Each candidate was asked to answer the following question: What challenges will you face in your elected office because of the pandemic and how can they be addressed?

Each candidate was asked to answer the following question: What challenges will you face in your elected office because of the pandemic and how can they be addressed?

Answers were limited to 125 words.

ALAN BARRON

Age, place of birth: 65; Monroe

Address: 14444 Jonathon St., Monroe

Children: 3 children

Occupation, employer: Retired teacher, Monroe Public Schools; supervisor, Monroe Charter Township

Education: Associates degree, Monroe County Community College; bachelor’s degree, Western Michigan University; master’s degree, Michigan State University

Memberships: MCCC Foundation Board; Michigan Township Association, Monroe County Chapter; 2/42 Church; Custer Baseball/Softball

Length of residency: 64 years

Public offices held: Monroe Charter Township trustee, 1988-1992; Monroe Charter Township supervisor, 1992-present

Answer: The major challenge to be faced due to the current pandemic will be fiscal responsibility and balancing the current year’s budget and to continue to provide services safely to our employees and our residents. Over 35% of the township’s revenue comes from state shared revenue, which is determined by sales tax. Due to the Governors stay at home order, less sales tax has been collected. We must not let our guard down.

To continue to provide emergency services to our residents. The Monroe Charter Township Volunteer Fire Department answered 2221 calls in 2019, and that number increases each year as well as increased federal and state regulations and mandates. Recruiting new volunteers is getting more and more difficult.

WAYNE BLANK SR.

Age, place of birth: 73; Monroe

Address: 5019 Skylark Dr., Monroe

Spouse: Sandra Blank

Children: Wayne Jr., Christy and April

Occupation, employer: Retired, transportation industry

Education: Stautzenberger Drafting Academy; University of Air Force; Monroe County Community College

Military service: Air Force, 1967-1971

Memberships: American Legion, AM-Vets, Disabled American Vets-DAV; Sons of Legion, American Legion Riders; Vietnam Veterans (ERA)

Length of residency: Lifelong

Public offices held: Monroe Charter Township trustee, 2016-present

Answer: Speaking strictly about Township operation, the guidelines for government agencies have been established through the Federal Government and State Ordinances. Their implementation is spelled out and set down to be followed. The challenges will be to keep awareness and make certain that employees do not become complacent. Also, business to be conducted by citizens, taxpayers, etc. will be closely monitored and minimum distances and cleanliness standards held to the maximum level.

CHRISTINA (TINA) SMITH

Age: 43

Address: 7798 Glenfield Dr., Monroe

Spouse: Thomas

Children: 3 stepchildren

Occupation, employer: Monroe Charter Township clerk

Education: Monroe County Community College; William D Ford Career-Technical Center

Memberships: Divine Grace Church

Length of residency: 17 years

Public offices held: Monroe Charter Township clerk, 2019-present

Answer: The biggest obstacles my office has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been the constantly evolving election process and safety concerns. I’ve worked to streamline the election process within my office because of the increased workload. Absentee Voting has more than doubled in Monroe Charter Township. We are constantly reviewing safety protocols to assist in maintaining the health and wellness of not only the precinct works, but also our residents.

PENNY D. BARTON

Age, place of birth: 68; Monroe

Address: 5922 Roseland Ave., Monroe

Spouse: Phillip

Children: Nicole Jondro and Phillip Ryan Barton

Occupation, employer: Monroe Charter Township treasurer

Education: Monroe County Communty College

Membership: Monroe County Treasurer Association, Waste Water Management, MTA

Length of residency: 68 years

Public offices held: Monroe Charter Township trustee, 1996-2000, 2004-2008; Monroe Charter Township treasurer, 2008-present

Answer: The greatest challenge I will face from my elected office because of the pandemic is going to be revenue sharing. About 40% of our budget is reliant on state revenue sharing. State revenue sharing is distributed to municipalities based on state sale taxes. Since the state was closed down for 2 months sales tax disappeared. Our budget will have to be cut. Luckily Monroe Charter Township has a fiscally sound budget presently and we should be able to get through this with adjustments we will have to make.

