By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
After months of political wrangling on TV with commercials beyond count and signs and banners everywhere, all between candidates on the ballot November 5th, the big day is nearly here – only four days away in case you haven’t voted already.
We all know about the presidential stuff but here are some last-minute reminders of what will be on the local ballots for Michigan.
Clare County’s main choices for U.S. Senator are: Democrat Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers.
Others in the running include: Libertarian Joseph Lolis-Mullen; Dave Stein for U.S. Taxpayers; Douglas P. Marsh for the Green party; and Doug Dern for Natural Law.
Vying for the one seat (2nd District) in the U.S. House of Representatives is Democrat Michael Lynch facing Republican incumbent John R. Moolenaar.
Others on the ballot for that seat include Libertarian Ben DeJong and Scott Adams for the U.S. Taxpayers.
At the State level, running to represent the 100th District are Democrat Tracy Ruell against Incumbent Republican Tom Kunse.
For Clare County, Republican Andrew J. Santini is the only candidate seeking to fill the seat being vacated by Prosecutor Michelle Ambrozaitis who is seeking a judgeship.
Candidate Challenges for the Clare County Commission include:
*District 4 – Jeff Haskell (R) and Rick Jones (Ind)
*District 5 – David A. Hoefling (R) and Ed Fancon (Ind)
Two seats are available on the Clare County Road Commission. They are uncontested and will be filled by Republicans Karen Hulliberger and Bill Simpson.
William Faber (R) is the only one on the ballot for Clare County Drain Commissioner, but reportedly he faces a write-in candidate.
There are three non-partisan candidates up for Judges seats on the 55th Circuit Court of Clare and Gladwin Counties.
Tara S. Hovey is unopposed and seeking to fill the partial term ending January 1, 2027.
Michelle J. Ambrozaitis and Karyn E. Tomczyk are both seeking a six-year term on the 55th Circuit Court of Clare and Gladwin Counties.
Incumbent Marcy Klaus, also unopposed, is seeking another term as Judge of the 17th Probate District Court.
Michael W. Jankoviak is seeking to fill a partial term on the Mid Michigan College Board of Trustees ending December 21, 2026 on the MMC board.
In Clare City three seats are up for grabs on the City Commission. Incumbents running for re-election are Bob Bonham, Maegan Jenkins and Carolyn Murphy. Challenging them for one of the seats is Karl V. Hauser.
No challenges for Harrison.
Daniel Sullivan is running for another term as mayor of the City of Harrison. Three are running for three seats on the Council – Nathan Hulliberger, Robert Stewart and Garrett Wood.
In the Village of Farwell, only the Village President’s seat is contested. Three are running to fill the president’s seat Incumbent Tracey L. Coker Jackson, Russ Hamilton, and Jeffery Linton.
Five are seeking four available seats on the Clare Board of Education: Incumbents Susan Atwood and Samantha Sharp, and challengers Jennifer Dancer, Shari Lowe and Jason MacDonald.
Two seats are available, but unchallenged on the Harrison Board of Education. Candidates running for those At-Large seats November 5th are Incumbents Therese R. Haley and Chelsea Roland.
Beaverton’s School Board has four candidates vying for three seats: Daniel Bennett, ShaVonne Brubaker, Mark Hayes and Amber Hubble.
Township Candidates
Only two Clare County Townships have positions contested in the November 5th election and only one township has proposals on the ballot.
In Garfield Township long-time Incumbent Supervisor David Lee Byl (R) will be challenged for his seat by Darrel L. Runyon (Independent).
In Hamilton Township two are facing off for the supervisors seat, Randy Stanifer (D) and Gerald Tom Vaughn (R).
There’s no contest in Surrey Township, with no candidates on the ballot seeking the treasurer’s position or the second trustee seat on the board.
Grant Township will see some new faces, but no competitions. All are Republicans. After the election. John Lake will claim the supervisor’s seat, Brendan Gregory will take over the treasurer’s position, and David Isaac will fill a trustee seat.
There are no challenges on the Redding Township ballot, but there are two proposals.
The first, a fire protection millage proposal, will terminate a special assessment district created in 1980 and replace it with one mill for eight years for contracted fire protection.
The second proposal is 2.25 mills for four years for roads – to maintain, repair, implement dust control and for constructing and reconstruction road right-of-ways.
