In Plymouth Township, next week’s primary elections have been filled with mud-slinging and a constant flow of accusations between the incumbent Republican township supervisor and his opponent. As both the Republican candidates and the voters prepare for the poll, the community has seen an upsurge in personal attacks across various media channels.
Township Supervisor, Kurt Heise, who has held this position since 2016, is being challenged by Charles Curmi, a trustee on the township board. Contention and bitterness have characterized this rivalry, afflictions that reflect not only individual disagreements, but also the broader divide within the GOP.
Key points of disagreement within the township include a future Meijer store and a proposed development on the site of the former Northville Downs racetrack. Heise, a former state lawmaker, has been accused of masking his true political leanings and altering the essence of the township via his endorsement of developments viewed as inappropriate.
Several local people have expressed their concern over the growing tension and hostility in local politics, longing for the civility and decency that once characterized the township’s elections.
The supervisor race isn’t the only contentious one. A majority of the incumbent Republican board members face challengers in the GOP primary, signaling a rising unrest within the community.
Anonymously-run websites and political action committees, or PACs, are adding fuel to the fire. Both candidates have expressed concern over these attacks, labeling them unnecessary and unproductive.
Plymouth Township, a peaceful haven nestled between Detroit and Ann Arbor, has found itself at the heart of some intricate territorial debates. Heise and Curmi’s shared determination to reshape and influence the township’s future has stirred passionate debate and deep dissent among community members and officials alike.
While challenger Curmi believes Heise’s intended developments would damage the township’s pleasant ambiance, creating a hotbed for crime and transience, incumbent Supervisor Heise champions his achievements in nurturing more than half a billion dollars of new investment into the area.
A key point of contention is the proposed Meijer store near Five Mile and Beck roads. A lawsuit from Meijer and developer Redico against the township after the initial publicity request denial, the lawsuit was settled enabling the go-ahead for the store. Disapproval of the settlement agreement has played a major role in the campaign against Heise and other incumbents.
The controversial deal concerning the former Northville Downs racetrack is another catalyst for tension. Failed negotiations earlier this year prompted the Downs’ owners to file a $10 million federal lawsuit against the township. This uninhibited display of malcontent within the local community is a testament to the rising vitriol characterizing the primary, heightening the tension leading up to the polls.
Despite the harsh words and contentious clashes, the goal for both Heise and Curmi is to preserve and enhance the character and prosperity of Plymouth Township. The weeks and months following this tumultuous primary will undoubtedly reveal how the chips fall in this polarized community.
