KALAMAZOO, MI -- Here are the candidates and ballot issues Kalamazoo County residents will see on their ballots for the Aug. 4 primary election.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced all registered Michigan voters may vote by mail in the upcoming August and November elections.
The filing deadline for all races was Friday, May 8, after it was extended from April 21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The person’s political affiliation and hometown are noted. If they are an incumbent they are identified with (I).
Those who win contested primaries will move on to the November general election.
The following list of candidates and ballot issues appear on Kalamazoo County ballots was provided by the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office:
Kalamazoo County 911 tax proposal
For the purpose of funding a central public safety communication system and 9-1-1 service system, shall the constitutional limitation upon the total amount of taxes which may be assessed in one (1) year upon all property within the County of Kalamazoo, Michigan, be increased in an amount up to but not to exceed 0.65 mills ($0.65 on each $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of ten (10) years (2020 - 2029 inclusive), to be distributed to the Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority for countywide 9-1-1 facilities, functions and services as provided in the Kalamazoo County Emergency 9-1-1 Service System Plan? If approved and levied in full, this millage would raise an estimated $6,111,513 in the first calendar year of its levy based on taxable value.
U.S. Senator
Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township (I)
Bob Carr, R-Mackinac Island
John James, R-Livonia
6th District U.S. Representative
Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo
Jen Richardson, D- Kalamazoo
Elena Oelke, R-St. Joseph
Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph (I)
60th District Representative in State Legislature
Stephanie Moore, D-Kalamazoo
Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo
Gary Mitchell, R-Kalamazoo
61st District Representative in State Legislature
Christine Morse, D-Kalamazoo
Tom Graham, R-Kalamazoo
Bronwyn Haltom, R-Kalamazoo
63rd District Representative in State Legislature
Ron Hawkins, D-Battle Creek
Luke Howell, D-Richland
Matt Hall, R-Marshall (I)
66th District Representative in State Legislature
Abigail Wheeler, D-Mattawan
Beth Griffin, R-Paw Paw (I)
Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney
Jeff Getting, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Kalamazoo County Sheriff
Richard Fuller, D-Mattawan (I)
Shannon Bagley, R-Climax
Thomas Swafford, R-Richland
County Clerk / Register of Deeds
Doreen Gardner, D-Kalamazoo
Sarah Joshi, D-Oshtemo
Meredith Place, D-Portage
Mona Lisa Watson, R-Portage
County Treasurer
Thomas Whitener, D-Portage
Mary Balkema, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Drain Commissioner
Jason Wiersma, D-Kalamazoo
Joanna Croes, R-Kalamazoo
Surveyor
Gary Hahn, R-Portage (I)
County Commissioner District 1
Tami Rey, D-Kalamazoo
Andrew Sellin, D-Kalamazoo
County Commissioner District 2
Zac Bauer, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Monteze Morales, D-Kalamazoo
County Commissioner District 3
Tracy Hall, D-Kalamazoo (I)
County Commissioner District 4
Mike Seals, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Jen Strebs, D-Kalamazoo
Andrew Smith, R-Kalamazoo
County Commissioner District 5
Veronica McKissack, D-Kalamazoo
Chris Pomeroy, D-Kalamazoo
Valarie Cunningham, R-Kalamazoo
County Commissioner District 6
Jen Aniano, D-Augusta (I)
Vince Carahaly, R-Richland
Jeff Heppler, R-Richland
County Commissioner District 7
Anthony Bates, D-Kalamazoo
Roger Tuinier, R-Kalamazoo (I)
County Commissioner District 8
John Gisler. R-Scotts (I)
County Commissioner District 9
Keshia Dickason, D-Kalamazoo
Brian Kovacik, R-Kalamazoo
Dale Shugars, R-Kalamazoo
County Commissioner District 10
Mike Quinn, D-Portage (I)
Charley Coss, R-Portage
County Commissioner District 11
Fran Melgar, D-Portage
Lisa Brayton, R-Portage
