Today Tuesday, August 4 is primary election day in Michigan. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Michigan is permitting absentee ballots, while in-person polling stations are implementing precautionary measures to ensure they will be open.
Although Michigan chose its presidential primary candidates in March, Tuesday’s election will see Michiganders choosing primary candidates for races in the U.S. Congress, the state legislature, and at the county and township levels.
In races where St. Joseph County residents will be voting, several seats have candidates on Democratic and Republican tickets, and some feature multiple candidates for either or both parties. Several races include candidates who are challenging incumbents for their positions.
Watershed Voice has compiled the following guide to local races to provide readers with information about who is running and where to go for voting.
Polling Locations and Absentee Ballots
Most Michigan polling places will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and according to the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, eligible voters still in line at 8 p.m. will be permitted to vote. Per executive order by the Governor’s office, masking will be encouraged for voting, but not required. Voters who are concerned about pandemic safety can try to vote during less busy hours, such as mid-afternoon or later in the evening, or by absentee ballot.
It is possible under new Michigan laws to request an absentee ballot for any reason from local clerks until 4 p.m. on Monday, August 3. Requests can be made my mail or online for many precincts, but at this date, many election officials recommend picking them up in person to avoid any possible delays.
In Three Rivers, in-person voting takes place at Riverside Church, 207 East Michigan Avenue. Absentee ballots are available at the City Clerk’s Office, 333 West Michigan Avenue.
Each local jurisdiction has its own polling location. In most townships, voting takes place at township halls, where most township clerks’ offices are also located. The St. Joseph County Clerk’s office maintains a list of current polling locations around the county on its website.
Voter Registration
In-person voter registration is permitted anytime until polls close on election day. Since the postmark deadline for mail-in registration was July 20, anyone wishing to vote in this year’s primary election must register to vote in person with their city or township clerk. According to a notice on the City of Three Rivers website, City Hall resumed business hours on July 27, and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
U.S. Congressional Races
St. Joseph County is in the 6th Congressional District of Michigan. Currently, Republican Fred Uptonserves the district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has served as St. Joseph County’s U.S. Representative since 1987. Upton is running as an incumbent. On the Republican ticket, he is being challenged by Elena Oelke. His challengers in the Democratic Party are Jen Richardson and Jon Hoadley. In addition, John Lawrence (Green Party), Jeff DePoy (Libertarian Party), and Andrew Tidwell(Independent) are also running in the general election.
Michigan’s U.S. Senators are both Democrats. They are Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters. Since senators serve staggered, six-year terms, only Peters’ seat is open in this year’s race. He is being challenged by Republican John James.
State Legislative Races
In the Michigan House of Representatives, St. Joseph County Falls into the 59th District. Republican Aaron Miller has served in that seat since 2015. This is his final term, meaning that he will be replaced in this election. On the Republican ticket, five candidates are vying for the nomination. They include Allen Balog, Steve Carra, Jack Coleman, Daniel Hinkle, and Larry Walton. In the Democratic column, Amy East is running for the seat.
St. Joseph County is in the 21st District of the Michigan Senate. The Senate seat is currently held by Kim LaSata, whose term ends in 2022, and whose seat is therefore not open this election, and will not appear on this year’s ballots.
Court Races
The First District Court of Appeals covers St. Joseph County, and three of its judges stand for election in 2020. They include Karen Fort Hood, Anica Letica, and Christopher Murray. Because their seats are nonpartisan, they will not appear on primary ballots.
County Races
Only two St. Joseph County Commission seats are contested by multiple candidates this election. The rest feature uncontested incumbents. These uncontested incumbents include Dennis Allen (District 3), Daniel R. Czajkowski (District 4), and Kenneth L. Malone (District 5). All three are Republicans. The contested County Commission seats are in Districts 1 and 2.
The District 1 race covers Flowerfield and Fabius Townships as well as the City of Three Rivers. It features John W. Bippus, Scott W. Dolfman, and Jared Hoffmaster vying for the Republican ticket, and Andrew George uncontested on the Democratic ticket. Independent Matthew Mosher will also be on the general election ballot in November. Current District 1 Commissioner Allen Balog is running for the Michigan legislature and will thus only be on the ballot for that position.
The District 2 race covers Park, Mendon, Leonidas, Colon, and Burr Oak Townships. It features incumbent Kathy Pangle unchallenged on the Republican side and Kathy Greaves also unchallenged on the Democratic side.
Also at the county level, Republican Lindsay Oswald is unchallenged as the incumbent for the position of County Clerk, while two Republican candidates are facing off against one another in the nomination for County Treasurer/Finance Officer. They are Kathy Humphreys and Tammy Rigby. Judy Ratering currently holds the treasurer’s seat but will not appear on this year’s ballot.
Also unchallenged for the position of County Surveyor is Republican David Mostrom. Likewise unchallenged for County Drain Commissioner is Republican Jeffrey J. Wenzel.
Two county races pertaining to justice will feature multiple candidates on the primary ballot. David Marvin is challenging fellow Republican and incumbent John McDonough for the nomination for Prosecuting Attorney. In the race for St. Joseph County Sheriff, the Republican ticket features Gordon Lynn Evilsizorrunning against incumbent Mark Lillywhite.
Townships and Other Races
Three Rivers voters in Precinct 1 will see the name of Richard Imgrund on their ballots. Imgrund is running as a Republican for Delegate to County Convention. In Precinct 2, Republican Steve Carra is running for the same position.
St. Joseph County maintains a full list of candidates for township positions on its website. All township positions serve four-year terms.
For the Park Township Board, two Trustee seats are on the ballot. The ballot will include Republican candidates Michael Lee Kinne and Thomas M. Springer for these seats. John English will appear in the Republican column for Township Supervisor.
Also in Park Township, Republicans Lari J. Roberts and Katie Sweeney are competing for Township Clerk, since current office holder Pat Henderson is not seeking the seat again. Cindy Fenwick is on the ballot for Treasurer as a Republican. For Delegate to County Convention, the ballot will include Republican Judy Ratering and Democrat Ellen Baillie.
In Lockport Township, two Trustee seats are also on the ballot. The ballot will include six Republican candidates for these seats, including Jeffrey Ankney, David Cooper, Rick Daniels, Donna Grubbs, and Glenn Wegner, as well as incumbent Theresa Gherna-Ankney. For the Township Supervisor seat, Eric Shafer is challenging incumbent Mark Major. Both are Republicans.
Also in Lockport, for Township Clerk, Christine Trammell is running as a Republican and Penny Ream is running as a Democrat. Because they are in opposing parties, they will not directly face each other until the general election in November. This is also the case for the position of Treasurer, where Republican incumbent Mike Friesner will be challenged by Democrat Elvontio Peterson. For Delegate to County Convention, the primary ballot will include Republican Joan Skinner.
The Fabius Township board features two Trustee seats on the ballot, and two Republican candidates to fill them. They are Judy Holman and Cliff Maxwell. There are also other Republican candidates on the ballot for the township. Ken Linn and current trustee Daniel K. Wilkins are competing for Township Supervisor. Carol Wilkins is on the ballot for Township Clerk, Cindy Haradine is on the ballot for Treasurer, and Don Falborski is on the ballot for Constable. For Delegate to County Convention, the ballot includes Allen Balog.
Ballot information for other townships is available on the Michigan Secretary of State’s website.
