By Sara L. Smith
VIEW Staff Writer
GRAND BLANC TWP. — And then there were two — or were there?

The Grand Blanc Township clerk’s race has taken a sudden turn, with one candidate apparently dropping out, leaving two candidates — incumbent Republican incumbent Linda Kingston and her Republican challenger Cathy Lane — still vying for the post.

Democratic challenger Steve Jones, whom the winner of the Republican primary contest would have faced in the November 4 general election, has apparently bowed out of the race, having taken a job working on mainframe computer systems with EDS, recently.

The VIEW was unable to reach Jones to speak with him directly, however, phone calls to his home that were answered by family members, who say that Jones is basically out of the race, citing new job commitments as the reason for his decision, indicate that he will no longer remain an active candidate, narrowing the field to two.

“He has a new job, he’s working 12 hour shifts, nights, and it requires overtime,” said Jones’ father, John R. Jones. “He’s not running for election now.”

Despite these recent developments, Jones’ name will remain on the August and November ballots, but his votes would be considered “wasted” since he is now essentially out of the race, especially since many individuals vote “straight party ticket” on election day, say officials with the Genesee County Clerk’s office.
It is too late to remove his name from the ballots, with the deadline to do so having passed May 16. In the event that Jones may win, despite not campaigning or actively vying for the seat, township officials could either appoint an individual to the position or hold a special election to determine a winner, said officials with the Genesee County Clerk’s office, who wished to not be named. In this event, Jones would not take the oath of office required of all winners before legally taking office.

Lane and Kingston, the two remaining candidates actively vying for the position, will face off in the August 5 primary.

Challenger Cathy Lane, a married mother of five, served as a Grand Blanc Township trustee for 22 years, also sitting on the Grand Blanc Parks and Recreation Commission. She has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #413, Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Blanc Optimist Club.

Retired from the City of Bloomfield Hills since 2002, she has taught classes in the Detroit public schools system. She ran unsuccessfully against Kingston for clerk in 2004.

“I think that there’s a lot of room for improvement in the clerk’s office,” Lane said. “I think that the township has to take a more community friendly approach to local businesses and to be more of an advocate for businesses here.”

Lane said she has hands-on experience performing typical clerk duties as doing the meeting minutes, making budgets and collecting some taxes. She also said that serving the community is highly important to her.

“Public service is my life,” she said. “I have enjoyed serving the community and its residents. I was committed.”

Lane would like to serve the residents now in a full-time capacity now. She has begun attending regular township board meetings again, and mentioned she did consider running for either full-time treasurer or part-time supervisor, saying that she could perform either job’s duties, but the role of clerk was a better fit.
Lane went on to say that strengthening neighborhood associations and promoting community relationships among residents is important, as is maintaining open communication among board members.

Lane also said that she would like all public board meetings to be broadcast in tandem with school district meetings on Comcast Channel 18.

Incumbent Linda Kingston was elected clerk in 2004. She also sits on the Grand Blanc Township Planning Commission as the township board’s representative, and was inducted as Grand Blanc Rotary Club President last week.

Kingston, 50, has lived in the township since 1995. She is a member of the Junior League of Flint, serving as the organization’s president from 2000-01. She is a mother of three and has worked as a certified registered optician for 28 years.

Kingston said improving communication between residents and officials is essential, so she will implement a new “sit-down & chat” series entitled “Coffee With the Clerk,” this month, to help bridge the communication gap. The first meeting is 9 a.m. July 9 at Panera Bread.

“I just want to be accessible to the community and be there to answer questions and talk about community issues,” Kingston said.

During the nearly four years since she was elected, the township has experienced a strong diversification in the tax base, with new commercial developments, such as NCG Trillium Cinemas, Heritage Park and Regency Park Genesys Regional Medical Center, having helped lessen the tax burden shouldered by residents, she said.

“What I’ve done in the last four years as clerk is really just a small sample of what I can do in the next four years,” Kingston said. She said she is dedicated to the community and is willing to work around the clock to benefit the residents.

“I have boundless energy,” she said. “People can’t keep me just sitting in a chair for long — I’m always on the go.”

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