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There are five people competing for three village trustee seats in Deckerville.

Incumbents Ronald Ridley and Laurie Turnbull face newcomers Deborah Ruggles, William Smith and Paula Vannest. Brad Reid just announced he is dropping out of the race.

In Lexington four people are vying for three council trustee positions.

Incumbents Tom Constantineau and Dave McAllistter share the ballot with Elva Mills and Peter Muoio.

DECKERVILLE

Bradley Reid

Called the News Monday morning to announce he is dropping out due to the time need to provide 24 hour service to his customers. He does not think he would have enough time to be a good trustee.

Ronald Ridley

Personal: address Ð2289 Maple St.; age Ð60; occupation Ðsales and service water conditioning equipment; incumbent Ð5 years.

Qualifications: Council member 5 years. Businessman in village and resident for 27 years.

Why are you running? "I want to try to make the village a place the people are proud to live in."

Position on how council filled DPW vacancy? "I didn't agree with Laurie, Deb and Sue. It will cost the taxpayers... thousands of dollars to train Cory Schumaker for the DPW position. He is not a certified fireman, has no water or sewer experience, no experience digging or replacing water or sewer lines. He has never operated any equipment the village uses everyday."

Deborah Ruggles

Personal: address Ð2392 Black River St.; age Ð44; occupation Ðmedical assistant.

Qualifications: village resident 13 years. Served on a few community service committees. Interested in giving some time to help out.

Why are you running? "I can see, along with everyone, that the town is slowly losing its citizens, jobs and businesses. The economy has really hit our town hard. What can be done about it, who knows, but I am willing to offer up some of my time to help. I was asked if I would consider running for a position."

Position on how council filled DPW vacancy? "It was done on points system, whoever received the most points got the job. If it was done fairly or not is not up to me. We voted in our council members and trusted them to make the very best decisions. Right our wrong, that is what we elected them for. Nor should be take away from Cory, who has filled the position by continually bringing up controversy over the matter."

William Smith

Personal: address 2302 Maple St.; age Ð70; occupation Ðretired; incumbent Ðformer trustee.

No further information provided.

Laurie Turnbull

Personal: address Ð3473 Vincent St.; age Ð53; occupation Ðmedical office receptionist/biller; incumbent Ð8 years.

Qualifications: lifelong resident. Served on number of committees and boards over past 8 years on council.

Why are you running? "I have enjoyed serving on the village council and would like to continue. Our village is strong and we need to work together as a team. A strong central point of government benefits our town and community."

Position on how council filled DPW vacancy? "Names on the applications were whited out before we reviewed them. They were narrowed down to five, we interviewed five. Then there were three. We chose to go to a point system with only 1.5 points separating these gentlemen. It was a tough, but very honest and fair job. Any one of them would have done a great job."

Paula Vannest

Personal: address Ð3446 Pine St.; age Ð31; occupation Ðmedical assistant.

Qualifications: concerned citizen who is raising family in the village.

Why are you running? "I would like to take a more active role in the community that I have lived in all of my life."

Position on how council filled DPW vacancy? "I disagreed with how the vacancy was filled. In the future I would think it would be best to use an outside hiring firm and supervisor of the job to be filled to do the interviews and to determine who is the best candidate. After that the best candidates could be brought before the board."

LEXINGTON

Tom Constantineau

Personal: address Ð7288 Hubbard St.; age Ð55; occupation Ðretired; incumbent Ð2 1/2 years.

Qualifications: over 35 years business experience in construction throughout U.S. and industrial manufacturing business. Plus 2 years as council trustee.

Why are you running? "To help continue to make Lexington a little slice of heaven to live in while we keep moving forward with the needs of the village. My drive is to ensure that (my two grandsons) will be able to enjoy Lexington...for many years to come... If I have any personal agenda this is it."

How much weight should council give to needs of tourism vs the residents? "Lexington needs to keep a balance of revenue coming into the village to assure that Lexington can function on its own income and not rely on the federal and state funding.... With Lexington being only an hour or so from Detroit and suburbs we must also focus on drawing new residents and business to service the Lexington area."

Dave McAllister

Personal: address -7170 Simon St.; age Ð37; occupation -builder/ contractor; incumbent -4 months.

Qualifications: lifelong area resident. Appointed to council this past spring. Formerly member of village planning commission.

Why are you running? "Being a local business owner has given me the opportunity to interact with a wide range of village residents and listen to their concerns on issues relating to the community as a whole. I feel this has helped me to develop a better understanding as to the needs our village should be addressing."

How much weight should the council give to the needs of tourism vs. the residents? "It is the council's responsibility to provide for the basic needs and services of the village residents. Police, fire, ambulance, infrastructure, etc. should always remain the top priority. Promotion and tourism efforts are better and more efficiently handled through various groups and committees such as the DDA, LBA, Chamber of Commerce, etc. with council support when needed."

Elva Mills

Personal: 5666 Main St.; age Ð76; occupation Ðretired; incumbent Ðsix years.

Qualifications: Experience. 13 years on a suburban board of education and 12 years on a suburban city council, as well as 6 years on Lexington Council. An understanding of how to serve the people I represent.

Why are you running? "To continue to support the projects that are currently started. The north end sewer project, improving the streets both neighborhood and the mobile home park, are projects that need to be seen to complications."

How much weight should council give to needs or tourism vs the residents? "Lexington is not the traditional sleepy little village. The needs of the residents are always primary. In the winter nearly 50% of our residents leave. In order to maintain a full service grocery store, restaurants and variety stores we need tourist as well as residents. We need people to stop passing through, ,but to stop and hopefully stay awhile or a lifetime."

Peter Muoio

Personal: address Ð7276 Lester St.; age Ðnot available; occupation Ðretired healthcare manager.

Qualifications: Perspective as tourist, weekend resident and now full-time resident. 42 years experience in management of service/hospitality operating departments. Leadership positions in professional societies. MBA management from Western Michigan University.

Why are you running? "Now I have the opportunity to fulfill my civic responsibility and have started by serving on the Village Environmental Committee, Downtown Development Authority, the Cable Authority and as a volunteer at Lexington's Senior Center's Home Delivered Meal program."

How much weight should council give to needs of tourism vs the residents? "The council should put in play a strategic plan for the village that incorporates the wishes of the residents, preserves and improves the quality of life that we now enjoy while promoting the growth of the local economy, including the benefits of tourism."