Alamao Township Supervisor
Gail VanderWeele, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Alamo Township Clerk
Cindy Snyder, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Alamo Township Treasurer
Mary Stoneburner, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Alamao Township Trustee (two seats open)
Jason Scheffers, R-Kalamazoo
Russell Scott, R-Kalamazoo
Patrick Studabaker, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Brady Township Supervisor
Tracy Locey, R-Vicksburg (I)
Brady Township Clerk
Michelle Crawford, R-Vicksburg (I)
Christian Wines, R-Vicksburg
Brady Township Treasurer
Malia Allgaier, R-Vicksburg (I)
Brady Township Trustee (two seats open)
Randy Smith, R-Vicksburg (I)
John Meyer, R-Vicksburg (I)
Charleston Township Supervisor
Jerry VanderRoest, R-Galesburg (I)
Charleston Township Clerk
Linda Kramer, R-Galesburg (I)
Charleston Township Treasurer
Brenda Schug, R-Climax (I)
Charleston Township Trustee (two seats open)
Chris Balkema, R-Galesburg
Climax Township Supervisor
Trent Piper, R-Climax (I)
Climax Township Clerk
Marcia Lewis, R-Climax (I)
Climax Township Treasurer
Steven Walman, R-Climax (I)
Climax Township Trustee (two seats open)
Richard Thierjung, R-Scotts (I)
Comstock Township Supervisor
Randy Thompson, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Christopher Daniels, R-Galesburg
Comstock Township Clerk
Nicole Beauchamp, D-Kalamazoo
Dave Camburn, D-Kalamazoo
Stephen French, R-Kalamazoo
Tom Wagner, R-Kalamazoo
Comstock Township Treasurer
Bret Padgett, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Andrea Frederck, R-Kalamazoo
Comstock Township Trustee (four seats open)
Gloria Emmons, D-Kalamazoo
David Joling, D-Kalamazoo
Jason Knight, D-Kalamazoo
Robert Reilman, D-Kalamazoo
Jerry Amos, R- Kalamazoo (I)
Terry McIver, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Marla Schwartz, R-Kalamazoo
Clyde Sherwood, R-Galesburg
George Sidney, R-Comstock
Doroty Steffy-Wagner, R-Kalamazoo
Comstock Township Parks & Recreation Commission (five seats open)
Marc Rizzolo, D-Kalamazoo
Teresa Young, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Judith Joling, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Cooper Township Supervisor
John Beebe, R-Kalamazoo
Ron Bickings, R-Kalamazoo
Diane Bushouse, R-Kalamazoo
Jeffrey Sorensen, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Cooper Township Clerk
David Gamache, R-Kalamazoo
DeAnna Janssen, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Cooper Township Treasurer
Carol DeHaan, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Cooper Township Trustee (four seats open)
Scott Markham, D-Kalamazoo
Rob Bricker, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Jim Frederick, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Marc Rowlson, R-Plainwell
Adam Tuinstra, R-Kalamazoo
Fred Vlietstra, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Dan Williams, R-Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Township Supervisor
Don Martin, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Kalamazoo Township Clerk
Mark Miller, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Kalamazoo Township Treasurer
Nicolette Leigh, D-Kalamazoo
Sherine Miller, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Kalamazoo Township Trustee
George Cochran, D-Kalamazoo
Ashley Glass, D-Kalamazoo
Steven Leuty, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Lisa Moaiery D-Kalamazoo
Clara Robinson, D-Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Township operating tax
Shall the authorized charter millage of the Charter Township of Kalamazoo be established at 8.94120 mills ($8.94120 per $1,000 of taxable value) upon real and tangible personal property within the township, to replace the previously-expired authorized charter millage levied at the identical level in 2019 and shall such millage be levied pursuant to budget in the years 2020 through 2023, inclusive, for the general operation of the Township and to offset state revenue sharing reductions, which total if levied will raise in the first year of levy an estimated $4,165,459?
