Many terms of office will expire in 2024, so local officials – including the currently sitting county commissioners – will need to run for re-election if they want to continue serving Leelanau County. Although the filing deadline for most offices isn’t until April 23, some officials have already filed as of early March.
Earlier this week, Mark Roberts of Lake Leelanau filed candidacy papers to run for District 6 commissioner, running as a Republican. The current office holder, Gwenne Allgaier, a Democrat, also filed for re-election in early February, making this the first known contested seat locally. Leelanau County’s District 6 encompasses Cleveland, Empire, and Glen Arbor townships.
Also in February, current county board Chairman Ty Wessell filed papers to run for re-election as District 4 Commissioner as a Democrat, which covers Leelanau Township and a portion of Suttons Bay township. Timothy O’Non, another newcomer, filed for the position of county drain commissioner as a Republican candidate. The position of drain commissioner is currently held by Steve Christensen, who has not yet filed.
Steve Paciorka, who is non-party-affiliated, also filed in February for the position of probate court judge. Paciorka is another new candidate running for an office currently held by Probate Court Judge Marian Kromkowski.
Kromkowski was elected for a fouryear term in 2018, but cannot run again in 2024, as the state constitution dictates that no one over 70 years old shall be elected or appointed to judicial office, leaving her seat up for grabs.
Paciorka said that he currently serves within the 13th Circuit Court as juvenile and domestic circuit court referee, handling juvenile cases for Grand Traverse County and domestic cases from all three counties in the court. Prior to that, he practiced as associate attorney with Sterling Law Office in Traverse City.
In the first week of March, Garth Greenan filed to run for re-election as road commissioner as a Democrat. Greenan chaired the road commission for three years, but was recently replaced as chairman by fellow road commissioner Bob Joyce in January.
Also in January, two new candidates emerged to run for county commissioner seats – Harry Steffens, running for District 5 commissioner, and Steve Yoder, running for District 7 commissioner. District 5 represents Leland and Centerville townships and is currently occupied by Commissioner Kama Ross, while District 7 is Solon and Kasson townships and occupied by Commissioner Melinda Lautner.
Both Steffens and Yoder filed as Republicans. Lautner’s political alignment is also Republican, so if she files for re-election, she will be challenged by a fellow GOP member for the first time. However, neither Lautner nor Ross have filed for candidacy yet. Leelanau County Clerk Michelle Crocker also filed for re-election in January.
