.png)
One option for the "I Voted" sticker contest in Michigan. Photo taken by Shaelyn Lampinen
It is time to look at what is on the ballot in this election. This article covers each individual office and the candidates for them in the order they appear on in the ballot for those voting in person, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Federal Offices
Presidency
The presidential election sits at the top of the ballot across the nation. In this race, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are vying to secure four years as the commander in chief.
However, Harris and Trump aren’t the only presidential candidates on the ballot in Michigan.
Chase Oliver (Libertarian), Jill Stein (Green), Randall Terry (U.S Taxpayers), Joseph Kishore (No Party Affiliation), and Cornel West (No Party Affiliation) are also on the ballot, as well. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his candidacy in mid-August, but in September, the state Supreme Court ruled that his name would remain on the ballot anyway. In Michigan, he is the nominee of the Natural Law Party.
U.S Senate
Sen. Debbie Stabenow announced that she would not run for a fourth term, which opened the field this year. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, and former Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican emerged from the primaries and have been in a tense battle ever since.
However, just like the presidential election, Slotkin and Rogers aren’t the only options on the ballot. Joseph Solis-Mullen (Libertarian), Douglas Marsh (Green), Dave Stein (U.S Taxpayers), and Doug Dern (Natural Law) are also in this race.
Michigan’s 7th Congressional District
In 2022, Rep. Elissa Slotkin narrowly defeated Republican state Sen. Tom Barrett by five points. However, Slotkin is leaving the House, hoping to secure a spot in the Senate. This year, her House seat is wide open.
Barrett is going for the seat again, while Curtis Hertel, another former state Senator, hopes to keep the seat in the hands of the Democrats. Libertarian candidate L. Rachel Daily is also on the ballot.
State Elections
State House – 76th District
Incumbent Democratic Rep. Angela Witwer has been in office since 2018, and is looking to be elected to a fourth, two-year term. However, she faces a challenge against Republican candidate Andy Shaver this year.
State Board of Education
This election, two candidates are elected for an eight-year term on the Michigan Board of Education. According to Vote 411, the board “has leadership and general supervision responsibility over all public education.”
On the Democratic side, their candidates are Theodore Jones and Adam Zemke. The two Republican candidates are Tom McMillan and Nikki Snyder, who are the two incumbent board members in this race. They are also the only two Republicans on the board.
The U.S Taxpayers also have two candidates in Ted Gerrard and Christine Schwartz. Libertarian candidate Scotty Boman and Working Class Party candidate Mary Anne Hering are also running.
University of Michigan Board of Regents
Each of Michigan’s public universities also have members of their higher-ranking boards be elected every four years. Each member has an eight-year term.
The Democratic candidates are incumbent regent Denise Ilitch, who is seeking a third term, and Shauna Ryder Diggs, a former regent who is hoping to return to the board. The Republican candidates are Carl Meyers and Sevag Vartanian.
Libertarian candidate Andrew Chadderdon and U.S. Taxpayers candidate Donna Oetman are also on the ballot.
Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Both incumbents, Democrat Dianne Byrum and Republican Dan Kelly, are not running for re-election. The Democratic candidates are Rebecca Bahar-Cook and Thomas Stallworth III. Mike Balow and Julie Maday are the Republican candidates.
The U.S Taxpayers Party joins the two major parties in having two candidates, John and Janet Sanger. Libertarian candidate Grant Baker and Green candidate John Anthony La Pietra finish out the list of candidates.
Wayne State Board of Governors
Both incumbents, Democrat Mark Gaffney and Republican Michael Busuito, are running for a second term year. Joining Gaffney is fellow Democrat Rasha Devashish, who has a pharmaceutical background. Joining Busuito is fellow Republican Sunny Reddy.
Libertarian candidate Farid Isac, Green candidate Sami Makhoul, U.S Taxpayers candidate William Mohr, Natural Law candidate Kathleen Oakford, and Working Class Party candidate Suzanne Roehrig rounds out the list.
Michigan Supreme Court
Like the education board positions, Michigan’s Supreme Court justices serve eight-year terms. In this non-partisan election, Andrew Fink and Kimberly Thomas are facing off to become the next state justice.
They will be succeeding incumbent Judge David Viviano, who is not running for re-election.
Vote 411 does note, however, that although the election is non-partisan, and that no party affiliation will show up on the ballot, the candidates can still be endorsed by parties and their officials or officeholders. Fink is endorsed by several Republicans, while Thomas is endorsed by the statewide Democratic Party.
Michigan Supreme Court Special Election
This year, there are two Supreme Court elections. However, the race above was for a full term. The incumbent judge, Kyra Harris Bolden, was appointed in 2023, and she is running for re-election to secure a full term due to her prior appointment.
The challenger is Patrick William O’Grady. O’Grady has endorsements from people like former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, while Bolden has endorsements from unions and other organizations.
