It's time for the General Election this November! 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, November 3

Polling Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Additional Resources:

• POLLING PLACE
• EARLY VOTING INFO
• GENERAL VOTING INFO

 

*STATE OFFICIALS*

 

State Governor & Lieutenant Governor (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Jocelyn Benson & Winnie Brinks, Democrat

• John James & Jay DeBoyer, Republican

• Anthony Hudson & Beau Parmenter, Libertarian

• Donna Brandenburg & Robert Cowper II, U.S. Taxpayers

• Douglas Campbell & Bobbie Clay, Green

Secretary of State (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Garlin Gilchrist II, Democrat

• Anthony Forlini, Republican

• Christine Sloan, Libertarian

• Scott Aughney, U.S. Taxpayers

• Eric Borregard, Green

Attorney General (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Eli Savit, Democrat

• Doug Lloyd, Republican

• Jason Dye, Libertarian

• John Perry Ludtke Jr., U.S. Taxpayers

• Jeff Polonowski, Green

• Doug Dern, Natural Law

 

*CONGRESSIONAL OFFICIALS*

 

U.S. Senator (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Abdul El-Sayed, Democrat

• Mike Rogers, Republican

• Lydia Christensen, Libertarian

• Tim Long, U.S. Taxpayers

• Douglas Marsh, Green

• Walter Kristy, Natural Law

U.S. Congress - 2nd District (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Ben Ambrose, Democrat

• John Moolenaar, Republican*^INC

• Charlotte Magoon, Green

• Richard Sills, Natural Law

State Senator - 34th District (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Roger Hauck, Republican*^INC

• Tyler Landgraf, Democrat

State Representative - 100th District (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Tom Kunse, Republican*^INC

• Tracy Ruell, Democrat

 

*STATE EDUCATIONAL OFFICIALS*

 

State Board of Education (2)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Judith Pritchett, Democrat

• Tiffany Tilley, Democrat

• Terence Collins, Republican

• Bree Moeggenberg, Republican

• Charles Essner, Libertarian

• William Mohr II, U.S. Taxpayers

• Christine Schwartz, U.S. Taxpayers

• Wissam Charafeddine, Green

• Mary Anne Hering, Working Class

• Kelli Monroe, Natural Law

Regent of the University of Michigan (2)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Paul Brown, Democrat

• Amir Makled, Democrat

• Lena Epstein, Republican

• Michael Schostak, Republican

• Andrew Chadderdon, Libertarian

• Kyle Maas, U.S. Taxpayers

Trustee of Michigan State University (2)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Brianna Scott, Democrat

• Kelly Tebay Zemke, Democrat

• Julie Maday, Republican

• Roger Victory, Republican

• Daniel Patterson, Libertarian

• Will Tyler White, Libertarian

• Janet Sanger, U.S. Taxpayers

• John Sanger, U.S. Taxpayers

• John Anthony La Pietra, Green

• Yaz Ozbek, Working Class

Govenor of Wayne State University (2)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Shereef Akeel, Democrat

• Richard Mack, Democrat

• Andy Anuzis, Republican

• Christa Murphy, Republican

• Alex Avery, Libertarian

• Jami Van Alstine, Libertarian

• Jeff McDonald, U.S. Taxpayers

• Paul Ragan, Green

• Suzanne Roehrig, Working Class

• Kathleen Oakford, Natural Law

 

*JUDICIAL OFFICIALS*

 

Justice of Supreme Court (2)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Megan Kathleen Cavanagh*^INC

• Noah P. Hood*^INC

• Thomas W. Howe

• Casandra Morse-Bills

• Michael Warren

• Jody White

Judge of Court of Appeals (3)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Michael J. Kelly*^INC

• Allie Greenleaf Maldonado*^INC

• Michelle M. Rick*^INC

Judge of 49th Circuit Court (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Dennis L. Duvall Jr.

Judge of 77th Circuit Court (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Peter Michael Jaklevic*^INC

 

*COUNTY OFFICIALS*

 

Mecosta County Road Commissioner (1)

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Michael Wernette, Republican

Mecosta County Commissioner - 5th District (1)

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

• Randy LaPreze, Republican

Mecosta County Commissioner - 6th District (1)

City of Big Rapids

• Wendy Nystrom, Democrat

• Allitta Hren, Republican

 

*CITY, TOWNSHIP, & VILLAGE OFFICIALS*

 

Austin Township Treasurer (1)

Aetna TWP

• Laurie Brockway, Republican

Austin Township Trustee (1)

Aetna TWP

• Kayla Iltis, Republican

Deerfield Township Treasurer (1)

Deerfield TWP

• No candidates on ballot.

