With local elections on the horizon, here’s a look at some basic voter and candidate information for major elections within Mecosta County, including commissioner, safety, and information representatives:
*CANDIDATE INFORMATION WILL BE UPDATED ONCE RECEIVED FROM CANDIDATE*
VOTER INFO:
Election Date: August 6, 2024
Election Hours: 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Voting Place: Organized by Township (see your township guide in ‘Local Election Hub’)
More Information: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Home/Index
CANDIDATE INFO:
United States Senator (6 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Justin Amash, REP, Grand Rapids
- Nasser Beydoun, DEM, Dearborn
- Hill Harper, DEM, Detroit
- Peter Meijer, REP, Grand Rapids
- Sherry O’Donnell, REP, Stevensville
Sandy Pensler, REP, Gross Point Park (WITHDREW)- Mike Rogers, REP, St. Joseph
- Elissa Slotkin, DEM, Holly
2nd District Congress Representative (2 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Michael Lynch, DEM, Alma
- John Moolenaar, REP, Midland (INCUMBENT)
100th District State Legislature Representative (2/3 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Tom Kunse, REP, Clare (2) (INCUMBENT)
- Jamie McClendon, DEM, Big Rapids (2)
- Tracy Ruell, DEM, Big Rapids (3)
Mecosta County Prosecuting Attorney (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Jonathan Peterson, REP, Big Rapids (INCUMBENT)
Mecosta County Sheriff (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Gregory Lobert, REP, Remus
- Brian Miller, REP, Big Rapids (INCUMBENT)
- Experience: Mecosta County Sheriff (4 years), City of Big Rapids Public Safety (25 years), Police Chief for Village of Barryton, Mecosta County/Ferris State/Big Rapids DPS Honor Guard
- Inspiration: Make a difference
- Focus: Keep the community involved and the county safe
- Quote: "When my time on earth is done, I want to be remembered not as Sheriff Miller, Detective Sergeant Miller, Officer Brian or Coach Miller, but just as Brian, a person who tried to live my life as the best reflection of our Lord and savior as I can. I am the best candidate for the job. I have not completed everything I set out to do when I took office. I still have passion for this office, and working for the people of Mecosta County. When the day comes I don't have this passion, I will step away. This day has not come yet."
- James Taylor, REP, Big Rapids
- Experience: Undersheriff (12 years), Director of Criminal Justice at West Shore Community College (3 years), Chair of Traffic Safety Network? (5 years), Administrator of Underage Youth Alcohol Grant
and Traffic Safety Grants for Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning (20 years)
- Inspiration: Be a change for the community
- Focus: Be fiscally responsible with the taxpayer money, improve crisis management and medical emergency training for jail corrections staff, provide prompt, face to face contact with the public during handling of their calls for service
- Quote: "I have over 18 years of experience as a Supervisor in law enforcement and a total of 27 years as a police officer. Prior to police work, I was a manager at our family pizza place for several years. I could have made the easy choice of making the best pizza in four counties, but I chose law enforcement. Police work is about serving your community to make it a better place to live and to raise children. As your Sheriff, I am prepared to take over all aspects of the office on day one."
Mecosta County Clerk (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Marcee Purcell, REP, Big Rapids (INCUMBENT)
Mecosta County Treasurer (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Sherry Earnest, REP, Big Rapids (INCUMBENT)
- Experience: County Treasurer (12 years)
- Inspiration: Making a difference for the community
- Focus: Preventing lost bills and payments
- Quote: "We love this community and really can't imagine living anywhere else. I have been truly Blessed and will continue to serve the people of Mecosta County to the best of my abilities."
Mecosta County Register of Deeds (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Robert Deschaine, REP, Big Rapids
- Karen Hahn, REP, Big Rapids (INCUMBENT)
- Experience: County Register of Deeds (14 years)
- Inspiration: Endorsement from former position holder
- Focus: Maintain accurate, digital records for the county regarding safety and commerce
- Quote: "I love this community and thoroughly enjoy helping people with their real estate questions. If you have been to the Register of Deeds office in the last 20 years or so, I probably was the person that helped you at the counter. I appreciate this community for trusting me with their precious records."
