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Eric Fox wins probate judge race
Pentwater passes school bond proposal
There are 22,784 registered voters in Oceana County, and 13,489 of those registered voters cast ballots, which is 59.20 percent.
Local Contested Races
Oceana County Probate Judge — vote for one (non-partisan)
Eric Fox 5,767
Anna Rapa 5,353
Oceana County Road Commissioner — vote for two
Cathy Forbes (D) 4,683
David Spitler (D) 4,369
Andrew Heykoop (R) 7,567
Jason LaFever (R) 7,651
City of Hart Mayor — vote for one (non-partisan)
Amanda Klotz 458
Ronald LaPorte 299
Claybanks Township Treasurer — vote for one
Cheryl Rabe (R) 403
Peter Schlagor (NPA) 130
Claybanks Township Trustee — vote for two
Larry Burmeister (R) 413
David Rabe (R) 419
John Chaput (NPA) 94
Ferry Township Supervisor — vote for one
David Schmieding (R) 488
Richard Cornwell (NPA) 157
Ferry Township Trustee — vote for two
Milton Kreigh (R) 428
Reese Lifer Jr. (R) 422
Natalie Viterna (NPA) 192
Grant Township Trustee — vote for two
Joan Brooks (R) 985
Bill Mischler (R) 951
Kimberly Patton (NPA) 266
Rothbury Village President — vote for one (non-partisan)
Anthony Schiller 71
Vern Talmadge 88
Rothbury Village Trustee — vote for three (non-partisan)
Marieanne Canales 39
Patricia Day 40
Cynthia A. Grossman 41
Michael Harris 89
Denise R. Kurdziel 86
Brook L. Schiller 35
Troy Voorhees 74
Hart Public Schools Board of Education — vote for three (non-partisan)
Michael Barefoot 2,048
Noble Graham-Lattin 972
Steve Riley 2,343
Jeff Schaner 2,347
Leavitt Township Supervisor — vote for one
Steve Bennink (NPA) 76
Brooke Stapel (NPA) 173
James Yancey (NPA) 47
Leavitt Township Trustee — vote for two
Allen Purdy (R) 272
Larry Schmitz Jr. (NPA) 110
Patrick Vance (NPA) 103
Newfield Township Clerk — vote for one
Nancy L. Conley (R) 976
Shannon Shafer (NPA) 200
Hesperia Village Trustee — vote for three (non-partisan)
Linda Cunningham 83
Anna Dukes 67
Sheri Hunt 115
Jackie Slocum 88
Jennifer Thomas 85
Pentwater Township Trustee — vote for one
Michael Flynn (R) 807
Dean Holub (R) 707
Barb Siok (NPA) 459
Pentwater Village Trustee — vote for three (non-partisan)
Phillip Frame 272
Dan Nugent 479
Don Palmer 389
Karl Schrumpf 378
Shelby Village President — vote for one
Robert Glover 53
John Sutton 55
Pentwater Township Library Board of Directors — vote for six (non-partisan)
Valerie Church-McHugh 643
Danielle Engle 455
Kendra Flynn 717
Jennifer Gwillim 591
Amber Jaeb 482
Joan LundBorg 494
Melissa Williams 560
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Uncontested county positions
Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney
Joseph Bizon (R) 9,745
Oceana County Sheriff
Craig Mast (R) 10,235
Oceana County Clerk
Melanie Coon (R) 9,933
Oceana County Treasurer
Mary Lou Phillps (R) 10,057
Oceana County Register of Deeds
Richard Hodges (R) 9,935
Oceana County Drain Commissioner
Michelle Martin (R) 9,991
Oceana County Surveyor
Alex Altmaier (R) 9,790
Oceana County Commissioner 1st District
Timothy Beggs (R) 2,957
Oceana County Commissioner 2nd District
Phil Morse (R) — Joel McCormick appointed to the vacated position 837
Oceana County Commissioner 3rd District
Craig Hardy (R) 1,923
Oceana County Commissioner 4th District
Paul Erickson (R) 2,253
Oceana County Commissioner 5th District
Robert Walker (R) 1,892
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US President/Vice President
Kamala Harris/Tim Walz (D) 4,530
Donald Trump/JD Vance (R) 8,660
US Senator
Elissa Sloktin (D) 4,522
Mike Rogers (R) 8,334
Representative in Congress — 2nd District
Michael Lynch (D) 4,132
John Moolenaar (R) 8,496
Representative in State Legislator
Kathy Pelleran-Mahoney (D) 3,949
Curt Vanderwall (R) 8,427
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.
YES: 865
NO: 416
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.)
YES: 974
NO: 769
Vote total including Mason County’s Summit and Riverton townships:
YES: 982
NO: 775
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.
YES: 842
NO: No 349
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?
YES: 248
NO: 204
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?
YES: 590
NO: 185
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).
YES: 566
NO: 239
*NPA is no party affiliation
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