By Bruce Rolfe
Five candidates, including three incumbents, will be on the ballot running for three Village of Augusta Council trustee seats in the November 3 election.
Incumbents Andy Ackley, Kim Carlton, and Ann Daly, along with Kelsey Kooiker and Randy Padgett, will be on the ballot running for four-year terms.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. November 3.
Absentee voting (voting by mail):
The following information is from the Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds office.
Friday, October 30, at 5 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot online or by mail for delivery by mail.
Monday, November 2, at 4 p.m.: Deadline for registered voters to request an absentee ballot in person at their city or township clerk’s office.
Tuesday, November 3, at 8 p.m.: Deadline for completed absentee ballots to be received by the voter’s local clerk or deposited in an authorized ballot drop box.
According to the Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds office, although voters can request a ballot by mail through October 30, the County Clerk and Register of Deeds office strongly encourage voters to make their request well in advance to allow sufficient time for mailing and returning their ballot. If returning an absentee ballot within two weeks of Election Day, voters may want to consider taking it to their local jurisdiction’s drop-box or bringing it to an Early Voting site or their precinct on Election Day to avoid any potential mail delays.
Early voting:
Early in-person voting will take place Saturday, October 24, through Sunday, November 1, for nine consecutive days. Voters must use the early voting location designated for their city or township. Locations and additional information are available at https://www.kalcounty.gov/451/Early-Voting.
Voters can also visit Michigan.gov/Vote to check their registration, find their polling place, request or track an absentee ballot, and view their sample ballot.
Because the Village of Augusta Council trustee race is contested, the Climax Crescent put together a series of questions each candidate was offered an opportunity to answer.
Candidate questions were sent to email addresses listed on the County Clerk and Register of Deed’s Election website. Each candidate was given the same questions to answer.
The candidate’s answers are in their own words.
Each candidate was offered the opportunity to review the copy if they wanted to make any adjustments before the article was submitted for publication.
Candidates who did not respond were given a reminder of the deadline to submit answers as well as a follow up reminder.
The Climax Crescent will have an overview of the other local races currently uncontested and any write-in candidate information following that meet the October 23 deadline, in the October 30 issue.
Ann Daly
Augusta
1-Do you have any previous experience serving on a council, board, commission. If so, for how many years?
Yes I do have previous experience on the Augusta Village Board. I have serviced a total of 20 years off and on representing the residents. In that time I have worn a variety of hats such as the fire commissioner, police commissioner, buildings and grounds and currently parks and recreation where we are planning many exciting changes to be enjoyed by our residents.
2-Why are you running for a Village of Augusta trustee seat and why do you feel you are a good candidate to fill this position.
I feel that not only my experience will be an asset but the fact that I grew up here and nobody loves this town more than those of us who have called this our home since our beginnings. I know it’s history, good and bad. I have seen the struggles this community has faced and won. These are my roots, my home town, my community and it is my duty to see it grow.
3-What are some challenges the Village of Augusta faces and how would you address those challenges?
Right now I believe that one of our greatest challenges is the lack of businesses. Our downtown used to flourish but through the years it has diminished. It will take hard work to bring it back but I am up for the task. We need to bring the people businesses that will give our residents pride in their community and the convenience of local shopping.
4-What are some positives the Village of Augusta has going for it? Do you have any initiatives or ideas that will help the Village of Augusta thrive and encourage people to want to live and work in the Village of Augusta?
This village offers not just its beautiful homes and streets but we also share a large Central Park that holds our museum and library. We are a community in every sense where people look out for each other and are warm and friendly. Our crime rate is very low because we have our own police department and fire department so that our residents and children can feel safe and secure. It’s a good place to live and grow. If I were asked if I could live anywhere, where would it be? I would say Augusta Michigan.
1-Do you have any previous experience serving on a council, board, commission. If so, for how many years?
Yes I do have previous experience on the Augusta Village Board. I have serviced a total of 20 years off and on representing the residents. In that time I have worn a variety of hats such as the fire commissioner, police commissioner, buildings and grounds and currently parks and recreation where we are planning many exciting changes to be enjoyed by our residents.
2-Why are you running for a Village of Augusta trustee seat and why do you feel you are a good candidate to fill this position.
