UNDATED (WHTC) – The 2016 General Election today along the Lakeshore is more than deciding who will be the next President of the United States.
The only major statewide race is for two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court, with incumbents David Viviano and Joan Larsen challenged by Doug Dern and Kerry Morgan, respectively. There are no statewide proposals on this fall’s ballot.
Voters in Allegan and Ottawa counties will decide who will represent them in the US and state House of Representatives. Republican Bill Huizenga of Zeeland is being challenged by Democrat Dennis Murphy, Libertarian Erwin Haas, Matthew Brady of the Green Party, Ronald Graeser of the US Taxpayers Party and write-in Joshua Arnold for a fourth two-year term on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, Republican Fred Upton of St. Joseph is vying for a 16th two-year term in Congress, with Democrat Paul Clements and Libertarian Lorence Wenke trying to stop him.
For the state House, Republican Jim Lilly, Democrat Tim Meyer and Libertarian Mary Buzuma are looking to replace term-limited Amanda Price; incumbent Republicans Daniela Garcia and Roger Victory face challenges from Democrats Mary Yedinak and Kim Nagy, respectively; and Republican Mary Whiteford, who finished up for the expelled Cindy Gamrat in Allegan County this year, tries for a full two-year House term of her own against Democrat John Andrysiak and Libertarian Arnie Davidsons.
With one exception, there are no contested races for Commissioner seats in both Allegan and Ottawa counties, as incumbent Republican Don Disselkoen of Holland is challenged by Democrat Doug Zylstra. With Ed Post and Kenneth Post retiring from the bench, their judicial seats are being challenged by Dan Martin and Karen Miedema for Ottawa County Circuit Court, and by Vern Helder and Judy Mulder in Hudsonville District Court. Robert Mol is running a write-in effort against incumbent Ottawa County Circuit Court Judge Kent Engle.
There are several contested local government races in Otsego, Saugatuck. Spring Lake and Hopkins, as well as in the townships of Dorr, Lee, Manilus, Watson, Wayland, Georgetown, Park, Port Shelton and Robinson. School board races in the Fennville, Allendale, Holland, Hudsonville, Jenison, Spring Lake, West Ottawa and Zeeland districts are also contested.
As for ballot proposals: Crockery Township has a half-mill request for bike trails; Grand Haven Township just less than a half mill for the same purpose; Saugatuck a two-mill request for road maintenance; Hamilton, Glenn, Zeeland and Spring Lake schools the 18-mill annual non-homestead tax renewal request; and Allendale and Zeeland a one-mill “Headlee Cushion” request.
Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM. Election night coverage begins at 7 PM on 1450 WHTC.
