What a difference a week makes.
A flurry of activity before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. filing deadline has set the table for the August Primary ballot for countywide offices.
And an interesting table it will be. There are races for nomination in four of the seven county commissioner seats. Among them, the District 1 seat, now held by Jamie Kramer, which has three declared candidates: one former commissioner and the other, whose name has been in Enterprise deadlines often.
Rick L. Robbins is seeking the Democratic nomination for the District 1 seat which covers Elmwood Township. He won the seat as a Republican before being unseated in the 2022 election.
Former county administrator and Elmwood Township trustee Deb Allen, has also filed for the Republican nomination as had Tim McNalley.
There are two seeking the Republican nomination for the District 2 seat, which includes Bingham and part of Elmwood Township. Former county commissioner Mark Walter has filed nomination papers. The other declared Republican candidate is Forest Welch. The winner of the Primary will face Democrat Scott Perry, who is unopposed for District 3 commissioner.
Incumbent James J. O’Rourke chose not to seek reelection.
The field of District 3 candidates include three who have already represented the district, which includes northern Bingham and southern Suttons Bay Township.
Currently seated commissioner Doug Rexroat, a Republican, is seeking reelection. He will face former board chairman Will Bunek, also a Republican, who was recalled in May 2022.
Lois Bahle, who was elected to fill the remainder of Bunek’s unexpired term, is seeking the Democratic nomination Bunek race, will be on the Nov. 5 ballot.
There are three candidates for the District 7 commissioner seat, which represents Kasson and Solon Township.
Melinda Lautner, the longestserving commissioner currently seat on the county board, is challenged for the Republican nomination by current Solon Township trustee Steve Yoder and Amedee A. DeCruydi.
Lautner, who has held her seat since 1995, has been challenged many times by Democrats, but never by a fellow GOP member.
Tim Dowd is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination and will face the Republican nominee in the Nov. 5 election.
There are no primary races for the remaining commissioner seats.
In District 4 commissioner and county board Chairman Ty Wessell will face Republican candidate Jim White. District 5 commissioner Kama Ross, a Democratic, will face former Enterprise owner Alan Campbell. In November 2022, Ross outdistanced Campbell by 38 votes.
In District 6, which includes Cleveland, Glen Arbor and Empire Township, Democratic incumbent Gwenne Allgaier is a declared candidate. She will face Mark Roberts who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.
There are challengers for all but two county offices.
For the first time in years, there is a race for drain commissioner. Republican Tim O’Non filed for the seat now occupied by Steve Christensen, who chose not to running again. He will face Faith Hoekstra, who is seeking the Democratic nomination.
Incumbent Republican Jennifer L. Grant is seeking reelection as Register of Deeds. She will face fellow Republican Renee Wyler, who filed nominating documents Tuesday.
Running unopposed are: Michelle Crocker, clerk; Joe Hubbell, prosecutor; John A. Gallagher III, treasurer; Mike Borkovich, sheriff; Garth Greenan and James R. Calhoun, road commissioners.
Steven Paciorka will appear as a candidate on the non-partisan portion of the ballot. He is seeking election as Probate Court Judge to replace Marian Kromowski, who is prohibited from running again due to age.