I feel that not only my experience will be an asset but the fact that I grew up here and nobody loves this town more than those of us who have called this our home since our beginnings. I know it’s history, good and bad. I have seen the struggles this community has faced and won. These are my roots, my home town, my community and it is my duty to see it grow.
3-What are some challenges the Village of Augusta faces and how would you address those challenges?
Right now I believe that one of our greatest challenges is the lack of businesses. Our downtown used to flourish but through the years it has diminished. It will take hard work to bring it back but I am up for the task. We need to bring the people businesses that will give our residents pride in their community and the convenience of local shopping.
4-What are some positives the Village of Augusta has going for it? Do you have any initiatives or ideas that will help the Village of Augusta thrive and encourage people to want to live and work in the Village of Augusta?
This village offers not just its beautiful homes and streets but we also share a large Central Park that holds our museum and library. We are a community in every sense where people look out for each other and are warm and friendly. Our crime rate is very low because we have our own police department and fire department so that our residents and children can feel safe and secure. It’s a good place to live and grow. If I were asked if I could live anywhere, where would it be? I would say Augusta Michigan.
Kelsey Kooiker
Augusta
1-Do you have any previous experience serving on a council, board, commission. If so, for how many years?
This will be my first year running for any type of position like this. However, I have been actively involved in the town meetings for a little over a year now. I also volunteer as often as I can for events in the area such as the Arts and Crafts Show and the Trunk or Treat.
2-Why are you running for a Village of Augusta trustee seat and why do you feel you are a good candidate to fill this position.
I am running because I want to be able to make a difference in our community in a meaningful way. I have a 4-year-old son and I want to help make a community that I can be proud of him to be a part of. One of my biggest strengths that I am bringing to the table is my ability to listen to others and see things from a different perspective. I understand that we are not all going to agree on everything. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot work together to find solutions that benefit a majority of the community instead of just a few. Not every problem will be easy to fix, but I do feel it is important to treat every concern brought up by village members with the same amount of attention and respect that you would want your own concerns treated with.
Whether I am elected or not, I promise to always treat others with the same respect I expect to receive.
3-What are some challenges the Village of Augusta faces and how would you address those challenges?
I believe communication and community involvement are two things that we can do better with. For the first 7 years that I lived here, I didn’t even know we had a monthly meeting.
Up until recently the only communication village members could receive on what was being decided at the monthly meetings was in the meeting minutes. Those could only be accessed physically at the town hall Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. According to the Census Bureau, more than half of the village population is still working which would make it near impossible for the majority of the village members to stay informed on what is going on. I want to help bring all generations together and make a community we can all be part of. We also have a safety concern with the lack of traffic lights in high traffic areas. While our village is small, 96 runs right through downtown and we have more than one busy cross section where people commute to and from work and our kids walk or ride the bus to school. This is not something the village can fix by themselves, but I fully plan on advocating and talking with those that can get one put in until it happens.
4-What are some positives the Village of Augusta has going for it? Do you have any initiatives or ideas that will help the Village of Augusta thrive and encourage people to want to live and work in the Village of Augusta?
Our local park behind the library is a great place to do more events. We already have the car show and arts and craft fair every year but we could do so much more. Movie nights, concerts, a farmers market, or other types of fairs are a few ideas I would love to investigate and get going on a regular basis. These events could help generate income for the village to help it thrive and grow as well.
We also have a lot of commercial buildings that are not being used right now. It would be great to see some more businesses come back into the area to help support our growth.
The people that live in this village are also an incredibly positive force we have going for us. I am so proud of what I have seen already with the community coming together to find solutions to problems and help one another. I don’t believe I would be running if it wasn’t for this amazing group of people that I will be so proud to represent and fight for.
1-Do you have any previous experience serving on a council, board, commission. If so, for how many years?
This will be my first year running for any type of position like this. However, I have been actively involved in the town meetings for a little over a year now. I also volunteer as often as I can for events in the area such as the Arts and Crafts Show and the Trunk or Treat.
2-Why are you running for a Village of Augusta trustee seat and why do you feel you are a good candidate to fill this position.
I am running because I want to be able to make a difference in our community in a meaningful way. I have a 4-year-old son and I want to help make a community that I can be proud of him to be a part of. One of my biggest strengths that I am bringing to the table is my ability to listen to others and see things from a different perspective. I understand that we are not all going to agree on everything. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot work together to find solutions that benefit a majority of the community instead of just a few. Not every problem will be easy to fix, but I do feel it is important to treat every concern brought up by village members with the same amount of attention and respect that you would want your own concerns treated with.
