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

 

OSCEOLA 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 Cities

• Jocelyn Benson, Republican

• Mike Cox, Republican

• John James, Republican

• Perry Johnson, Republican

• Aric Nesbitt, Republican

• Chris Swanson, Democrat

U.S. Senator

All TWPs and Cities

• Abdul El-Sayed, Democrat

• Mallory McMarrow, Democrat

• Mike Rogers, Republican

• Haley Stevens, Democrat

U.S. Congress (2nd District)

All TWPs and Cities

• Ben Ambrose, Democrat

• Jamie Hill, Democrat

• John Moolenaar, Republican

• Clyde Welford, Democrat 

State Senator (34th District)

All TWPs and Cities

• Roger Hauck, Republican

• Tyler Landgraf, Democrat

• Rhonda Lange, Republican

State Representative (100th District)

All TWPs and Cities

• Tom Kunse, Republican

• Tracy Ruell, Democrat

 

*COUNTY OFFICIALS*

 

Osceola County Road Commissioner

All TWPs and Cities

• Terry Wanstead, Republican

County Convention Delegate

Delegates listed and voted for listed TWP/City

• Tracy Busch, Democrat (Lincoln TWP)

• Katherine Fleming, Republican (Richmond TWP)

• Patrick Fleming, Republican (Richmond TWP)

• Sarah Hayes, Republican (Rose Lake TWP)

• Teri Lovelette, Democrat (City of Reed City)

• Laurie Jo Millen, Republican (Burdell TWP)

• Penney Nichols-Whitehead, Democrat (Evart TWP)

• Steve Petoskey, Democrat (Hersey TWP)

• Destiny Potoczek, Democrat (Richmond TWP)

• Jay Pozner, Democrat (Sylvan TWP)

• Lynn Rice, Republican (Highland TWP)

• Paul Siewinski, Republican (Highland TWP)

• Bridget Silvernail, Republican (Sylvan TWP)

• Harold Simon Jr., Democrat (Cedar TWP)

• Marvin Van Haitsma, Democrat (City of Evart)

• Sherry Wade, Democrat (Rose Lake TWP)

• Christene Weavers, Democrat (Highland Township)

• Daniel Williams, Republican (Marion TWP)

• Lola Williams, Republican (Marion TWP)

• Teijin Wing, Republican (Sylvan TWP)

• Megan Wiswesser, Democrat (Richmond TWP)

 

*COUNTY PROPOSALS*

 

Osceola County Senior Citizens Services Millage Proposal

All TWPs and Cities

• For the sole purpose of supporting continued operations of senior citizens services through the Commission on Aging within Osceola County, at the same combined total millage level previously approved by the voters in 2020 and 2024, shall the Constitutional limitation upon the total amount of taxes which may be assessed in one (1) year upon all property within the County of Osceola, Michigan, imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution be increased by up to one and one-half (1.5000) mills ($1.50 per $1,000 of Taxable Value) for a period of six (6) years, 2026 through 2031 inclusive?

• If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $1,595,102.00 for supporting continued operations of senior citizens services through the Commission on Aging within Osceola County in the first calendar year of the levy based on taxable value. As required by law, a small portion of the millage may also be disbursed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Reed City and Richmond Township.

Osceola County Emergency Medical Services Millage Renewal and Restoration Proposal

All TWPs and Cities

• For the purpose of continuing operations of the County Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance) at the same millage level previously approved by the voters in 2020, 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 the County of Osceola, Michigan, be continued and renewed at the rate of 1.3024 mills ($1.3024 per $1000 of taxable value), and shall the 0.0276 mill reduction of that rate ($0.0276 per $1000 of taxable value) be restored, such that  the County is authorized to levy a total of up to 1.33 mills ($1.33 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of six (6) years, 2026 through 2031, inclusive?

• If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $1,414,324.00 for continuing operations of the County Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance) within Osceola County in the first calendar year of the levy based on taxable value. As required by law, a small portion of the millage may also be disbursed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Reed City and Richmond Township.

Osceola County Emergency Medical Services Network Millage Renewal

All TWPs and Cities

• For the purpose of continuing operations of the County Emergency Medical Services Network (Ambulance), shall the  tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within the County of Osceola, Michigan, be increased, and shall the County be authorized to levy, up to 0.6700 mill ($0.67 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of six (6) years, 2026 through 2031, inclusive?