Oshtemo Township Supervisor
Libby Heiny-Cogswell, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Rob Viland, D-Kalamazoo
Oshtemo Township Clerk
Dusty Farmer, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Claudia Stirton, D-Kalamazoo
Oshtemo Township Treasurer
Clare Buszka, D-Kalamazoo
Grant Taylor, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Scott Zondervan, R-Kalamazoo
Oshtemo Township Trustees (four seats open)
Cheri Bell, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Kizzy Bradford, D-Kalamazoo
Kristin Cole, D-Kalamazoo
Zak Ford, D-Kalamazoo (I)
Jon French, D-Kalamazoo
Brian Paxson, D-Kalamazoo
James Sebree, D-Kalamazoo
Brad Solarek, D-Kalamazoo
Louis Williams, D-Kalamazoo
Christopher Dipiero, R-Kalamazoo
Casey Dragt, R-Kalamazoo
Mary Heffernan, R-Kalamazoo
David Nieuwenhuis, R-Kalamazoo
Pavilion Township Supervisor
John Speeter, R-Scotts (I)
Pavilion Township Clerk
Karen Siegwart, R-Scotts (I)
Pavilion Township Treasurer
Robyn Maxson, R-Scotts (I)
Pavilion Township Trustees (two seats open)
Edward Cagney, R-Scotts
Gregory Thomas, R-Scotts (I)
Prairie Ronde Township Supervisor
Michael Tomlinson, R-Schoolcraft
Prairie Ronde Township Clerk
Dale Smith, R-Schoolcraft (I)
Prairie Ronde Township Treasurer
Sarah Lott, Schoolcraft (I)
Prairie Ronde Township Trustees (two seats open)
John Chapin, R-Schoolcraft (I)
Richland Township Supervisor
Lysanne Harma, R-Richland (I)
Richland Township Clerk
Bear Priest, R-Richland (I)
Richland Township Treasurer
Marsha Drouin, R-Richland (I)
Richland Township Trustees (four seats open)
Nicole Speedy, D-Richland (I)
Loyal Eldridge III, R-Richland (I)
Paul Foust, R-Richland (I)
Bill Peter, R-Richland
David Wendzel, R-Richaland (I)
Ross Township Supervisor
Robert Baker, R-Hickory Corners (I)
Ross Township Clerk
Alex Harris, R-Richland
Linda Walters, R-Augusta
Ross Township Treasurer
Cynthia Genung, R-Augusta (I)
Ross Township Trustees (four seats open)
Michael Bekes, R-Augusta (I)
Lynn Harmon, R-Augusta (I)
Diana Langshaw, R-Augusta (I)
David Senkewitz, R-Augusta (I)
Mike Sulka, R-Augusta
Schoolcraft Township Supervisor
Donald Ulsh, R-Schoolcraft (I)
Schoolcraft Township Clerk
Virginia Mongreig, R-Vicksburg (I)
Schoolcraft Township Treasurer
Teresa Scott, R-Schoolcraft (I)
Schoolcraft Township Trustees
Greg Feldmeier, R-Vicksburg (I)
Steven Fryling, R-Vicksburg
Tamra Stafford, R-Vicksburg
Texas Township Supervisor
Nicholas Loeks, R-Kalamazoo
Texas Township Clerk
Emily Beutel, D-Kalamazoo
Texas Township Treasurer
Trish Roberts, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Texas Township Trustees (four open seats)
Barb Hammon, D-Mattawan
Jim Kiszka, D-Kalamazoo
Donald Boven, R-Mattawan (I)
Linda Kerr, R-Mattawan
Wendy Mazer, R-Kalamazoo (I)
Texas Township fire department tax
Shall the tax limitation on all taxable property within the Charter Township of Texas, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, be increased and the Township be authorized to levy a millage annually in an amount not to exceed .9933 mill ($.9933 on each $1,000 of taxable value), of which .4933 mill is a renewal of the millage rate that expired in 2019 and .5 mill is new additional millage, for fifteen (15) years, 2020 to 2034 inclusive, to provide funds for purchasing, operating and equipping the fire department and any other purpose authorized by law for fire department or fire service purposes? The estimate of the revenue the Township will collect in the first year of levy (2020) if the millage is approved is approximately $942,000.
Wakeshma Township Supervisor
Jason Gatlin, R-Vicksburg (I)
Shawn Fritz, R-Vicksburg (I)
Wakeshma Township Treasurer
No candidates listed
Wakeshma Township Trustees (two seats open)
Trevor Bennett, R-Fulton (I)
Barbara Thole, R-Fulton (I)
Athens Area Schools operating tax renewal
This proposal will allow the school district to continue 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 school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2021 tax levy.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18 mill s($18.00 o each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law in Athens Area Schools, Calhoun, Branch, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2022 to 2026, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2022 is approximately $1,106,813 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2021 tax levy)?
Athens Area Schools sinking fund renewal
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the building and site sinking fund millage that expires with the 2020 tax levy.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate of 3 mills ($3.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) which may be assessed against all property in Athens Area Schools, Calhoun, Branch, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2021 to 2025, inclusive, to continue to provide for a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue of the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2021 is approximately $568,842 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2020 tax levy)?
Lawton Community Schools Proposal
This proposal will allow the school district to continue 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 school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire o the 2020 tax levy.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Lawton Community Schools, Van Buren and Kalamazoo Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 3 years, 2021, 2022, and 2023, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2021 is approximately $1,195,000 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2020 tax levy)?
Parchment School District sinking fund tax
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Parchment School District, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed 2 mills ($2.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2020 to 2024, inclusive, to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings, for school security improvements, for the acquisition or upgrading of technology and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $438,537?
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