About Barry

As a Lodi Township resident and property owner for 10 years, I've worked hard to improve my property and establish a small hobby farm with my wife and dogs.  We garden in the summer, make maple syrup in March and collect tree fruit & nuts in the fall. Its been quite an adventure and I'm proud to call Lodi my home.

I earned an MS in urban planning and historic preservation from EMU where I worked to help develop the Washtenaw County “HistWeb” Historic Resources Database. This is a great resource that catalogs the many historic barns and structures here and throughout the county.   

Having worked for years as a certified science teacher and lecturer, teaching geography at U of M - Dearborn, I maintain my desire to learn, engage with and inform people.  If elected as Supervisor I will approach my role as an educator, prepared to listen, inform, and communicate effectively.  I'm ready to solve problems and work successfully with a diverse range of constituents and stakeholders.

The administration of property taxes in Michigan can be complex and confusing.  Under Michigan law, the Township Supervisor is also the chief assessor and secretary for the board of review. Few township supervisors are trained in assessing and leave that work to a hired assessor. I am a Level III state certified assessor with six years’ experience in the field. I have prepared township tax rolls and am able to bring a trained eye to our assessment process, ensuring our property owners are being assessed fairly and correctly.  

The township supervisor is also the first contact for ordinance issues. I have three years’ experience as a code enforcement officer, working with property owners on zoning and ordinance related issues. I'm good at explaining ordinances and cooperating with people to correct violations in a fair and reasonable manner. Of course, rules are not effective if they are confusing or not enforced consistently. I believe Lodi Township would benefit from a new ordinance enforcement strategy that responds effectively to resident complaints and does not rely on an elected official to administer day to day.  

The township supervisor is also responsible for being the lead negotiator for contracts with the township. I have 10 years’ experience as a labor union organizer and have participated in several rounds of complex contract negotiations. I look forward to bringing this experience to the table to craft clear and equitable contracts for Lodi Township.