By Gari Voss
When the dust settled and the last in-person voting day was completed on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the votes of 68,170 Allegan County voters (71.8%) were tallied. The results are still be examined by the Allegan County Board of Canvassers. Full information on election results can be found at https://www.allegancounty.org/departments/elections. The unofficial results are as follows.
National
On the national tickets, Republican Donald Trump took the presidential race while, after an extended period of counting, Democrat Elissa Slotkin took the U.S. Senator position, and Republican Bill Huizenga retained his U.S. congressional seat in the 4th District.
State
For the Michigan State Legislature, in the 38th District, Democrat Joey Andrews won over Kevin Whiteford. In the 39th District, Republican incumbent Pauline Wendzel retained her seat. In the 42nd District, Republican incumbent Matt Hall remains in office. In the 43rd District, Rachelle Smit had an overwhelming lead over Danene Shumaker. In the 79th District, Republican Angela Rigas topped Jason Rubin, and in the 86th District, Republican Nancy DeBoer out tallied Abby Klomparens.
The Michigan Supreme Court will be filled with Kimberly Ann Thomas for an 8-year term, and Kyra Harris Bolden will complete the partial term.
Allegan County
There was no contest in county elections. Michael Villar will be the new prosecuting attorney, Frank Baker will continue as sheriff, Bib Genetski continues as county clerk, Sally Brooks remains treasurer, newcomer Chris Machiela will be drain commissioner, and Kevin Miedema will be county surveyor.
County Commissioners had no opposition. District 1: Craig VanBeek; District 2: Mark DeYoung; District 3: Brad Lubbers; District 4: Scott Beltman; District 5: Gale Dugan.
In the judicial contests, Phillip Mariani and Christopher Yates will be the judges of the 3rd District Court of Appeals. Emily Jipp will move into the new 48th Circuit Court judgeship, and Matt Antkoviak will continue in the 48th Circuit Court partial term. Jolene Clearwater will be the judge of the Probate Court. William Baillargeon will serve as judge of the 57th District Court, and Craig Bunce will serve as judge of the 58th District Court.
Allegan District Library
The positions on the Allegan District Library Board will be filled by Jennifer Conrad, Michael Kiella and Peter Savage.
LOCAL ELECTIONS
CITIES / VILLAGES
City of Allegan Council: Patrick Westover, Carl Canales, Melanie Hooker, and Will Walker were the top vote getters and will begin their terms in office during the Nov. 11, 2024 council meeting.
City of Douglas Council: Randy Walker, Greg Freeman, Neal Seabert and John O’Malley will serve the terms.
Otsego City Commission: Voters agreed that Jason M Smith, Stacey L Withee and Wayne Rayburn would fill out the commission.
Plainwell City Council: Voters selected Lori Steele and Cathy Green to fill the 4-year terms.
Saugatuck City Council: Scott Dean, Lauren Stanton, Chris Peterson and Gregory Muncey will round out the council.
Wayland City Council: Jennifer Antel will be the city mayor with a council including Tracy Bivins, Joe Kramer, and Norman L Taylor.
Hopkins Village: Mike Alberda was approved as Village Clerk. Tabitha Kennedy will be Treasurer, and Trustees will be Dawn Buist, David Hyatt, Phil Mullett, Micholas Pawloski and Ben Williams with one empty seat.
Martin Village: The village will be lead by President Gary Brinkhuis, Clerk April Taylor, Treasurer Alice Kelsey, and Trustees Ricky Martin and Joshua Visser.
TOWNSHIPS
Allegan Township: Steve Schulz remains supervisor, Michelle Waite clerk, Laree Waanders treasurer, and trustees Jim Connell and Heather D. Knight.
Casco Township: Allan Overhiser remains supervisor, Rachel Ridley is clerk, Kenny Clevenger squeaked by K. Kelly Clevenger for treasurer, and trustees will be Dan Fleming and Mary Campbell.
Cheshire Township Steve Revor remains supervisor, Jodi Pinnell moves into the clerk position, Ron Hale holds the treasurer position, and trustees will remain Raymond Moored and Ken Horton.
Clyde Township: Tommie Giles remains supervisor, Pam Onken is clerk, Christine McKellips is treasurer, and Robert Larsen and Bernard McLeod will fill out the trustees.
Dorr Township: Jeffrey Miling will be supervisor, Debbie Sewers clerk, Laurie Perry treasurer, and Patrick Champion, Chandler Stanton, John Tuinstra and Dan Weber trustees. A Township Park Commissioner will be Mike Garland but there are still 4 vacant slots on this commission. Dorr Township needs 6 library board members.
Fillmore Township: John Yonker is supervisor, Elaine Mokma clerk, Leah Folkert treasurer, and Chuck Schaap and Robert Yonker will be the trustees.
Ganges Township: John Hebert is supervisor, Robin Phelps is clerk, Cindy Reimink is treasurer, Richard Hutchins and George Thompson will be trustees.
Gun Plain Township: Michael VanDenBerg is supervisor, Martha Meert clerk, Annette Horton treasurer, and Dana Albertson, Kevin Meert, Jenann Pearson and Christine VanDenBerg will serve as trustees.
