January 2024

Dear friends,

After nearly 30 years of residing in southeast Michigan, my family and I settled in Lodi Township five years ago, drawn by the allure of the trees and the promise of a tranquil retreat close to quality food, community, and downtown Ann Arbor.

Our vision was to blend seamlessly with nature, and the trees led us to our current abode—a few enchanting wooded acres on the outskirts of the city in Lodi Township. However, as time passed, we found ourselves facing mounting development pressures encroaching upon our serene surroundings.

Many of you have shared in my advocacy efforts during township meetings, where for three years I've consistently been at meetings and ardently championed the preservation of our forests and land. Nature is not just an external entity to me; it's my spirituality, the medium through which I connect with myself and the world around me.

Having spent years standing up for the voiceless trees, I'm reminded of the profound interconnectedness we share with the earth, its creatures, and its flora. As we navigate the choices that shape our environment, it's imperative that we honor this bond.

That's why I'm stepping up to run for Trustee in our township, aligning with the core values of safeguarding our natural resources, as enshrined in the Lodi Twp Master Plan. Central to this plan are goals to preserve our area's character by safeguarding existing natural features.

With a background in engineering, I bring to the table organizational prowess, effective communication skills, and a commitment to marrying scientific process with ecological consciousness. And with a long lineage of rural farmers in my ancestry, I believe I can offer a connection and listening ear so that our agricultural roots are also honored into our future.

Let's embark on this journey together. I'm running for Trustee not just out of a sense of duty but because I genuinely care about our community—both human and non-human alike. Let's infuse our shared values, as articulated in our master plan and rooted in our agricultural heritage, into our present and future endeavors.

Thank you for your support.

~ Leslie