UNDATED (WHTC-AM/FM, Aug. 6, 2024) – Could the actions of a few have an impact on the whole?
That’s a question that could be answered on Tuesday as the direction of county government in Allegan and Ottawa counties may be decided by how many voters turn out and what they choose at the ballot box on what is normally a lightly-attended August Primary Election.
Topping the ballot is the contested Republican race in Michigan’s fourth Congressional District between seven-term incumbent Bill Huizenga and challenger Brendan Muir. Huizenga has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, while Muir secured the preferred choice of the Ottawa County Republican Party by attending a special convention. Statewide, decisions need to be made for the US Senate candidates to succeed the retiring Debbie Stabenow.
The most contested GOP nomination races are for Ottawa County Prosecuting Attorney, as Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sarah Matwiejczyk faces Greg Todd to succeed the retiring Lee Fisher; Ottawa County Sheriff, as Undersheriff Eric DeBoer faces Interim County Administrator Jon Anderson to succeed the retiring Steve Kempker; Ottawa County Treasurer, as incumbent Chreyl Clark faces Ben Gensler; Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney, as incumbent Myrene Koch faces Michael Villar; Allegan County Sheriff, as incumbent Frank Baker faces Dean Brandt; and in a non-partisan battle, Alice Bernal, Emily Jipp and Elizaberth Peterson vie for a newly created 48th Circuit Court judgeship in Allegan.
Nine of the 11 Ottawa County Board seats have contested primary races, along with two of the five Allegan County Board positions. In addition, there are a number of contested township supervisor and board races, and two incumbent state House members whose districts include Allegan County face primary challengers, including minority leader Matt Hall of Kalamazoo.
A reminder about the partisan party primary system in Michigan: While it is an open primary, in which anyone can vote for anybody, there is a requirement that voters do not split their ballot to choose candidates from both parties. Voters can vote for just Republicans or for just Democrats – not both, as they can do in the November 5 General Election.
There are also ballot proposals for voters to decide. Countywide issues include renewal of the roads millage in both Ottawa and Allegan counties of 10 and six years, respectively, along with a 10-year renewal of a three-dollar monthly billing in Allegan County for 911 services. Laketown Township is asking for a renewal of a two-year, two-mill fire, road, path and drain levy, while Fennville Public schools is looking to renew its 18-mill non-homestead tax for four years.
Links to candidates, proposals and more on Tuesday’s Primary Election:
OTTAWA COUNTY – Candidates, Proposals, Results
ALLEGAN COUNTY – Candidates, Proposals, Results
STATE OF MICHIGAN – Elections
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