Mecosta County Road Commissioner (6 Year Term) – One Seat Available
Mecosta County Drain Commissioner (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Karla Miller, REP, Big Rapids (INCUMBENT)
1st District County Commissioner (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Jeff Jackson, REP, Big Rapids
- Randy Vetter, REP, Big Rapids (INCUMBENT)
2nd District County Commissioner (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Greg Adams, REP, Evart
- Jerrilynn Strong, REP, Remus (INCUMBENT)
3rd District County Commissioner (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Linda Howard, REP, Mecosta (INCUMBENT)
- Experience: Wheatland TWP Clerk (12 years), County Commissioner (10 years), Owner of Dar's Barn, Inc. in Remus (25 years)
- Inspiration: Friends, family, and community members
- Focus: Conservative values, adressing issues for all people of Mecosta County
- Quote: "I hope you will agree that my experience as a business owner, county commissioner, township clerk, county economic leader, state council member and more, all prove my dedication and ability to get things done."
- Paul Wernette, REP, Remus
- Experience: County Commissioner (40 years ago), substitute teacher, author, farmer
- Inspiration: Concern of overreach in zoning, lack of interactive meeting discussions
- Focus: Prune 'craziness' out of zoning and permission-related actions, personalized branding, open public meetings,' Right to Farm' act
- Quote: "I hope to use my wisdom, common sense, education, honesty, and thirst for freedom to make Mecosta County a little better place to live."
- Chris Zimmerman, REP, Canadian Lakes
- Experience: Insurance agent (34 years), author (6 books), Precinct delegate, Vice Chairman, Mecosta County GOP
- Inspiration: Replace the Commissioner who "doesn’t listen to the will of the people", not support Gotion
- Focus: Provide beneficial insight as an outsider and a businessman with a keen eye for contracts, negotiation, and value
- Quote: "Mark Twain said it best, 'Diapers and politicians need to be changed from time to time….and for the same reasons.' I hope to be one of 7 new commissioners after Tuesday’s election."
4th District County Commissioner (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Gary Lambrix, REP, Morley
- Experience: Deerfield TWP Trustee (20 years), small business owner (25 years), Mecosta County Parks and Planning/Zoning Board member
- Inspiration: Make a difference, bring harmony and transparency to the county residential community?
- Focus: Maintain conservative values, work for the community residents
- Quote: "To the county residents of District 4, part of Aetna, Deerfield, Hinton and Millbrook, I will work for you."
- Raymond Steinke, REP, Morley (INCUMBENT)
5th District County Commissioner (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Sue Fournier, REP, Stanwod
- Experience: Customer service work, party store manager, worked for Attorney and NOCTI
- Inspiration: To fufill the need for transparent leadership, environmental and ledaership concerns regarding Gotion
- Focus: Change commission meeting times for attendee convinience, informing constituents of county happenings
- Quote: "I will scrutinize every tax dollar that is spent so that our residents know exactly what they are paying for. The era of 'business as usual' needs to end. It’s time for responsible leadership in our county."
- Tom O’Neil, REP, Stanwood (INCUMBENT)
6th District County Commissioner (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Chris Jane, REP, Big Rapids (INCUMBENT)
- Theresa Ventocilla, REP, Big Rapids
7th District County Commissioner (4 Year Term) – One Seat Available
- Carman Bean, REP, Big Rapids
- Experience: Big Rapids Charter TWP Supervisor (1 year), Township Trustee (7 years), BR Charter TWP Planning Commission (10 years), Mecosta County Planning Commission (3 years), Federal Screw worker (45 years)
- Inspiration: Felt complacency with county governance
- Focus: Conservative fiscal responsibility, advocate citizen participation with new meeting times, more attendance at meetings than previous comissioner
- Quote: "The current Commissioner of the 7th District has attended but one Big Rapids Charter Township Meeting, the Township in which approximately 70% of his constituents reside, in my 8 years of service to the Township. Additionally, he has been noticeably absent at the City of Big Rapids City Commission Meetings in the same period, in which the remaining 30% of his constituents reside. Simply put, the Citizens deserve better."
- Bill Routley, REP, Big Rapids (INCUMBENT)
- Experience: County Comissioner (21), Stanwood Village President (6 years), Area Agency on Aging (15 years), mutiple city boards, lifetime resident of Big Rapids
- Inspiration: To make a difference for the county and county people
- Focus: Stabalize transparent cross-communication with county departments
- Quote: "I am open minded and passionate to bring good well paying jobs to our area. I believe in helping people that need a second chance. A vote for me a a vote for a secure future for Mecosta County."
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