Elmwood once again has a full compliment of Planning Commission members, as the Township Board voted unanimously at a special meeting last week to appoint a relative unknown in township political circles.

Michael A. Richey, whose name has not previously cropped up in Elmwood politics, was named to a 3-year term vacated by past commission chair Jack Kelly. Richey is an attorney with the Traverse City law firm of Dingeman, Dancer & Christopherson, and has resided in the township for about a year.

Richey said his politically clean background in Elmwood may be an asset, and aligned his sights with those of fellow Planning Commission members in completing work on a new township Zoning Ordinance.

“I’m excited by the challenge,” said Richey. “I’m a relative newcomer to the area. I really don’t have an allegiance to one group in Elmwood Township.”

Planning Commission openings are filled by township supervisors with approval needed by a majority of Township Board members. The commission was down to as few as four members in 2005 when supervisor Derith Smith could not get her appointments approved, and the commission spent much of the year without a full roster.

One reason was Smith’s insistence that resident Eric Saxton be appointed. Eventually, she and the board compromised on selections, but Smith resurrected Saxton’s appointment when Kelly decided not to seek reappointment.

And board members once again voted 4-3 to reject Saxton, this time at their May 8 meeting.

But Richey’s appointment sailed through, with no dissent.

Smith said she had never met Richey. However, the attorney, who has appeared on the “Ask the Attorney” radio talk show on WTCM, will help fill a geographic void on the commission, Smith said.

Richey resides in a development overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay in northern Elmwood Township. The area had not been represented on the Planning Commission, Smith said, and represents the fastest-growing location in Elmwood Township.

Richey is a member of the Leelanau County Democratic Party, and a volunteer with Bib Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan and the Third Level Crisis Center.

He said his first priority will be to work with fellow planners in gaining approval of a new Zoning Ordinance that has been years in the making.