Dear editor,

A local newspaper article headline reads, “New leadership coming to Niles Township,” relative to our coming election.

Our current Niles Charter Township supervisor, James Kidwell, is in his first term. Our current clerk, Durm-Hiatt, and township treasurer, James Ringler, have, in my view, been the naysayers blocking progress in the township.

They have not cooperated as team members are expected to, as members of an elected board saying “no” was easy, compromising was something they were incapable of, because Kidwell wasn’t a part of their clique.

It’s my view that Durm-Hiatt and Ringler recruited an outsider to return to Niles Township, namely James Stover, absent for nearly two decades. Why an outsider? They couldn’t draft a local to accept their way of operating.

And, remembering in an interview Stover was asked what he’d do if defeated, his response was, “return to the Grand Rapids area.” So much for Stover’s loyalty to Niles Township.

Have you all forgotten the scandal between Ringler and our township zoning administrator? He supposedly requested zoning changes that would be beneficial to a real estate agent, which Ringler is. Has that left our radar screen?

Don’t forget that we had another real estate brouhaha involving Ringler and another development in western Niles Township.

Now, with Durm-Hiatt’s voluntary retirement, is it possible we could oust Jim Ringler as treasurer, allowing the township to realize its true potential by replacing the obstructionists we’ve been stuck with so many years. Shall we pray?

Glen Edquist

Niles Township