Mittelstedt is Harrison Township’s new deputy supervisor

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — It is “new year, new deputy” for the Harrison Township Supervisor’s Office.

Following the election of Joseph Aragona to the Michigan House of Representatives, the position of Harrison Township’s deputy supervisor was left vacant. By the time 2023 rolled around, Stephanie Mittelstedt was selected and ready to fill the role.

Mittelstedt brings experience from both the private and municipal sectors. She was first exposed to municipal government through her work with the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“You got to meet a lot of local government (officials while) working with the chamber and doing local community events,” Mittelstedt said. “Prior to that, I had marketing positions in hospitality, and before that, I was blessed enough to be a stay-at-home mom for about seven years.”

Mittelstedt made connections with the chamber through her marketing work for restaurants, eventually getting into municipal government positions in Clinton Township. It was the relative stability of municipal jobs that made the switch from hospitality attractive to Mittelstedt.

“I am a mom, and the hospitality industry doesn’t have nice hours,” Mittelstedt said. “Sometimes it’s not a good support for a family, and I was looking for something a little bit more stable. I don’t want to keep hopping around from place to place; I want to move forward with my career.”

Mittelstedt began her work with Clinton Township in 2019, where she worked as an administrative assistant and served on several committees.

She came to Harrison Township at the urging of Township Supervisor Ken Verkest not long after the 2022 election results were in.

“Supervisor Verkest contacted me around Thanksgiving (or) early December and suggested me the opportunity,” Mittelstedt said. “I had previously worked with Joe Aragona … He was a trustee for me at Clinton Township. (Aragona) knew my work ethic and the things I do, and when Ken suggested me, Joe approached me and asked if I would be interested, and I sat down and was very honored to be offered the position.”

According to Mittelstedt, the role in Harrison Township is not too different from her role in Clinton Township. However, the size difference between the townships means Mittelstedt will be more involved with the government’s functions.

“I will be handling a lot more one-on-one things where we used to have department heads in Clinton Township that would do them,” Mittelstedt said. “I’m kind of an extension of Ken’s arm, if you will. I will be the liaison when he is in another meeting or he is unavailable. I’ll be the point person so that residents have someone to reach out to and talk to. … I’m going to be an extension of Ken.”

Harrison Township’s small size and the prospect of a more direct involvement with the government and residents is a plus for Mittelstedt, a Fraser native and an Armada resident who sees this as a return to her small-town roots.

“I’m excited, now that I’ve been with Clinton Township for four years, to learn local government from the other side — from the smaller side of things and get back to my roots where, honestly, I am more comfortable,” Mittelstedt said.

Mittelstedt believes having connections with Harrison Township’s surrounding communities will help with finding options and helping out the township while she is in the position of deputy supervisor, a role she said she hopes to keep for as long as she can.

Mittelstedt can be reached by Harrison Township residents on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the township offices, located at 38151 L’Anse Creuse Street. She can be reached by email at SMittelstedt@harrison-township.org and by calling the township Supervisor’s Office at (586) 466-1445.