Five Candidates Chase Three Seats in November Saline City Election

The filing deadline for the Nov. 8 Saline City Council election has passed. Glenn Law is seeking re-election. Appointees Linda TerHaar and Jim Peters are also running for election, as are candidates Jim Roth and John Heller. All terms are for two years. Council members are paid $2,175 annually. Here are the candidates.

Glenn Law

Family

Wife Lorrie and daughter Sarah 

Education

B.S. Elementary Education, Eastern Michigan University

Employment

Elementary teacher, Professional Educational Services Group

Why are you running?

With many issues facing the city, such as continued reductions in funding from the state, the future of our industrial/business sector, ie;ACH, the residents need an experienced and dedicated elected offical on the council. During my years on city council I have not shied away from making tough and sometimes unpopular decisions, even if it went against what the majority of my colleagues on city council believed was the correct path. I would be honored to continue to serve the citizens of this great community and continue to make the hard decisions. 

Linda TerHaar

Family

Husband, Bruce Westlake

Education

B.A Calvin College, M.A. University of Cincinnati, M.S.L.S University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Employment

Retired in 2008 as Head, Shapiro Undergraduate Library, University of Michigan

Government Involvement

• Councilmember, City of Saline, appointed October, 2010

Community Involvement

• Friends of the Saline District Library volunteer since 1996, trustee since 2008,
• Book Shop Committee chair since 2009
• Saline Lindenberg Friendship Committee member and volunteer since 2003, Board member since 2009, Liaison to Harvest of the Arts Oktoberfest planning committee in 2009, 2010, 2011
• Saline Brecon Friendship Guild member and volunteer since 2007
• Saline Leadership Institute, 2009
• Northside Presbyterian Church (Ann Arbor) member since 1994, have served on various committees and the Session (governing board), currently serving as Financial Secretary

Why are you running?
Citizens have a responsibility to contribute in their communities. As a resident for nearly 16 years, I appreciate Saline’s great qualities
and am invested in seeing our community continue to be an excellent place to live and work. My training and experience have given me management, planning, and collaboration skills useful for the work of City Council. In our present challenging times, I believe it is
especially important for differing points of view to be respectfully heard and thoughtfully considered during the decision-making process.

James Peters

Family

Wife, Geraldine. Children, Nathan

Education

Associate: Western Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, Associate: Washtenaw Community College.

Employment

Senior Mechanical Designer, HDR Engineering Inc.

Community involvement

• Saline Celtic Festival (Executive Committee.), Festival celebrating Saline's sister city Brecon Wales
• Saline K9 Crusaders (Founder), A charity organization dedicated to raising money for local animal shelters.
• Church (Board of Commissioners). New Columbarium facility.
• Church, Building Committees, (Volunteer) Building design, bid evaluation, construction oversight and fund raising for large capital projects.
• Recently awarded the Pathfinders Gold Award of Excellence for Community Service by fellow employees.

Why are you running?

I care about Saline and I enjoy community work. I hope my conservative common sense approach to issues will be beneficial.

James Roth

Family

Wife Joan

Education

BS Kent State University, MA Eastern Michigan University, Leadership Development Program certificate The University of Michigan

Employment

Retired teacher from Saline Area Schools and Washtenaw Community College

Government Involvement

• Councilperson candidate 2010
• Cultural Arts Committee
• Election worker

Community Involvement

• Board member for both of Saline’s Sister Cities
• Coordinator of Saline’s Photography Club
• Past member of the Saline Celtic Festival Committee for nine years.
• Board member of Saline’s Historical Society
• Judge for the 4H Fair
• Member of the Harvest of the Arts, Summerfest, and Winterfest Committees
• Docent for the one room school
• President of the Ann Arbor Graphic Arts Memorial Foundation

Why are you running? 

I am running because I have always had an interest in being involved in our community and I will use my managerial experience to help the city make the tough choices that need to be made.

I grew up on a small farm in Ohio and learned from birth how to budget and make do with what you had to avoid debts. I completely financed my college education without any assistance. In my teaching career, I devise ways to extend the limited budgets to allow my students to have the needed materials for their projects. On council I will continue my conservative budgetary practice. 

I do not make political promises and will do my best to serve and listen to the citizens of Saline. I plan to give my all for the cause and to our community as I have done since I moved to Saline in 1967.

It is my hope that I can help Saline to remain “One of America’s Best Places to Live, Work, and Play” with the resources that are available.

John Heller

Family

Single

Education

Graduated with honors from Saline High School;  BA, Cum Luade, from Eastern Michigan University (Political Science and Journalism)

Employment

Worked part-time for the Saline Department of Public Works, and later, The Saline Reporter, while in college. Retired as a dispatcher for the Saline Police Department after 25 years of service. Have worked part-time for approximately the past 33 years for the Saline Area Schools Athletic Department, keeping score or serving in various other capacities at numerous athletic events. Currently working part-time as a teller at United Bank and Trust.

Government Involvement

• None

Community involvement

• None

Why are you running?

I entered the race because I did not want to see the Saline Police dispatch center closed, which the current council was considering.  Beyond that, I believe that being born and raised in Saline, my experience working for the city for about the past 30 years, and covering local government, including City Council, for the Saline Reporter while I was in college, uniquely qualify me to serve on Council.