By Bruce Rolfe
There were no big surprises in three local township races and a county-wide millage proposal was approved by voters by a large margin in the August 6 Primary Election.
The County-wide Senior Millage that will continue a local fund that was previously approved by voters in 2018, was approved, 34,305-9,935.
The fund is used to provide education, safety, dignity, independence, home services, and healthy living programs to Kalamazoo County residents age 60 and older using the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department to improve the quality of living for senior citizens.
The approved six-year, 0.3462 senior millage, is estimated to raise $3,696,436 the first year of the levy.
The 0.3462 mills on a property with a residential market value of $200,000 (with an estimated taxable value of $100,000) would equal approximately $34.62 of levied tax annually.
Local Candidates Win Unchallenged Seats
There were a number of write-in votes for many races throughout the county, including many in the Climax Crescent coverage area but Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Clerk and Register of Deeds John Curran explained that does not mean all of those votes were cast for a declared write-in candidate. He said in order for a write-in candidate’s vote to count, the candidate must have filed a declaration of intent before the election.
The only candidate to file a declaration of intent form to run as a write-in candidate locally was Joshua Moreno, running under the Republican ticket in Pavilion Township for a two-year precinct delegate.
The County Clerk’s office will update the County election website page with official write-in results after the Board of Canvassers has finalized election results.
Charleston Township
All races in Charleston Township were uncontested.
Current Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest received 203 votes under the Republican ticket for a four-year term. There were three write-ins filed for the position under the Republican ticket and eight filed on the Democrat side for the seat.
Current Charleston Township Treasurer Kim Balkema received 202 votes under the Republican ticket. There were six write-in votes for the treasurer position under the Democrat ticket and one write-in under the Republican ticket.
Incumbent trustee Joshua Balkema received 197 votes under the Republican ticket. There were four write-ins filed for the position under the Republican ticket.
Because the August 6 Primary was to nominate partisan candidates and current clerk Alese Lepert and current trustee Brian Moravek ran with no party affiliation, their names will appear on the November ballot.
There were seven write-in names for the clerk position under the Democrat ticket and 14 write-ins filed under the Republican ticket for the seat.
There were eight write-ins filed for a trustee position under the Democrat ticket.
Pavilion Charter Township
In Pavilion Charter Township, incumbent Supervisor John Speeter, current Clerk Karen Emily Siegwart, current Treasurer Robyn Maxson and current Trustees Greg Thomas, Dan Frizzo, David Steffens, and Edward Cagney all ran unchallenged and were elected under the Republican ticket to be on the November General Election ballot for four-year terms.
Speeter received 519 votes and there were five write-in votes under the Republican ticket. There were 25 write in votes case for the supervisor position on the Democrat ticket.
Siegwart received 521 votes and there were two write-in votes under the Republican ticket. There were 23 write-ins on the Democrat ticket for the clerk position.
Current treasurer Robyn Maxson received 520 votes on the Republican ticket and there were four write-in votes for the position under the Republican ticket. There were 22 write-ins cast under the Democrat ticket for the position.
Incumbents Edward Cagney (444 votes), Dan Frizzo (396 votes), David Steffens (402 votes) and Greg Thomas (410 votes) all ran unchallenged for four-year terms under the Republican ticket. There was one write-in vote for a trustee position on the Republican ticket. There were 53 write-ins filed for a trustee position under the Democrat ticket.
Wakeshma Township
Current Wakeshma Township Supervisor Jason Gatlin, who was running unchallenged for a four-year term, received 134 votes. There was one write-in vote on the Republican ticket and four write-in votes for the position on the Democrat ticket.
The August 6 Primary was to nominate a partisan candidate, however because Deputy Clerk Michael Fry filed his affidavit of identity as a candidate without party affiliation, his name will appear on the November General Election for the clerk position.
There were 19 write-ins filed for the clerk position under the Republican ticket and four write-in votes under the Democrat position.
Current township Treasurer Leann Munn received 127 votes on the Republican ticket for a four-year term. There were four write-in votes for the position under the Democrat ticket.
Current Trustee Trevor Bennett received 125 votes and incumbent Barbara Thole received 98 votes under the Republican ticket to fill both trustee seats. Their names will appear on November General Election ballot running unchallenged for four-year terms. There was one write-in vote under the Republican ticket running for a trustee seat. There were six write-in votes for a trustee position under the Democrat ticket.
