What's on the ballot in Charlevoix County?
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CHARLEVOIX COUNTY — Voters in Charlevoix County will have full ballots in the November 2022 midterm election.
Here’s a rundown of the competitive candidate races and topics on the ballot for county residents on Tuesday, Nov. 8. To view your sample ballot, visit michigan.gov/sos/elections.
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Statewide and Congressional
A trio of prominent statewide offices — governor, attorney general and secretary of state — will be on November’s ballot.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, is seeking a second term. She faces Republican Tudor Dixon, who emerged from a crowded primary in August. Third party candidates include Mary Buzema (Libertarian), Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers), Kevin Hogan (Green) and Daryl Simpson (Natural Law).
Democrat Dana Nessel is seeking reelection as attorney general against Republican Matthew DePerno. Joseph McHugh Jr. (Libertarian) and Gerald Van Sickle (U.S. Taxpayers) are running as well.
Candidates for secretary of state are Democrat Jocelyn Benson, Republican Kristina Karamo, Libertarian Gregory Stempfle, Christine Schwartz of U.S. Taxpayers and Larry Hutchinson Jr. from the Green Party.
Voters in Charlevoix will vote in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District. Candidates are Jack Bergman (Republican), Bob Lorinser (Democrat), Andrew Gale (Libertarian), and Liz Hakola (Working Class Party).
Three statewide proposals to amend the state’s constitution will also be decided in November.
Proposal 22-1 aims to change the state’s term limits. If adopted, the proposal will limit state legislators to 12 years of service, which can be served entirely in either the state house or senate, or in a combination of both. The proposal also adds financial disclosure requirements for legislators, the governor, secretary of state, attorney general and lieutenant governor.
Proposal 22-2 deals with voting laws. If approved, the constitutional amendment would add nine days of in-person early voting, allow voters to verify their identity with photo ID or a signed statement, allow voters to use a single application to vote absentee in all elections, require state-funded absentee-ballot drop boxes and postage for absentee applications and ballots, make it so post-election audits may only be conducted by election officials, require military or overseas ballots to be counted if postmarked by election day — and more.
The final proposal, Proposal 22-3, deals with reproductive rights. It would add a constitutional amendment to “establish new individual right to reproductive freedom” for all decisions about pregnancy including childbirth, abortion, postpartum care, contraception, prenatal care and infertility. It would also invalidate state laws conflicting with the amendment.
Voters will also choose two members of the state board of education, two regents of the University of Michigan, two trustees for Michigan State University and two governors of Wayne State University.
Judicial Races
A handful of spots on the bench will be contested in statewide races. Two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court are up for election, with incumbents Richard Bernstein and Brian Zahra facing Kyra Bolden of Southfield, Paul Hudson of Kalamazoo and Kerry Lee Morgan of Redford.
State House and Senate
Republican John Damoose is running against Democrat Barb Conley and Libertarian Zachary Deal for the 37th State Senate seat and Republican Neil Friske is running against Democrat Jodi Decker for the 107th State House seat.
Charlevoix County
There are no countywide proposals in Charlevoix County, but a handful of county commissioner races will be contested.
In District 1, which includes Hayes, Bay and Melrose townships, incumbent Charlevoix County Commissioner Robert (Bob) Jess is being challenged by Craig Malmstrom. In District 5 — which includes Eveline, Marion and Norwood townships and the Beaver Island townships of St. James and Peaine — incumbent Scott Hankins is running against Nancy Ferguson. In District 6, which includes the City of Charlevoix and Charlevoix Township, Annemarie Conway is running against Cheryl Potter Browe.
More:Jordan Valley EMS ballot proposal
Jordan Valley EMS Authority and fire equipment millages
There are two proposals on the ballot for residents in the East Jordan area.
A fire equipment millage request that, if passed, will permit the city to levy up to 1.5 mills for the purpose of providing funds for the purchase and maintenance of fire equipment in the years 2022-2025.
The Jordan Valley EMS Authority — which covers the City of East Jordan as well as the townships of Banks, Jordan, Wilson, South Arm, Echo and Eveline — is asking voters for funding for their ambulance services. If approved and levied in its entirety, it is estimated that the .5 mills they are asking for would raise $179,811 for the authority when first levied in 2022.
More:Challengers face off in multiple Charlevoix County districts
City of Charlevoix
At the municipal level, two candidates — Lyle Gennett and Dennis Halverson — are vying for the election for Charlevoix mayor.
Three city council members are also up for election and running unopposed — Janet Kalbfell, Phil Parr and Mark Knapp.
Boyne City Public Schools
Two positions on the Boyne City Public Schools Board of Education are up for grabs this election cycle, with three names on the ballot.
Savannah Hrenko, Jilaine Towne-Patton and William Arno are in the running to fill the roles. None of the candidates currently serve on the board.
Charlevoix Public Schools
At the school board level, there are four candidates vying for three positions on the Charlevoix Public Schools Board of Education. Challenger Jeffrey Humble is running against incumbents Matthew Peterson, Douglas Bergmann and Jennifer Cunningham.
The district is also asking voters to consider an operating millage proposal. This proposal will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance.
Charlevoix Township
Collin O'Brien and Dan Ulrich are running for Charlevoix Township's supervisor position in the upcoming Nov. 8 election.
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: What's on the Nov. 8 ballot in Charlevoix County?
