Father, daughter serve as road commission chairs for St. Clair, Oakland counties

Roads may not seem like a typical family passion, but it is for the LaLondes.

While Tim LaLonde has served on the St. Clair County Road Commission Board off and on for more than two decades, he became chair of it this January. He shares the leadership experience with his daughter, Andrea LaLonde, who became chair of the Oakland County Road Commission Board in 2019.

Betty McNerney, communications specialist for the County Road Association of Michigan, said the LaLondes might be the first father and daughter to serve as road commission chairs at the same time.

"To our knowledge, this sort of thing has not happened before," she said.

Andrea LaLonde said when she became chair in her home county, her dad told her that he hoped there would soon be a time when he was also in that role.

“I’m real proud of her,” Tim LaLonde said. “I’ve learned some things from her, and I hope she’s learned from me.”

Both LaLondes said they are able to find support in each other when it comes to their positions. Andrea LaLonde said the advice she gets from her father is invaluable because of how long he’s been a part of the St. Clair County Road Commission. Tim LaLonde said he feels they can easily bounce ideas off of each other.

Andrea LaLonde said since becoming a road commissioner chair, she feels like she had her father have become closer than ever.

“We’re a close family to begin with, but this is something that only me and my dad share,” she said.

Tim LaLonde said being on the St. Clair County Road Commission Board allows him to better serve the community.

“I get satisfaction from helping the citizens of St. Clair County and helping the road system,” Tim Lalonde said.

Andrea LaLonde was asked to join the Oakland County Road Commission after working for an organization that represented road workers. She said she became interested in the policy side of road work as well as the maintenance of it.

She is the first woman to serve as the Oakland County Road Commission chair. She said she felt a sense of responsibility in taking the position, allowing other women to see a reflection of themselves in leadership.

“When I first entered the position, there were a lot of other female employees who were excited to have representation on the board,” she said.

The Oakland County Road Commission rotates its chair position every two years. Andrea LaLonde was supposed to rotate out of the position last year, but her successor at the time decided to step down, allowing her to act at commission chair for another year.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.