Another shake-up hit Plymouth Township government this week when Trustee Mark Clinton resigned less than halfway through his elected term, citing the “deceitful nature” of township leaders.
Clinton is the fourth member of the board to announce a departure in recent months.
In a July 28 resignation letter, Clinton suggested his dissatisfaction had been building for months, saying he had seen “little to no meaningful progress” under the township’s current administration during the past two years.
The final decision, he said, came following a July 21 meeting when the board voted to appoint a replacement for Trustee Jen Buckley, who resigned from the position earlier in the month.
Clinton said was not aware prior to the meeting that a candidate for Buckley’s seat had been identified.
“As the final straw, the deceitful nature of the Supervisor and two Trustees was made apparent, as I was knowingly excluded from the process of selecting a new Trustee,” wrote Clinton, who cast the sole “no” vote and said the decision was made behind the scenes.
“As an elected Trustee, I expected to be included in decisions of this importance, and I believe the citizens deserve a process that is open, transparent, and collaborative.”
The board appointed former planning comissioner Bill Ickes to the position in a 5-1 vote.
Supervisor Chuck Curmi offered few comments on Clinton’s letter or his departure.
“I wish him well and the township thanks him for his service,” Curmi said, noting the township did not formally solicit applications for Buckley’s the seat but instead spoke with some individuals who expressed interest in serving on the board.
Under Michigan law, township boards have 45 days to make an appointment for a vacant seat, but the law does not specify a process for the appointment.
Curmi said the remaining board members will now decide how to fill the seat vacated by Clinton, who was elected as township treasurer in 2016 and served in the position until 2021 when he stepped down due to a health issue. In 2024, he was elected trustee.
Clinton’s resignation is the latest in a series of departures that began when Clerk Jerry Vorva left his role in March, citing a cancer diagnosis and what he described as a “hostile environment” at township offices.
In August 2025, Vorva sued Trustee John Stewart in Wayne County Circuit Court, alleging Stewart aggressively lunged at him during a closed-session board meeting. Stewart denies the allegations. The case is pending.
Meanwhile, Vorva’s resignation triggered a contentious process for naming a new clerk that bitterly divided remaining members of the board, angered residents and prompted one candidate to withdraw after describing the board as “dysfunctional.”
During the appointment process, Buckley and Trustee Sandy Groth vied for the clerk’s position, trading jabs and riling community members who attended the meetings.
The board deadlocked, with Clinton and Treasurer Bob Doroshewitz backing Buckley and Curmi and Trustee John Stewart supporting Groth.
On May 13, the board reached a compromise by appointing newcomer Kim Gaedeke as clerk.
Then, at a June 23 meeting, Doroshewitz, who has served on the board since 2004, announced he planned to resign in late 2026 or early 2027. Doroshewitz said his decision was unrelated to the contentious meetings or work environment.
The following day, Buckley, appointed to fill a vacancy in 2022 and elected to the position in 2024, submitted her resignation, saying her family had purchased a home outside Plymouth Township. She also said the decision was unrelated to tensions on the board.
In closing his letter, Clinton said serving the residents of Plymouth Township has been “an honor.”
“I sincerely appreciate the trust they placed in me,” he said.
Contact reporter Laura Colvin: lcolvin@hometownlife.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Plymouth Township trustee quits, cites ‘deceitful nature’ of board
Reporting by Laura Colvin, Hometownlife.com / Detroit Free Press
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By Laura Colvin, Hometownlife.com | USA TODAY Network