Whether I am elected or not, I promise to always treat others with the same respect I expect to receive.
3-What are some challenges the Village of Augusta faces and how would you address those challenges?
I believe communication and community involvement are two things that we can do better with. For the first 7 years that I lived here, I didn’t even know we had a monthly meeting.
Up until recently the only communication village members could receive on what was being decided at the monthly meetings was in the meeting minutes. Those could only be accessed physically at the town hall Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. According to the Census Bureau, more than half of the village population is still working which would make it near impossible for the majority of the village members to stay informed on what is going on. I want to help bring all generations together and make a community we can all be part of. We also have a safety concern with the lack of traffic lights in high traffic areas. While our village is small, 96 runs right through downtown and we have more than one busy cross section where people commute to and from work and our kids walk or ride the bus to school. This is not something the village can fix by themselves, but I fully plan on advocating and talking with those that can get one put in until it happens.
4-What are some positives the Village of Augusta has going for it? Do you have any initiatives or ideas that will help the Village of Augusta thrive and encourage people to want to live and work in the Village of Augusta?
Our local park behind the library is a great place to do more events. We already have the car show and arts and craft fair every year but we could do so much more. Movie nights, concerts, a farmers market, or other types of fairs are a few ideas I would love to investigate and get going on a regular basis. These events could help generate income for the village to help it thrive and grow as well.
We also have a lot of commercial buildings that are not being used right now. It would be great to see some more businesses come back into the area to help support our growth.
The people that live in this village are also an incredibly positive force we have going for us. I am so proud of what I have seen already with the community coming together to find solutions to problems and help one another. I don’t believe I would be running if it wasn’t for this amazing group of people that I will be so proud to represent and fight for.
Kim Carlton
Augusta
1: Do you have any previous experience serving on a council, board, commission. If so, for how many years?
I have lived in Augusta my entire life, and I care deeply about our community. I want to preserve the small-town atmosphere we all value while promoting responsible growth and common-sense solutions.
Why are you running for a Village of Augusta Trustee seat and why do you feel you are a good candidate to fill this position.
2: Over the past several years, I have shown my commitment to Augusta by reviving the Arts and Craft Show, which I have organized for the last four years, and by managing the Village Museum. I believe in listening to residents, addressing their concerns, and working with the Village Board to find solutions.
What are some challenges the Village of Augusta faces and how would you address those challenges?
I would like to encourage business growth by offering incentives to attract new businesses and services that benefit residents, such as a laundromat and additional dining options.
What are some positives the Village of Augusta has going for it? Do you have any initiatives or ideas that will help the Village of Augusta thrive and encourage people to want to live and work in the Village of Augusta?
Augusta’s low crime rate and strong sense of community are among its greatest strengths. I would like to see more activities that bring residents together, including farmers markets, community yard sales, movies in the park, and other family-friendly events.
I am committed to working alongside the rest of the board to create a vibrant, sustainable future while preserving everything that makes Augusta special.
1: Do you have any previous experience serving on a council, board, commission. If so, for how many years?
I have lived in Augusta my entire life, and I care deeply about our community. I want to preserve the small-town atmosphere we all value while promoting responsible growth and common-sense solutions.
Why are you running for a Village of Augusta Trustee seat and why do you feel you are a good candidate to fill this position.
2: Over the past several years, I have shown my commitment to Augusta by reviving the Arts and Craft Show, which I have organized for the last four years, and by managing the Village Museum. I believe in listening to residents, addressing their concerns, and working with the Village Board to find solutions.
What are some challenges the Village of Augusta faces and how would you address those challenges?
I would like to encourage business growth by offering incentives to attract new businesses and services that benefit residents, such as a laundromat and additional dining options.
What are some positives the Village of Augusta has going for it? Do you have any initiatives or ideas that will help the Village of Augusta thrive and encourage people to want to live and work in the Village of Augusta?
Augusta’s low crime rate and strong sense of community are among its greatest strengths. I would like to see more activities that bring residents together, including farmers markets, community yard sales, movies in the park, and other family-friendly events.
I am committed to working alongside the rest of the board to create a vibrant, sustainable future while preserving everything that makes Augusta special.
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