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Early voting begins this Saturday
OCEANA COUNTY — With the Nov. 5 general election less than two weeks away, here’s a look at contested races and proposals that appear on local ballots:
D = Democrat; R = Republican; and NPA = No Party Affiliation
Oceana County Probate Judge (non-partisan) — vote for one
- Eric Fox
- Anna Rapa
Oceana County Road Commissioner — vote for two
- Cathy Forbes (D)
- David Spitler (D)
- Andrew Heykoop (R)
- Jason LaFever (R)
Claybanks Township Treasurer — vote for one
- Cheryl Rabe (R)
- Peter Schlagor (NPA)
Claybanks Township Trustee — vote for two
- Larry Burmeister (R)
- David Rabe (R)
- John Chaput (NPA)
Colfax Township Trustee — vote for one
- Stuart Overway (D)
- Bradley Norton (R)
Ferry Township Supervisor — vote for one
- David Schmieding (R)
- Richard Cornwell (NPA)
Ferry Township Trustee — vote for two
- Milton Kreigh (R)
- Reese Lifer Jr. (R)
- Natalie Viterna (NPA)
Grant Township Trustee — vote for two
- Joan Brooks (R)
- Bill Mischler (R)
- Kimberly Patton (NPA)
Rothbury Village President (non-partisan) — vote for one
- Anthony Schiller
- Vern Talmadge
Rothbury Village Trustee (non-partisan) — vote for three
- Marieanne Canales
- Patricia Day
- Cynthia A. Grossman
- Michael Harris
- Denise R. Kurdziel
- Brook L. Schiller
- Troy Voorhees
City of Hart Mayor (non-partisan) — vote for one
- Amanda Klotz
- Ronald LaPorte
Hart Public Schools Board of Education (non-partisan) — vote for three
- Michael Barefoot
- Noble Graham-Lattin
- Steve Riley
- Jeff Schaner
Leavitt Township Supervisor —vote for one
- Steve Bennink (NPA)
- Brooke Stapel (NPA)
- James Yancey (NPA)
Leavitt Township Trustee — vote for two
- Allen Purdy (R)
- Larry Schmitz Jr. (NPA)
- Patrick Vance (NPA)
Newfield Township Clerk — vote for one
- Nancy L. Conley (R)
- Shannon Shafer (NPA)
Hesperia Village Trustee (non-partisan) — vote for three
- Linda Cunningham
- Anna Dukes
- Sheri Hunt
- Jackie Slocum
- Jennifer Thomas
Pentwater Township Trustee — vote for one
- Michael Flynn (R)
- Dean Holub (R)
- Barb Siok (NPA)
Pentwater Township Library Board of Directors (non-partisan) — vote for six
- Valerie Church-McHugh
- Danielle Engle
- Kendra Flynn
- Jennifer Gwillim
- Amber Jaeb
- Joan LundBorg
- Melissa Williams
Pentwater Village Trustee (non-partisan) — vote for three
- Phillip Frame
- Dan Nugent
- Don Palmer
- Karl Schrumpf
Shelby Village President (non-partisan) — vote for one
- Robert Glover
- John Sutton
US Senator — vote for one
- Elissa Sloktin (D)
- Mike Rogers (R)
Representative in Congress 2nd District — vote for one
- Michael Lynch (D)
- John Moolenaar (R)
Representative in State Legislator — vote for one
- Kathy Pelleran-Mahoney (D)
- Curt Vanderwall (R)
NOTE: There are several non-contested positions that are not listed here. To see the entire ballot for your particular precinct, go to https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/PublicBallot/Index
Ballot Language for Local Proposals
Pentwater Township Millage Renewal Proposition 1.000 Mill for Fire Protection Purposes
Shall the previous voted increase in the Township of Pentwater tax rate limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes, currently 0.9837 mill ($0.9837 per $1,000 of taxable value), be renewed and levied in the years 2024-2027, both inclusive, and shall an additional 0.0163 mill ($0.0163 per $1,000 of taxable value) be approved and levied to restore previous millage reductions under the “Headlee Amendment” since this millage was last approved, resulting in the levy of 1.000 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value), subject to reduction as provided by law, on taxable property in the Township?
The purpose of this levy is to provide fire protection services in the Township. It is estimated that a levy of 1.000 mill would provide revenue of $286,349 in the first calendar year, of which $4,667 would result from the additional 0.0163 mill. The revenue from this millage levy will be disbursed to the Township of Pentwater.
Pentwater Public Schools Bond
Shall Pentwater Public Schools, Oceana and Mason Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Seven Million Five Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars ($7,590,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of:
erecting a secure entrance addition to, remodeling, including security improvements to, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping a school building; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for a school building; and developing and improving sidewalks, driveways, and a site?
The following is for informational purposes only:
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2025 is 1.18 mills ($1.18 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is seventeen (17) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.46 mills ($1.46 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).
The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $0. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0: The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.
(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)
Newfield Township Fire Protection Millage Proposal
Shall the previous voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec #6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Newfield Township be established at up to 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) for the period of 2024 and 2025, inclusive, for the fire protection, and shall the Township levy such renewal in millage for said purpose, thereby, raising in the first year an estimated $64,358.
The proposed millage is a renewal of the 1 mill for the cost of Fire Protection previously approved by the electors of Newfield Township in the General Election of November 5, 2024 and which expired with the 2023 levy.
Walkerville Public Schools Sinking Fund Millage Proposal
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Walkerville Public Schools, Oceana, Newaygo and Mason Counties, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed 1.4861 mills ($1.4861 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2025 to 2029, inclusive, to create a sinking fund for the purchase of real estate for sites for, and the construction or repair of, school buildings; for school security improvements; for the acquisition or upgrading of technology; for the acquisition of student transportation vehicles; for the acquisition of parts, supplies, and equipment used for the maintenance of student transportation vehicles; for the acquisition of eligible trucks and vans used to carry parts, equipment, and personnel for or in the maintenance of school buildings; for the acquisition of parts, supplies, and equipment used to maintain such trucks and vans; and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2025 is approximately $144,893?
City of Hart Proposed Charter Amendment
Proposed amendment in Chapter IV, Section 4.1 of the Charter of the City of Hart to require the city council to establish the dates and times of the council’s regular meeting for the next calendar year and to allow the time and place for city council meetings to be changed by a resolution of the city council.
Shall Chapter IV, Section 4.1 of the City Charter be amended to remove the requirement that the City Council hold meetings twice a month at 7:30 p.m. and to instead require the City Council to establish by resolution the dates and times of the Council’s regular meetings for the next calendar year, prior to the first meeting in a calendar year and to allow the time and place of City Council meetings to be changed as necessary or appropriate by resolution of the City Council?
City of Hart Street Repair and Improvements Millage
Shall the previously voted increase in the City of Hart’s tax rate limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes, currently 2 mills ($2.00 per $1,000 of taxable value), be renewed and levied in the years 2025-2029, both inclusive, subject to reduction as provided by law, on taxable property in the City?
The purpose of this levy is to provide for the repair and improvement of City streets. It is estimated that a levy of 2 mills would provide revenue of $122,400 in the first calendar year. The revenue from this millage levy will be disbursed to the City of Hart (and a portion of the revenue from the millage is subject to capture by the City’s Tax Increment Finance Authority pursuant to state law).
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