• If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $712,479.00 for continuing operations of the County Emergency Medical Services Network (Ambulance) within Osceola County in the first calendar year of the levy based on taxable value. As required by law, a small portion of the millage may also be disbursed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Reed City and Richmond Township.

Osceola County Community School Resource Officers and General Sheriff & Jail Operations Millage Renewal and Restoration Proposal

All TWPs and Cities

• For the purpose of continuing funding for Community/School Resource Officers in the schools and for general operations of the County Sheriff Department and Jail Facility within Osceola County, 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 Osceola County, Michigan, be renewed at the rate of 0.9913 mill ($0.9913 per $1,000 of taxable value), and shall the reduction of 0.0087 mill ($0.0087 per $1,000 of taxable value) be restored, such that  the County is authorized to levy a total of up to 1.0000 mill ($1.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), to be levied for a period of four (4) years, 2026 through 2029, inclusive?

• If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $1,063,401.00 for Community/School Resource Officers and County Sheriff/Jail operations in the first calendar year of the levy, based on state taxable valuation. As required by law, a small portion of the millage may also be disbursed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Reed City and Richmond Township.

Osceola County Millage Renewal and Restoration for Michigan State University Extension and 4-H Services

All TWPs and Cities

• For the purpose of sustaining 4-H youth development, agriculture, health and nutrition, horticulture, finance and homeownership, and other community education programs through Michigan State University Extension services within Osceola County, shall the limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Osceola County, Michigan, be renewed by 0.2478 mill ($0.2478 per $1,000 in taxable value), and the reduction of 0.0022 mill ($0.0022 per $1,000 of taxable value) be restored, for a total approved rate of up to 0.2500 mill ($0.25 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), to be levied for a period of four (4) years, 2026 through 2029, inclusive?

• If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $265,850.00 for Michigan State University Extension services in the first calendar year of the levy, based on state taxable valuation. As required by law, a small portion of the millage may also be disbursed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Reed City and Richmond Township.

 

*TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS*

 

Hersey Township Supervisor

Hersey TWP

• No candidates on ballot.

Hersey Township Treasurer

Hersey TWP

• Susan Martinez, Republican

 

*TOWNSHIP, CITY, & SCHOOL PROPOSALS*

 

Evart Public Schools Operating Millage Renewal Proposal

Cedar TWP, City of Evart, Evart TWP, Hartwick TWP, Hersey TWP, Middle Branch TWP, Sylvan 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)?

Burdell Township Library Support

Burdell TWP

• Shall the previous voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Burdell Township be renewed at 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) reduced to .9654 mills ($.9654 per $1,000 of taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and increased up to the original voted 1 mill ($1 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for 6 years, 2026 through 2031 inclusive, for the library services and the operation of the Tustin Community Library, a contract branch of the Cadillac-Wexford County Public Library; thereby raising in the first year an estimated $ 55,600.00 in the first year the millage is levied.

Evart Township Operating Millage Renewal Proposal

Evart TWP

• Shall Evart Township restore its general taxing capacity previously established at 1.0 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) by MCL 211.211(4) which was reduced to 0.7585 mills ($0.7585 per $1,00 of taxable value) by Headlee Amendment rollbacks, through an additional millage of 0.2415 mills ($0.2415 per $1,000 of taxable value) to restore, and not to exceed, the full 1.0 mill limit established by law, each year beginning in 2026, inclusive, for general Township operating purposes? It is estimated that the additional millage of 0.2415 mills will raise $19,002 in the first year of the levy, which is perpetual, subject to future reductions by the Headlee Amendment.

Highland Township Road Improvement Millage Proposal

Highland TWP

• Shall Highland Township levy 2 mills ($2.00 per $1000.00 taxable value), which is an estimated annual revenue of $113,414 based on 2026 taxable value for four (4) years, 2026 through 2029, to be used for the purpose of road improvements in Highland Township?

Richmond Township Road Maintenance & Improvement Millage Proposal

Rose Lake TWP

• Shall Rose Lake Township impose an increase of 1 mill ($1 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for 4 years, 2026 through 2029 inclusive, to be allocated and placed in a special account, which is an estimated annual revenue of $89,448.64 based on the 2026 taxable value, to be used only for maintenance and improvements of township roads?