Heath Township: Ronald Jones is supervisor, Missy Harvey clerk, Misti Lindholm treasurer, and Hilda Boerman and William Harvey will be trustees.
Hopkins Township: Cade Bolser holds the supervisor position, Stacey Timmer is clerk, Eric Alberda is treasurer, and Robert Modreske and Charles Wamhoff are the trustees.
Laketown Township: Steven Ringelberg is supervisor, Jim Delaney is clerk, Jim Johnson won over Stacy Lefevre for treasurer, and Michael Koeman and Mark Timmerman will be the trustees. The Township Park Commissioners will be Mary Jo Bertolino, Thomas Hoekman, Brad Laninga, Sherry Sirko and Michael Teekamp.
Lee Township: Richard Rawson unseated Scott Owen as supervisor, Kathy Blackburn is clerk, Joe Godlew is treasurer, and Ann Hatfield and Ben Lewis unseated incumbent Lisa Galdikas.
Leighton Township: Steve Wolbrink is supervisor, Rachel Fennema clerk, Jacquelynn Bultsma treasurer, and Brian Bonnema and John Hooker will serve as trustees. The Library Board will include Renee Baareman, Susan Cotts, Lynn Gort, Steve Martin, Faith Miedema, and Kaylyn VanHarn.
Manlius Township: Barbara Van Gelderen remains supervisor, Matthew Rooks is clerk, Troy Thompson is treasurer, and David Kempker and Thomas Nolan will serve as trustees.
Martin Township: Glenn Leep is supervisor, Jennifer Wharton clerk, Susan Tiemeyer treasurer, and Jim DeYoung and John Schipper will be the trustees. The Library Board will include Ruth Altman, Raylene Bennington, Jennifer Billington, Dan Denbraber, Alice Kelsey and Julie Pallett.
Monterey Township: Henry Reinart is supervisor, Megan Frank clerk, Julie DeHaan treasurer, and Eric Commons and Jerry Williams complete the board.
Otsego Township: Bryan Winn holds supervisor, Jen Colin is clerk, Carrie Lunarde-Alexander is treasurer, and Karen Burns, Michael Gudith, Rick Moll and Lori Bumgart will serve as trustees.
Overisel Township: Lisa Russcher is supervisor, Lori Scholten clerk, Rachel Hoeve treasurer, and Josh Groenheide and Ben Koopman will serve as trustees.
Salem Township: James Pitsch is supervisor, Renee Busscher clerk, and Ashley Brower treasurer, while Donald Sebright and Dan Striegle serve as trustees. The Library Board will include Lydia Bouman, Amber Hoppe, Connie Immink, Joy L Jones, Rebecca Walters and Ashley VanZoeren.
Saugatuck Township: Abby Bigford is supervisor, Cindy Osman clerk, Jon Helmrich treasurer, and Stacey Aldrich and Brenda Marcy will serve as trustees. The Township Park Commissioners will be Dana Burd, Kenneth Butler, Jane Dickie, Jim Searing and Elliott Sturm.
Trowbridge Township: Jeff Kaylor is supervisor, Steven Angle clerk, and Cindi Kurtz treasurer while Tony Emmons Jr. and Lori Querback out distanced Mark Haveman in the trustee race.
Valley Township: Ron Remington is supervisor, Brandee Ellis clerk, and Christi Foster treasurer, while Timothy Batchelor and Mike Krcatovich are the trustees.
Watson Township: Kevin Travis is supervisor, Mary Ann Baker is clerk, Tera Rae Davis is treasurer, and Michelle Harris and Joseph Yearous are trustees.
Wayland Township: Roger VanVolkinburg is supervisor, Lillian DeKoning is clerk, and Susan Kamyszek is treasurer, while Matthew Miner and Jim Stein serve as trustees.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The extremely important position of School Board members were filled easily in some districts while others had several contenders and a couple are still looking to fil these positions that affect the students and staffs.
Allegan School Board
Katherine Lake and Brad Van Melle will serve.
Bloomingdale School Board
Tim Remington and Jodi Sower will fill the empty seats.
Fennville Public Schools
Natalie Bosby and Ross Thiele will serve the district.
Hamilton School Board
Loren Joostberns and Candice Dykstra held off Janell Simmons for the open seats.
Hopkins School Board
Karen Ryan and Steven Johnson won over Ian A Gibson for the two open seats.
Martin Public Schools Board
Eric Curry will fill one of the two open seats. Chuck Oxender will serve the partial term.
Otsego Public Schools Board
Jason Davis and Amy Stender will round out the Board for 6 years. Jessica Hazelhoff will complete the partial term.
Plainwell Community Schools Board
Voters chose Michael Hopson, Derek Dunn and Jill Dunham as Board members with Anthony McNeel a close fourth.
Saugatuck Public Schools Board
The Saugatuck Public Schools will still be looking for 4 members to fill the 4-year terms.
Wayland Union Schools Board
There was a close race with Becky Hohnke, Stephanie Tromp, Theresa Dobry and Erin Stepek slipping past Daniel Cassini.