Judge of the Court of Appeals – District 3
According to their official website, the Court of Appeals “manage a variety of responsibilities including adoption of an annual county budget, planning long-range capital improvement programs, establishing county policies, enacting ordinances and adopting resolutions.”
Two district three judges, Phillip Mariani and Christopher Yates, are running unopposed for full, six-year terms.
County
Prosecuting Attorney
At the top of the county section on the ballot is the prosecuting attorney. According to the official county website, the prosecuting attorney is “responsible for a wide array of legal functions for Eaton County.”
The position is up every four years. Republican Doug Lloyd is the incumbent in this office and is running unopposed.
Sheriff
Democrat Tom Reich is the incumbent sheriff of the county. Reich has been the sheriff for over a decade, and he’s running for re-election this year.
Reich is going up against Republican candidate Mike Atayan. Aside from being a lifelong local, Atayan co-founded Davis Auto Mart and served as the Eaton County Drain Commissioner for one term.
Clerk and Register of Deeds
The clerk’s office does many things, such as acting as the “designated filing office” for local positions, helping with the election process, in general.
Republican Diana Bosworth is the incumbent clerk and is running unopposed.
Treasurer
According to Eaton County’s website, the treasurer “is custodian of all county funds, records revenue, collects delinquent property taxes, manages all county investments, and certifies all property tax rolls.”
The incumbent treasurer is Democrat Bob Robinson. Treasurer since 2012, Robinson is not running for re-election. Running to take his place are Democrat Terrance Augustine and Republican Dairus Reynnet.
Augustine is an Eaton County Commissioner and has years of experience in finance.
Reynnet also has many years of experience working for the Michigan Department of Management and Budget, as well the Department of Treasury.
Drain Commissioner
The Eaton County website states that the drain commissioner is “responsible for constructing and maintaining public storm drains throughout Eaton County.”
The incumbent drain commissioner is Republican Richard Wagner, seeking another four-year term.
Challenging him is Will Pitylak, a Democrat with prior experience with water management and construction, even being licensed in said areas.
County Commissioner – 13th District
According to the Eaton County website, the county commissioners “manage a variety of responsibilities including adoption of an annual county budget, planning long-range capital improvement programs, establishing county policies, enacting ordinances and adopting resolutions.”
Olivet is in the 13th district, where incumbent commissioner Jim Mott, a Republican, is seeking re-election.
Democrat Carl Berendsohn is his opponent. Berendsohn is the maintenance and engineering manager at Post Consumer Brands in Battle Creek.
Circuit Court Judge – 56th District
According to the official website for the state courts, judges on the Circuit Court “handle all civil cases with claims of more than $25,000 and all felony criminal cases.”
The 56th District is solely comprised of Eaton County. Janice Cunningham, one of the incumbent judges, is running for another six-year term. She is running unopposed.
Eaton County Probate Judge
The official website for the state courts says that the probate judge “handles wills, administers estates and trusts, appoints guardians and conservators, and orders treatment for mentally ill and developmentally disabled persons.”
Amanda Pollard is the incumbent probate judge, and she is running for another six-year term. She is running unopposed.
Local
School Board
On the municipal side of things, two spots on the Olivet Community Schools Board of Education are up for grabs.
According to the Michigan Association of School Boards, members have a lot of responsibilities within their district, setting goals, policies, budgets, etc. They also deal with the schools’ curriculum and facilities, as well.
One of the incumbents, Anthony Faulkner, is running for re-election for another four-year term. He is the current treasurer for the board, as well.
Joining him in the field are Jeff Barkley and Katie Starkweather, one of which will claim the open seat up for grabs this year.
Starkweather comes from a healthcare background and has children who go to school in Olivet.
Separate Tax Limitations Proposal
Finally, a tax proposal that would affect the county is on the ballot this year, as well. “The Eaton County Board of Commissioners placed the Separate Tax Limitation proposal on the ballot to give the public an opportunity to determine how they want their county government to look,” said Logan Bailey, communications director for the county.
“Without additional revenue, staffing and services will be cut. From the Sheriff’s Office and courts to the clerk and animal control, all departments and offices will be impacted, so the Board to action to try and address the financial shortfall before cuts become impossible to avoid,” Bailey said.
If the proposal passes, the county will levy 9.700 mills, which is equal to a 0.97% tax. - 0.85% is for the county itself, 0.10% is for the townships, and 0.02% is for the school district. “Eaton County is facing a financial crisis,” Bailey said.
“Without additional revenue, the county will have to cut over 100 employees, reduce or eliminate services, and potentially lower hours of operation. This will impact the county’s ability to provide Sheriff Road Patrol, prosecute crimes, effectively hold elections, and so much more. Government and public safety will look a lot different in Eaton County,” Bailey said.
Other Ballot Sources
For more information on the election, you can these sources:
The Michigan Voter Information Center at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/
Ballotpedia at https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page
Vote411 at https://www.vote411.org/
Written by Jack Webb