A slate of women with deep experience in business and fundraising are seeking to bring new viewpoints to the Howell Township board.
Laurel Castiglione, Judith Minton, and Courtney White have filed nominating petitions to run as Democrats for three township trustee positions.
They pledged to represent a broader section of the township than the current board.
“The current Howell Township board does not represent the entire Howell Township community,” said Minton.
“For too long, the board has been dominated by one political viewpoint. I believe diverse perspectives lead to new and creative approaches to emerging challenges. Our community needs leadership that is transparent in its communication and forward thinking in planning for our future. I believe I can contribute to building a more responsive board.”
“Right now, there is no one on the board representing our developed communities in Howell Township,” White said. “All current members are rural residents who are less familiar with the needs of people who live in the township’s more densely populated areas. I want to make sure those needs get fair consideration at the board table alongside the needs of our more rural residents.”
“I will work diligently to understand the needs of all citizens in the area,” said Castiglione. “I will use my skills as a team builder to bring people together. There is tremendous growth occurring, which threatens the peaceful rural nature of the township. It is critical that we plan for traffic flow, protect open spaces and parks, honor our history as well as respect the rights of the agricultural and business communities. I support the enhancement of education and the arts. I want to do my part to ensure a prosperous, safe, secure, and healthy Howell Township.”
Minton said she is concerned about budget development and management in the township and the lack of transparency regarding the future use of the township’s funding surplus.
“I also feel the safety of our water supply is paramount,” she said.
Minton has more than 35 years of experience in direct and corporate sales, running an independent business, and doing professional fundraising for major universities, with a specialization in medical education and research, including for Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.
Her experience as a fundraiser has made her skilled at listening to the needs of others and finding ways to respond to those needs. “As a strategic planning consultant, I help local nonprofits and small churches identify their guiding principles and transformational goals to develop a strategic plan for future success,” she said.
She has a major in family life education from Spring Arbor University and graduated from Taylor Center High School. She has lived in the county for 15 years. She is a board member of the ARC of Livingston and a member of the Livingston Arts Council.
She has been retired for two years. She and her husband, Michael Tipton, have four grown children and two granddaughters.
People wishing more information may contact Minton at minton4trustee@gmail.com.
White said her priorities would include addressing the needs of the growing senior population, including transportation; road repairs, and safe drinking water.
Since 2015, she has coordinated multi-million-dollar building projects for Barton Malow Company, working with many unions and their members. Prior to that, she was events director at Crystal Gardens from 2006 to 2014. She also performs in a musical duo with her brother, playing the ukulele and singing.
A resident of the county for more than 30 years, she graduated from Brighton High School, attended Washtenaw Community College and Eastern Michigan University and plans to attend the University of Michigan in the winter 2021 semester.
White is active in Gleaners, Habitat for Humanity, Detroit Children’s Center, and Washtenaw County Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She and her partner, Jordon Foy, also foster animals and have rescued three of them.
People wishing more information may contact White at whitefortrustee@gmail.com.
Castiglione, now retired from General Motors, was part of the EV1 team that launched GM’s first electric vehicle, where she was responsible for process and system integration. She also was business leader of the global employee portal where GM first deployed access to work and communication tools from the internet. She also was senior manager of Digital Employee Experience at Pacific Gas & Electric Co. in San Francisco. Now she owns Laurel’s Logic, Inc., which does digital communication consulting.
A resident of the county for 29 years, she coached boys’ soccer in Howell and Brighton through community education for 14 years. She has three grown sons and four grandchildren.
For more information, contact Castiglione at electlaurelcastiglione@gmail.com.
(Paid for by Livingston County Democratic Executive Committee, 8028 Grand River, Woodland Plaza Suite 7, Brighton, MI 48114. Labor donated.)
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