Letter to the Editor: We Need Marjorie Banner for Treasurer

- This Letter to the Editor was submitted by Jacquelyn West

Northville Township has had a treasure sitting on its Board of Trustees for the past 12 years; her name is Marjorie Banner, and it is time to elect her township treasurer. A small business owner herself, she is knowledgeable about finance and taxes.

As a past president and current vice-president of the Lakes of Northville
Homeowners Association, Marjorie has long been a strong and effective voice for her neighbors.

As township trustee since 2000, Mrs. Banner has been very hardworking. The
township has been financially stable during her tenure, keeping a sound fund
balance. There have been no tax increases since 2000, but recreation facilities
have improved and the township has increased its industrial tax base (Mrs. Banner served on the Economic Development Committee). She is the guiding force behind the community gardens, chairs the Friends of Thayer’s Corner nature area, and was chairperson of the Historic District Commission, which has presented four successful seminars for residents.

She has been an effective leader in shaping the future rehabilitation for community use of the Seven Mile property. This gateway will have a major positive impact on our quality of life and property values, if handled correctly; it is essential that planning and financing continue to be addressed responsibly, with the greatest benefit to the township. Pertinent to this property and potentially others, Mrs. Banner understands issues concerning brownfield development and financing, and is concerned about citizen input.

She has been active in the discussion over the possible purchase of the Scott
Correctional Facility, taking into account economic factors and community concerns. She is also speaking for township residents as Wayne County makes plans to widen Six Mile Road, a project now under development and slated for early 2014; the county has proposed five lanes, but Mrs. Banner is among those strongly advocating a three-lane road.

Marjorie Banner is a voice of reason, restraint and responsibility for all of us. She is deeply honest, down-to-earth, and truly has the best interests of township residents at heart, not personal aggrandizement. A fiscal conservative, she brings vision and an ability to lead while working well with others—because she’s working next to them.

During her last time in office, the opposing candidate, Karen Woodside, championed the divisive, costly and losing legal measures the township filed against our own school district over issues surrounding the construction of the new Northville High School grounds. To many of us taxpaying residents, it seemed a poor judgment call then and doesn’t look any better in hindsight. It is a concern Woodside did not face live questions in the only live candidate forum held prior to this election; her fundraiser was publicized for that night in Livonia. She has attended few if any township meetings for the last 12 years.

Marjorie Banner has been working diligently and cooperatively for us these last
12 years. We cannot afford to lose her. Please vote Banner for Treasurer in the
township primary.

Interested in submitting a letter to the editor? Email it to nancy.kelsey@patch.com.