By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
After month of political wrangling between candidates on the ballot November 5th, the big day is nearly here – only ten days away now.
Looking at the ballot for president and vice president, Vice President Kamala Harrison is hoping to move up to the highest position and VP hopeful is Tim Walz. They are the Democratic choice while Former President Donald Trump and JD Vance are the Republican’s choice to lead the country for the next four years.
Both teams have some challenges from other parties.
For the Libertarians are Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat; U.S. Taxpayers on the ballot for the highest seats in the land are Randall Terry and Stephen E. Broden; Green candidates are Jill Stein and Randolph Ware; U.S. Taxpayers candidates are Randall Terry and Stephen E. Broden; Green candidates on the ballot are Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware, Natural Law candidates are Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Nicole Shanahan; Two sets of No Party Affiliation candidates include Joseph Kishore and Jerry White and also Cornel West and Melina Abdullah.
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.
Vieing 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 Trucy 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.
Three other county officials that are running unopposed for re-election are Sheriff John S. Wilson (R); Clerk & Register of Deeds Lori Mott (R); and Treasurer Jenny Beemer-Fritzinger (R).
Tim Lapham (R) is also unopposed for another term as County Surveyor.
Candidates for the Clare County Commission include:
*District 1 – Marlene M. Housler (R)
*District 2—Dale Majewski (R)
*District 3 – Jacob Gross (R)
*District 4 – Jeff Haskell (R) and Rick Jones (Ind)
*District 5 – David A. Hoefling (R) and Ed Fancon (ind)
*District 6 – Jack Kleinhardt (R)
*District 7 – Gabe Ambrozaitis (R)
*District 8 – George Gilmore (R)
*District 9 – Rickie Fancon (R)
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 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 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, unopposed, is seeking another term as Judge of the 17th Probate District Court.
Three are unopposed on the Mid Michigan College Board of Trustees. They are Richard Allen, Karen Moore and Lois Pittsley. Michael W. Jankoviak is seeking to fill a partial term ending December 21, 2026 on the MMC board.
In Clare City three seats are up for election 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.
The City of Harrison has only one running unopposed for mayor – Daniel Sullivan, and three running for three seats Council – Nathan Hulliberger, Robert Stewart and Garrett Wood.
In the Village of Farwell, which is included on the Surrey Township ballot, three are running for three seats on the Village Board of Trustees: Marvin Frayer, Tonya Roe and Victoria Williams. Three others are running to fill the seat of Farwell Village President: 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 on the Harrison Board of Education. Candidates running for those At-Large seats November 5th are Incumbents Therese R. Haley and Chelsea Roland.
Incumbents Jade Campbell and Kellee Robinson are running unopposed in the general election for Farwell Area Schools.
Beaverton School Board has four candidates 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 interim Supervisor David Lee Byl (R) will be challenged for his seat by Darrel L. Runyon (Independent).
In Hamilton Township two are seeking the supervisors seat, Randy Stanifer (D) and Gerald Tom Vaughn (R).
There’s no contest in Surrey Township, however there are no candidates seeking the treasurer’s position or the second trustee seat on the board.
Grant Township will see some new faces, all 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.
No changes, barring successful write-in candidates, are expected for candidates 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.