There were no big surprises in three local township races and a county-wide millage proposal was approved by voters by a large margin in the August 6 Primary Election.
The County-wide Senior Millage that will continue a local fund that was previously approved by voters in 2018, was approved, 34,305-9,935.
The fund is used to provide education, safety, dignity, independence, home services, and healthy living programs to Kalamazoo County residents age 60 and older using the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department to improve the quality of living for senior citizens.
The approved six-year, 0.3462 senior millage, is estimated to raise $3,696,436 the first year of the levy.
The 0.3462 mills on a property with a residential market value of $200,000 (with an estimated taxable value of $100,000) would equal approximately $34.62 of levied tax annually.
Local Candidates Win Unchallenged Seats
There were a number of write-in votes for many races throughout the county, including many in the Climax Crescent coverage area but Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Clerk and Register of Deeds John Curran explained that does not mean all of those votes were cast for a declared write-in candidate. He said in order for a write-in candidate’s vote to count, the candidate must have filed a declaration of intent before the election.
The only candidate to file a declaration of intent form to run as a write-in candidate locally was Joshua Moreno, running under the Republican ticket in Pavilion Township for a two-year precinct delegate.
The County Clerk’s office will update the County election website page with official write-in results after the Board of Canvassers has finalized election results.
Charleston Township
All races in Charleston Township were uncontested.
Current Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest received 203 votes under the Republican ticket for a four-year term. There were three write-ins filed for the position under the Republican ticket and eight filed on the Democrat side for the seat.
Current Charleston Township Treasurer Kim Balkema received 202 votes under the Republican ticket. There were six write-in votes for the treasurer position under the Democrat ticket and one write-in under the Republican ticket.
Incumbent trustee Joshua Balkema received 197 votes under the Republican ticket. There were four write-ins filed for the position under the Republican ticket.
Because the August 6 Primary was to nominate partisan candidates and current clerk Alese Lepert and current trustee Brian Moravek ran with no party affiliation, their names will appear on the November ballot.
There were seven write-in names for the clerk position under the Democrat ticket and 14 write-ins filed under the Republican ticket for the seat.
There were eight write-ins filed for a trustee position under the Democrat ticket.
Pavilion Charter Township
In Pavilion Charter Township, incumbent Supervisor John Speeter, current Clerk Karen Emily Siegwart, current Treasurer Robyn Maxson and current Trustees Greg Thomas, Dan Frizzo, David Steffens, and Edward Cagney all ran unchallenged and were elected under the Republican ticket to be on the November General Election ballot for four-year terms.
Speeter received 519 votes and there were five write-in votes under the Republican ticket. There were 25 write in votes case for the supervisor position on the Democrat ticket.
Siegwart received 521 votes and there were two write-in votes under the Republican ticket. There were 23 write-ins on the Democrat ticket for the clerk position.
Current treasurer Robyn Maxson received 520 votes on the Republican ticket and there were four write-in votes for the position under the Republican ticket. There were 22 write-ins cast under the Democrat ticket for the position.
Incumbents Edward Cagney (444 votes), Dan Frizzo (396 votes), David Steffens (402 votes) and Greg Thomas (410 votes) all ran unchallenged for four-year terms under the Republican ticket. There was one write-in vote for a trustee position on the Republican ticket. There were 53 write-ins filed for a trustee position under the Democrat ticket.
Wakeshma Township
Current Wakeshma Township Supervisor Jason Gatlin, who was running unchallenged for a four-year term, received 134 votes. There was one write-in vote on the Republican ticket and four write-in votes for the position on the Democrat ticket.
The August 6 Primary was to nominate a partisan candidate, however because Deputy Clerk Michael Fry filed his affidavit of identity as a candidate without party affiliation, his name will appear on the November General Election for the clerk position.
There were 19 write-ins filed for the clerk position under the Republican ticket and four write-in votes under the Democrat position.
Current township Treasurer Leann Munn received 127 votes on the Republican ticket for a four-year term. There were four write-in votes for the position under the Democrat ticket.
Current Trustee Trevor Bennett received 125 votes and incumbent Barbara Thole received 98 votes under the Republican ticket to fill both trustee seats. Their names will appear on November General Election ballot running unchallenged for four-year terms. There was one write-in vote under the Republican ticket running for a trustee seat. There were six write-in votes for a trustee position under the Democrat ticket.
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