Supervisor race: Wall vs. Torres
Two candidates are running for Waterford Township Supervisor in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.
Both stood unopposed in their parties during the August primary elections and both have spent years working in the township as public servants.
The Oakland Press invited the candidates to participate in a five question Q& A to share their thoughts and opinions about issues in the township. Responses have not been edited in any way, including for grammar, spelling or clarity. We’ve included two of the five responses here. To view the rest in their entirety, visit theoaklandpress.com elections page.
Q: What is your occupation and educational level? What do you do/How are you involved in the Waterford community outside of this political race? Please feel free to share specific examples.
• Gary Wall: I am currently the Waterford Township Supervisor and a 1972 graduate from Waterford Kettering High School. Prior to being elected Supervisor in 2012, I was a rough carpenter, rough carpenter foreman, rough carpenter contractor and general contractor for 40 and a half years. During those years, I built newor remodeled more than 800 residential and commercial buildings in Waterford Township. I have also helped build several buildings at the Waterford Historical Society village and a garage at the Drayton Plains Nature Center before I was in office, and since then at no cost for labor to either group. I am a member of the Waterford Historical Society, Waterford Goodfellows, volunteer at Blessings in a Backpack, Waterford Coalition for Youth, and in 2015 started Earth Day back up here in Waterford to help cleanup this beautiful community. Then in my spare time, I plant multiple flower and vegetable gardens on the Township Civic Center Campus.
• John Paul Torres: I am a Court Administrator working in the criminal justice field nearly 20 years. I have aM asters of Public Administration (University of Michigan ), B. A. in Political Science( Oakland University) and PostGraduate Certificate in Public Policy through Michigan State University. I obtained all my education as a working parent going to night school. I am currently a Waterford School Board Trustee and have represented the Waterford School District at the federal, state and county level. I am a member of the Waterford Cooley PTO, Water ford Youth Assistance Board( past ), Water ford Library Board( past) and current member of the Hess-Hathaway Parks Board. During the COVID Pandemic I helped secure funding for and distributed nearly 400,000 meals to Waterford Kids/families. Most recently I worked with the Oakland County Board of Commission to secure 1.6 million dollars in Cares Act money for Waterford kids to help with learning devices, PPE and other COVID related cost. My wife and I have been together 23 years, living and raising our family here in Waterford. Our oldest daughter is a former Waterford student and recently started her first year of law school, our youngest daughter is in the 1st grade at Waterford Cooley Elementary.
Q: Why should Waterford voters support you over other candidates?
• Gary Wall: I believe I have earned the support of our Waterford Township community. There is nothing fancy about me. What you see is what you get, a hands- on, hard- working, honest man who truly loves this community. I’ve spent a lifetime here and that lifetime is still going. Since being elected your Township Supervisor in 2012, we have had balanced budgets since day one. In April of 2014, we achieved the highest bond rating in Township history AA, and still maintain that to this day. There has been more square footage of vacant dilapidated structures demolished during my time in office than in any other time in Township history. With the help of our tax-paying residents and businesses, we were able to get a police and fire SAD approved to purchase new equipment and vehicles, and hire more staff for both police and fire to help keep us as one of the safest communities nationally with a population of 50,000 or more. With me as your Supervisor, these efforts will continue to succeed as Waterford Township will continue to grow and advance in a positive way. I look forward to serving this community for four more years.
• John Paul Torres: I will bring strength, stability and experience to the Supervisor position. Strength- I am passionate, vocal, thoughtful and I will listen. Those that know me know that I will not stand down when challenged and I will always fight for Waterford. Stability- During my tenure on the School Board I helped raise the Waterford School District fund balance three- fold and obtain our AA Bond Rating. I pushed for equitable pay increases for teachers, bus drivers and other staff while also advocating for innovations and advancements in academics. Waterford Students are now receiving admissions to schools such as Harvard and Stanford with unprecedented scholarship opportunities. ExperienceI am a seasoned administrator that has worked at all levels of government. I have overseen multi-million- dollar budgets, created innovative programs and utilized governmental resources to benefit our communities. I have the experience and expertise to move Waterford forward during these unprecedented times. It’s time for Change in Waterford.