The primary election is coming up at the beginning of August. For those living in Mecosta County, see our voting guide below to help you know what's going to be on the ballot.

 

MECOSTA COUNTY BALLOT GUIDE

Date: Tuesday, August 4

Polling Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Additional Resources:

• VOTING PRECINCT MAP
• EARLY VOTING SITES & HOURS
• POLLING PLACE INFO

 

*STATE OFFICIALS*

 

State Governor

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Jocelyn Benson, Republican

• Mike Cox, Republican

• John James, Republican

• Perry Johnson, Republican

• Aric Nesbitt, Republican

• Chris Swanson, Democrat

U.S. Senator

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Abdul El-Sayed, Democrat

• Mallory McMarrow, Democrat

• Mike Rogers, Republican

• Haley Stevens, Democrat

U.S. Congress (2nd District)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Ben Ambrose, Democrat

• Jamie Hill, Democrat

• John Moolenaar, Republican

• Clyde Welford, Democrat

State Senator (34th District)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Roger Hauck, Republican

• Tyler Landgraf, Democrat

• Rhonda Lange, Republican

State Representative (100th District)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Tom Kunse, Republican

• Tracy Ruell, Democrat

 

*COUNTY OFFICIALS*

 

Mecosta County Road Commissioner

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Michael Wernette, Republican

Mecosta County Commissioner (5th District)

Aetna TWP, Austin TWP, Big Rapids TWP, Mecosta TWP

• Randy LaPreze, Republican

Mecosta County Commissioner (6th District)

City of Big Rapids

• Allitta Hren, Republican

• Wendy Nystrom, Democrat 

County Convention Delegate

Delegates listed and voted for listed TWP/City

• Sherry Anderson, Democrat (Morton TWP - P1)

• Carol Bjarnesen, Democrat (Green TWP)

• Amy Bowling, Democrat (Big Rapids TWP)

• Bill Bowling, Democrat (Big Rapids TWP)

• Teresa Bowser, Republican (Morton TWP - P2)

• Kalvin Charania Jr., Democrat (City of BR - P1)

• Jane Delisle, Democrat (Morton TWP - P2)

• Paul Difflipp, Republican (Green TWP)

• Mary Engelsman, Republican (Deerfield TWP)

• Sue Fournier, Republican (Mecosta TWP)

• Cheryl Gillard, Republican (City of BR - P1)

• Betsyann Goulette-Moskowitz, Democrat (Wheatland TWP)

• Faye Graves, Republican (Aetna TWP)

• Karen GreenBay, Democrat (Big Rapids TWP)

• Ronald Haladyna, Democrat (Green TWP)

• John Holdsworth, Republican (Green TWP)

• Patricia Langworthy, Republican (Mecosta TWP)

• Jessica Ruth Iliff-List, Democrat (Millbrook TWP)

• Chris Long, Republican (Green TWP)

• Lauren McCarver, Democrat (Grant TWP)

• Monica McCarver, Democrat (Grant TWP)

• John Michalski, Democrat (Green TWP)

• Stephen Proudfit, Republican (Green TWP)

• Tom Rundquist, Democrats (Big Rapids TWP)

• Linda Ryder-Smith, Republican (Green TWP)

• Chris Stoike, Democrat (Colfax TWP)

• Shelli Tabor, Democrat (Morton TWP - P2)

• Dom Theodore, Republican (Martiny TWP)

• Jennifer Theodore, Republican (Martiny TWP)

• Karen Turnbull, Democrat (City of BR - P2)

• Faith Turnbull, Democrat (Martiny TWP)

• Mary Ann Wernette, Democrat (Wheatland TWP)

• Kim Wortley, Republican (City of BR - P1)

 

*COUNTY & SCHOOL PROPOSALS*

 

Chippewa Hills School District Operating Millage Renewal Proposal

Austin TWP, Chippewa TWP, Colfax TWP, Fork TWP, Martiny TWP, Millbrook TWP, Morton TWP, Wheatland TWP

• This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. The remaining 1.5 mills are only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore that reduction. 

• Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Chippewa Hills School District, Mecosta, Isabella and Osceola Counties, Michigan, be increased by 19.5 mills ($19.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2027 to 2030, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2027 is approximately $11,206,613 (this is a renewal of millage that expired with the 2026 tax levy)?

Evart Public Schools Operating Millage Renewal Proposal

Chippewa TWP, Grant TWP

• This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. The remaining 3.6814 mills are only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore that reduction.

• Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Evart Public Schools, Osceola, Mecosta and Clare Counties, Michigan, be renewed by 21.6814 mills ($21.6814 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2027 to 2030, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2027 is approximately $2,726,824 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2026 tax levy)?

Morley Stanwood Community Schools Operating Millage Proposal

Aetna TWP, Austin TWP, Colfax TWP, Deerfield TWP, Mecosta TWP

• This proposal will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its full revenue per pupil foundation allowance and restores millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963.

• Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Morley Stanwood Community Schools, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo Counties, Michigan, be renewed by 17.5545 mills ($17.5545 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 3 years, 2027, 2028, and 2029, and also be increased by .4455 mill ($.4455 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 3 years, 2027, 2028, and 2029, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2027 is approximately $2,602,990 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2026 levy and a restoration of millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963)?

 

*TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS*

 

Austin Township Treasurer

Austin TWP

• Laurie Brockway, Republican

Austin Township Trustee

Austin TWP

• Kayla Iltis, Republican 

Deerfield Township Treasurer

Deerfield TWP

• No candidates listed.

Fork Township Treasurer

Fork TWP

• Patty McNeilley, Republican

Sheridan Township Clerk

Sheridan TWP

• Bridget Hahn, Democrat

 

*TOWNSHIP PROPOSALS*

 

Sheridan Township Special Assessment District Proposal

Sheridan TWP

• Shall Sheridan Township establish a special assessment district comprised of all real property situated within the boundaries of the Township, and shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed on all real property in the Township of Sheridan, Mecosta County, Michigan, be increased by up to one (1.0) mill, ($1.00 on each $1,000 of taxable value) on said real property for a period of ten (10) years commencing with the 2028 tax year for the purpose of appropriating funds for fire protection pursuant to Public Act 33 of 1931, being MCLA 41.801 et seq.? It is estimated the revenue collected by the Township of Sheridan as a result of this proposal will be up to $59,398 in the first year. This revenue will free up general funds for road improvements and repairs. This will be a Renewal millage.

Wheatland Township Road Repair Millage Renewal

Wheatland TWP

• Shall the tax rate limitation for Wheatland Township be renewed, with a tax levied on all taxable property within the Township, in the amount of 1.5 mills per year ($1.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) for ten (10) YEARS, 2026-2035 inclusive?

• The proposed millage is a renewal millage for Wheatland Township Road Repair purposes.  The purpose of this levy is to provide funds for the repair and/or maintenance of Township roads.  It is estimated that a levy of 1.5 mills would provide revenue of approximately $109,000.00 in the first calendar year.