After today’s filing deadline, six of the nine County Commission seats will be contested on the November ballot, and five will be headed for at least one primary on August 8th.
District 1, which consists of the townships of Rives, Tompkins, Parma, Springport, Sandstone and the Villages of Parma and Springport will have a new commissioner next term, as current Commissioner Sarah Lightner has announced her candidacy for the 65th District of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Incumbent Rodney Walz is seeking re-election, he will face Democrat Roger Maufort in the November General Election for the District 2 seat, emcompassing Henrietta, Waterloo, Grass Lake and a portion of Leoni townships.
Carl Rice, who has also announced his candidacy for the 65th Michigan House District seat, will not seek re-election in District 3. There is a pair of republicans, Russ Jennings and Corey Kennedy, and two democrats, Robin Puckett and John Spencer, meeting in their respective August primary elections to determine the two that will face off in the November general. The Third District is home to a portion of Leoni Township and Summit Township.
Columbia, Napoleon and Norvell Townships and the Village of Brooklyn, home to District 4 and Philip Duckham, who will run unopposed for re-election. Duckham has served District 4 since 2005. Also running unopposed are Chairman and District 5 (Summit and Liberty Townships) Commissioner James Shotwell, Jr. and Daniel Mahoney of District 7 (City of Jackson). Shotwell has been on the County Board since 2002 and has served as chairman since 2005. Mahoney was elected in 2014, and also ran unopposed in 2016.
Concord, Hanover, Pulaski and Spring Arbor and the Villages of Concord and Hanover will have decisions to make. In August, they’ll be tasked with selecting a Republican candidate between Leland Prebble and District 6 Commissioner Allan Tompkins. Democratic candidate Ruben Marquez has a clear path to the November general election.
After the tragic passing of District 8 Commissioner John Polaczyk, the county board appointed Jon Williams to the seat. He will be defending his seat in August at the primary against fellow Republican John Wilson. Darius Williams, the Democratic candidate, heads directly to November.
Finally, District 9 Incumbent David Elwell will meet Nyan Klavon in the August Primary. The winner will take on Democrat Daveda Quinn.
The August Primary is set for August 8th. Stay tuned to NewsTalk 970am & 101.5fm for all your election coverage.