WILLIAM HECK JR.

Age, place of birth: 49; Ypsilanti

Address: 5910 Edgewood Blvd., Monroe

Spouse: Nancy Heck

Children: Cooper and Conner Heck; stepchildren Nicholas, Joey & Allison Albano

Occupation, employer: Truck driver, Secord Farms Transport

Memberships: Southeast Michigan Antique Tractors & Engine Association

Length of residency: Lifelong

Public offices held: Monroe Charter Township trustee, 2012-present

Answer: To continue spreading the word about the importance of social distancing while out in public. With this continued practice, our local businesses can eventually thrive again. But we cannot make this happen unless people take this seriously, listen to our health professionals, and social distance. It’s wonderful seeing some of our local business open again and this will continue to happen and improve if we are all smart about it.

TERRANCE GURDO GERIN

Age, place of birth: 44; Dearborn

Address: 13931 Bridge Dr., Monroe

Occupation, employer: Professional wrestler; owner Big Daddy’s Boat Yard

Memberships: Knights of Columbus

Length of residency: 2 years

Answer: Gerin did not submit an answer to the question.

GUY HOWE

Guy Howe, a Republican residing at 872 Regents Park Dr., Monroe, 48161, did not submit biographical information or answer the question.

RICHARD A. JANSSENS

Place of birth: Monroe

Address: 3315 W. Albain Rd., Monroe

Spouse: Mary J. Janssens

Children: 6

Occupation, employer: Retired DTE Energy; retired grain farmer

Education: Monroe Catholic Central High School; Michigan State University

Military service: Army

Memberships: Monroe County Farm Bureau, V.F.W. 1138, Knights of Columbus, St. Mary Church

Length of residency: 42 years

Public offices held: Monroe Charter Township Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals

Answer: The primary challenge to be faced will be fiscal responsibility. A large percent of the Township budget comes from state-shared revenue which is based on sale tax. With the stay-at-home order, a lot less sales tax was collected.

Providing services to our residence, from funding the volunteer fire department to the opening of the township offices and services provided. We cannot be negligent in this respect.

Funding of the fire department and maintaining essential services of the Township is the upmost of importance along with providing recreational services for the Township residents.

JOHN MANOR

Age, place of birth: 49; Monroe

Address: 14440 South Dixie Hwy., Monroe

Spouse: Linda

Children: Nicholas and Isabella

Occupation, employer: Membership director, Associated Builders and Contractors

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Michigan State University

Memberships: St. John Church, MCOP Board Member, National Rifle Association, Boy Scouts of America, Monroe Rod & Gun Club

Length of residency: Lifelong

Public offices held: Monroe Charter Township trustee

Answer: With profit margins generally thin, the impact of the COVID-19 shutdown on non-essential businesses in Monroe Charter Township has been devastating. We need to provide a supportive environment to allow businesses to survive this pandemic and grow as we move into this “new” economic future.

This may require us as a township to be mindful of any additional taxes on our already struggling businesses and we must continue to provide timely, quality township services our local businesses and developers need to make decisions on locating or expanding their companies.

In addition, we as a community need to support local nonprofits like the Monroe County Opportunity Program (MCOP) in their efforts to assist our less fortunate residents as they struggle to find their footing.

KEVIN RAYMO

Age, place of birth: 51; Monroe

Address: 780 Mulhollen Dr., Monroe

Spouse: Keri Raymo

Children: 4 daughters

Occupation, employer: Retired, 911 dispatcher

Education: Some college

Memberships: Knights of Columbus 1266

Length of residency: Lifelong

Public offices held: Monroe Charter Township Health and Safety and Road Committee Advisory Boards

Answer: We need to keep people safe, but not create a panic. We need to keep the economy, moving forward. Make both parties, Democrats and Republicans, work together for what is best for the citizens we represent.