What's on the ballot in Otsego County?
GAYLORD — In a few days, voters in Otsego County will head to the polls for the Nov. 8 election.
In addition to casting their preference for candidates in statewide races for governor, attorney general, and the area's congressional district, voters will also determine who will represent the county in the state house and state senate.
County voters will also decide the makeup of school boards in the area.
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State representatives
The contenders for Michigan’s first congressional district include Republican incumbent Jack Bergman. He is challenged by Democrat Dr. Bob Lorinser from Marquette. Libertarian Andrew Gale and Liz Hakola of the Working Class Party are also in the running.
The 105th district in the Michigan House of Representatives, which was altered by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, includes all or part of the following counties: Antrim, Crawford, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Oscoda, Otsego and Roscommon.
Republican Ken Borton of Gaylord is the incumbent. His opponent is Democrat Adam Wojdan of Frederic, making his first try for public office. Borton won the district in 2020 and defeated fellow GOPers Mark McFarlin of Grayling, Kim Morley of Roscommon and Diane Randall of Houghton Lake Heights in the August primary.
Democrat Joel Sheltrown of Gladwin is battling Republican Michele Hoitenga of Manton in the 36th Michigan State Senate district, which includes all or part of the following counties: Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Crawford, Iosco, Kalkaska, Manistee, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford.
This district's boundaries were also created by the redistricting commission. Sheltrown was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives District 103 from 2005 to 2011. Hoitenga is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives District 102. She assumed office in 2017 and her term ends in 2023.
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Local schools
There are six candidates for the board of education for the Gaylord Community Schools. They include the following: Rachel Davis, Katie Drzewiecki, Frank McClelland, Kari Visser-Robel, Jeff Wieber and Courtney Willits. The top four vote getters will gain a seat on the board.
Drzewiecki and Wieber are incumbents while Wieber also serves as the current president of the board.
Voters in the district for the Vanderbilt Area School will decide on new school board members in the election. However, there are three vacancies on the board and only two candidates, Neil Brasseur and Kim Snyder.
Because no write-in candidate filed for the race by Oct. 28, Brassuer and Snyder along with the other two board members in January will appoint a board member, said Lee Sandy, superintendent of the Vanderbilt Area School. Appointed board members only serve partial terms and must eventually run in the next election.
Sandy said election laws do not allow for last minute write-ins on election day. So even if someone decided to write-in their own name or someone else on the Nov. 8 ballot, "it won't count if they haven't filed by Oct. 28 because the voting laws don't allow it," he said.
Meanwhile, the Vanderbilt school board is also seeking authorization to levy 18 mills on non-homestead property for 2023 through 2028. By law the board can only levy up to 18 mills. This means for 2023 non-homestead property will be taxed $18 for every $1,000 in taxable value on the property.
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Otsego County
Finally, voters in Otsego County will decide whether to renew a tax of 0.35 mill per $1,000 of taxable value to continue funding the county's recycling program.
— Contact reporter Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: What's on the Nov. 8 ballot in Otsego County?
