Voters in Sumpter Township will choose a new treasurer next Tuesday.
Democratic candidate Sheena Barnes and Republican Bart Patterson are each seeking the partial term which will expire Nov. 20, 2024.
Barnes, 62, has previously been unsuccessful in campaigns for Sumpter Township trustee, clerk and treasurer. She was appointed to a partial term as a trustee in 2018. Barnes has operated a BBQ food service from a truck on her Sumpter Road residence for nearly 35 years.
She is the mother of three and grandmother of five and is a graduate of Airport High School and attended Wayne County Community College.
Her candidacy has been marked with controversy following an obscenity-laced phone call she placed to Township Supervisor Tim Bowman and multiple health and licensing violations at her food business.
Barnes has made numerous unfounded allegations regarding the financial conduct of the current board of trustees despite the top financial rating recently received from independent auditors.
Patterson, 55, is a 26-year resident of the township. He and his wife are the parents of two adult children and grandparents of two children.
Patterson has owned and operated his own construction remodeling company for 30 years and following graduation from high school attended trade college.
He was unsuccessful in his bid for election to the township board nearly 20 years ago but was appointed to the township planning commission where he has served for two years. He is active in his church where he serves in the children's ministry and is also a SCUBA diving instructor. He is also a CPR/First Aid/AED instructor with the Red Cross.
Patterson said his skills as an entrepreneur would help the township plan for future growth while protecting the township's financial health. He said planning can improve the township standard of living through balanced development.
