect our taxpayers from the potential disaster of assessed damages. I'll welcome community input, especially from the winery stakeholders and agricultural producers, to demonstrate a government that both supports the will of the people and a vigorous agricultural industry in our township. Third, updating our zoning ordinance to reflect the newly adopted master plan. The master plan is the collective voice of the community.

WHITEWATER TOWNSHIP

Tell us about your personal and professional background.

Benak: I was born and raised in Northern Michigan. I met my husband Don, when I was 15 and we moved in across the street from his family in Acme. We have been happily married for 43 years come August and we’ve been blessed with 4 children and 5 grandchildren. I was a corporate bookkeeper for 25 years before being elected Treasurer for Whitewater Township. I’ve had the honor of holding that position for 16 years. We built our home in 1983 on family land that has been passed down from generation to generation for over 90 years. I enjoy gardening, kayaking and spending time with my family and fur babies Ava and Emma.

Slopsema: My husband Tom and I have owned a home in Williamsburg for 30 years and love the area! We have three grown children and one grandchild. Professionally, I graduated with an engineering degree from Michigan State University and have 34 years of experience in design, manufacturing, problem-solving, continuous improvement, and leadership. I provided lean manufacturing training to Traverse Area businesses through the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. I now serve as the Chair of the Whitewater Township Planning Commission and am on the board of the Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association.

Why should voters choose you as supervisor?

Benak: Supervisor will be a new role for me at the township, but by no means is it my first leadership position. I have the qualifications, temperament and common sense to succeed as a supervisor with the ability to lead Whitewater responsibly into the future. 16 years Treasurer, 14 years on the ZBA, 2 years on Parks/Rec, editor/producer of the Township newsletter, 16 years leadership for cleanup day, 17 years on the Emergency Services Auxiliary. I am a full-time resident; I do not go away 3 months out of the year. I will be here, looking out for the best interest of all citizens year-round by keeping regular hours in the township and being accessible outside office hours. I respect the people’s choices when they vote. Whether it be voting on ambulance millage or marijuana plant, I would never use my office to circumvent the will of the people.

Slopsema: This election is critical for Whitewater Township. We need a supervisor who listens first, asks questions, seeks collaboration and then leads in the community's best interest. My leadership skills set me apart. Whitewater Township has no appetite for waste, inefficiency, or disrespect - traits that have defined the current board. The best evidence of my leadership in township issues is this: In 2022, I led the effort to bring the marijuana business question to the ballot in order to allow the voters to make this important decision. I took this action because I recognized that the board’s rushed decision-making was not aligned with community opinion. I will continue to bring this community-oriented approach to the supervisor role. Further, my extensive business background required leadership skills to drive cooperation, prioritization, focus, and timely completion of projects. I will bring that energy to prioritize and focus on improvements for the township.

What are the most important issues facing your township?

Benak: Protecting people’s property rights should be high on the list of concerns. Too often, outside influencers want to change the character of the township they claim to love, while actively working to implement overreaching restrictions such as 10 or 20-acre lot size minimums for all parcels except waterfront lots. That should scare people. Whitewater is a rural community, the opinions on what makes a community rural depends on who’s talking. But the one thing we all agree on is that the farmers are the backbone of staying rural. Giving them the flexibility to stay farming is essential. Other important issues facing Whitewater Township are responsible/planned growth, affordable housing, attracting young families to keep the local elementary school in our community, aging township facilities that no longer meet our needs, deteriorating roads and finding ways to pay for these without raising taxes, building relationships with our surrounding townships and counties, keeping the township out of expensive lawsuits, just to name a few.

Slopsema: Residents have made their voices heard in a recent Master Plan survey and outreach events. We face pressing issues from managing community growth to providing efficient emergency services. I commit to using the Master Plan results to guide our priorities. Priorities identified are: Rural Character & Agri-Business, Ambulance and Fire, Environmental Protection, and Master Plan Implementation with required ordinances. Additionally, we face major problems with our rural roads which receive minimal attention or funding from the Grand Traverse County Road Commission. This needs attention to benefit all residents and property owners. I look forward to faithful service to our residents and collaboration with a fresh leadership team that brings professional experience in the areas of community planning, finance, accounting and government operations to implement this work. The stage is set for substantial improvement If voters choose new leadership.