Yanca appointed

Board appoints SVSU social work professor as temporary treasurer

June 23, 2008 —

The Kochville Township Board of Trustees made their latest personnel move this past Tuesday, appointing Stephen Yanca as its temporary treasurer.

Board members passed a vote by a count of 3-1 in favor of Yanca, a social work professor at SVSU.The move fills the position that was vacated May 6 when voters recalled Crystal Kauer as the township's treasurer.

Yanca will perform the position's duties through the summer until Aug. 5, when voters will take part in a special election to determine whether Yanca continue to serve in his post, or if Kochville Township resident Sally Knowlton will occupy the position until the general election in November.

The board made the move despite pressure from the likes of the township's attorney, the Michigan Townships Association, and Saginaw County clerk to avoid appointing anyone to the position before the Aug. 5 election.

State law is different when an official is recalled. This fact had put several parties against the idea of filling the spot before the special election.

Michigan State law states: ""If [a] recall is successful, a special election is conducted on the next regular election date to fill the office vacancy."

The Board of Trustees, however, believes it is within its legal right to fill the spot before the special election, citing a clause that states when "power to fill a vacancy by appointment exists," then it "shall be filled in the same manner by temporary appointment effective" until residents vote in a replacement in a special election.

Because the township advertised the position opening in The Saginaw News, the board said they felt it was necessary to fill the position. Yanca was the lone applicant for the job.

Kauer came under fire during her tenure as the township's treasurer for her pro-development votes.

She had supported development in the township, which included University-related development on Pierce and Davis.

Her pro-development stance was the driving force behind resident group Kochville First petitioning for the recall.

The group also petitioned to recall trustee Randall Norton, but he resigned in February.

Kauer was also recalled in August 2006, but in a strange twist, was voted back in the same night.