Opinion: Who Is Best Suited for the Job of Township Supervisor?

(Editor’s Note: John Jacobs offers his thoughts on who he believes is the best candidate for Peninsula Township supervisor. Read on for his thoughts. -jb)

A few weeks ago, I began a quest to learn more about the two candidates running for Peninsula Township supervisor. Although I’m by no means a political junkie, there are very important issues facing the township that a new supervisor will need to navigate. I want to know as much as I can about each of the candidates in order to make a well informed choice.

After posting a question about Kelly Clark’s rumored illegal short-term rentals (to which he gave an OK explanation), I decided to research each of the candidates’ history of township ordinance violations via a FOIA request.

Before going further, I should point out that there are three factors by which I judge any candidate:

1. Character: Do they operate respectfully and with integrity?
2. Operating Experience: Have they run similar size organizations in the past, and do they have experience with the HR, IT, financial, etc. issues they will face?
3. Subject Matter Knowledge: How deep is their knowledge required to address the most pressing strategic, legal and financial issues they will encounter?

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• The FOIA request turned up no history of violations by Maura Sanders. I also sent her a message asking about any other legal entanglements in her history. (I did not send a similar request to Kelly Clark yet.) Maura responded that she received a speeding ticket in Virginia in 2000.

• The FOIA revealed that Kelly Clark was in conflict with Peninsula Township over the above-mentioned short-term rental that seems to be resolved. He also received a citation from the Township for a fence installed without a proper permit that did not comply with the ordinance regulating the height and structure of fences. He has since brought the fence into compliance, but refused to pay the fine that was assessed. As a result, he was taken to court (the court upheld the validity of the fine) and has still refused to pay the fine which has incurred added penalties for his refusal. Additionally, about a year ago, he was in conflict with the Township over landscaping (a path he created) that did not comply with the Township ordinance. He has claimed to the Township that he is bringing it into compliance, and the issue is pending.

• Kelly has also claimed that he was denied membership on the Shoreline Committee, attributing the denial (without offering any evidence) to Township Planner Jenn Cram not wanting “constituents with different viewpoints on the committee. She does not want constituents who say no to more permits and fees.” The FOIA revealed that an invitation was broadly offered to township residents in January, 2024. In May, after the committee had met numerous times, Kelly asked to be seated as a member. He was informed that the membership was already in place, but he was encouraged to attend meetings and speak (members of the public were welcome to participate in the meetings). He did not respond and has not shown up at any of the meetings to date.

I’m bothered by Kelly’s chronic disregard for and lack of knowledge about our township ordinances. He even seems proud to call himself the “Offender” in his signature line to recent questions by the Gazette. The person we elect to oversee our local government should have the utmost care and respect for the rule of law, especially laws of the government he proposes to run.

I’m also bothered by Kelly’s statement that he would fire Jenn Cram, the Township Planner. In doing her job, she has had numerous run-ins with Kelly regarding ordinance violations, and he erroneously accuses her of denying him participation on the Shoreline Committee. First, the supervisor does not have the power to unilaterally fire a township employee – Kelly should already know that if he’s running for the office. Second, it smells like retribution. I can’t abide by that.

Kelly’s authorship of the children’s book, creation of his non-profit focused on environment, and his interest in participating in the Shoreline Committee are commendable. Perhaps detracting from that is that much of that came into being within days of his throwing his hat into the ring to run for supervisor. A cynic might think it was done to put a fresh coat of paint on an unimpressive house.

As to relevant operating experience, Maura has had plenty between her Marine Corps and private sector jobs. It doesn’t appear that Kelly has ever had direct operating control of a complex organization (I’m happy to be corrected on that if I’m wrong). Moreover, our township now needs a full-time supervisor. Maura has said she will be full-time; Kelly has indicated he will not.

There is also a disparity in the candidates’ subject matter knowledge. Maura has been living it as a trustee and in the other township committee positions she has held. Kelly admits to his lack of depth in the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, the law affecting many of the most important issues faced by the Township. His proposal to ask customers of local businesses to round up their bills to pay for parks maintenance is clever, but lacks any projected numbers or show of support from businesses that would make it seem anything other than naïve fantasy.

I really hoped to find things to make me like Kelly more as a supervisor candidate. He seems like a nice guy. I’d probably enjoy talking with him at a cocktail party, and I might consider him if I were buying or selling a property. But, he lacks the qualifications and depth we need in our township supervisor.

-John Jacobs

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