Fork Township Treasurer (1)

Fork TWP

• Patti McNeilly, Republican

Sheridan Township Clerk (1)

Sheridan TWP

• Bridget Hahn, Democrat

Village of Barryton President (1)

Fork TWP

• Dan Cross

• Terah Eaton

• Jeff Nelson

Village of Barryton Trustee (1)

Fork TWP

• LaVonne Horstman

• Amy MacKersie

Village of Mecosta President (1)

Morton TWP - P1

• Jonathan Squires

• Ann Marie Wrobbel

Village of Mecosta Trustee (2)

Morton TWP - P1

• Terrie Caswell

• Deb Stieg

Village of Morley President (1)

Aetna TWP, Deerfield TWP

• Austin Korpal

Village of Morley Trustee (3)

Aetna TWP, Deerfield TWP

• Paul D. Block

• Teresa Fay Utter-Knight

• Katlyn Korpal

• Henry W. Petersen

• Steven C. Troost

• James Lewis (partial term until 12/1/28)* ^{seperate from 4-year}

Village of Stanwood President (1)

Mecosta TWP

• Cody Stilson

Village of Stanwood Trustee (2)

Mecosta TWP

• Jessica Routley

• Harmony Stilson

• No candidate for partial term until 12/1/28*

 

*LOCAL EDUCATIONAL OFFICIALS*

 

Big Rapids Public School District Board Member (2)

City of Big Rapids, Colfax TWP, Grant TWP, Green TWP, Martiny TWP

• Pete Kent

• Jeremy Mishler

Chippewa Hills School District Board Member (4)

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

• Katie Bazaire (4-year term)

• Amanda Cornell (4-year term)

• Melissa E. Denslow (4-year term)

• Tony Gibson (4-year term)

• Shauna M. Livermore (4-year term)

• Jesse Steele (4-year term)

Evart School District Board Member (2)

Chippewa TWP, Grant TWP

• Bre Grabill (6-year-term)

• Eric Schmidt (6-year-term)

Lakeview Community School District Board Member (3)

Hinton TWP, Millbrook TWP

• David Hansen

• Brad Peasley

Montabella Community Schools Board Member (2)

Hinton TWP, Millbrook TWP, Wheatland TWP

• Kaylee Closson

• Erica Vincent

• No candidate for partial term until 12/31/28*

Montcalm Community College Board of Trustees Member (2)

Hinton TWP, Millbrook TWP, Wheatland TWP

• Robert Byram

• Joshua Stamp

Morley Stanwood Community Schools Board Member (4)

Aetna TWP, Deerfield TWP, Mecosta TWP

• Greg Babbitt (4-year term)
• Emily J. Bongard (4-year term)
• Mary L. Engelsman (4-year term)
• Matthias Stevens (4-year term)
• Michelle R. Frisbie (6-year term)* ^{seperate from 4-year}

Reed City Area Public Schools Board Member (3)

Grant TWP, Green TWP

• Troy Alan Bowling (4-year term)
• Jamie Eichenberg (4-year term)
• Christine Mund (4-year term)
• Dustin Robbins (4-year term)
• Maggie M. Walcott (partial term until 12/1/28)* ^{seperate from 4-year}

 

*STATE PROPOSALS*

 

Proposal 2026-1: Convene A Constitutional Convention For The Purpose Of Drafting A General Revision Of The State Constitution?

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Shall a convention of elected delegates be convened in 2027 to draft a general revision of the State Constitution for presentation to the state’s voters for their approval or rejection?

Proposal 2026-2: Proposed Law To Prohibit Campaign Contributions From Certain Regulated Utilities And Government Contractors And Apply Campaign Finance Laws And Regulations To Additional Types Of Political Communications?

All TWPs and City of Big Rapids

• Prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts, and people and organizations with substantial connections to these utilities/contractors from making direct or indirect campaign contributions to those who run for or hold offices that impact them. 

• Expand laws regulating spending on political communications, including those requiring disclosing donor information, to apply to communications clearly identifying candidates or ballot questions, even if they do not expressly advocate voting for/against them. 

• Expressly apply the law requiring disclosure of who paid for political communications to internet political communications. 

• Should this proposal be adopted?

 

*CITY & SCHOOL PROPOSALS*

 

City of Big Rapids Proposition for Revised City Charter

City of Big Rapids

• Shall the revised city charter proposed by the City Charter Commission be adopted?

Chippewa Hills School District Bond Proposal

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

• Shall Chippewa Hills School District, Mecosta, Isabella and Osceola Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twenty-Nine Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($29,900,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

  • Remodeling, including safety and security improvements, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and reequipping existing school buildings; erecting, furnishing, and equipping school support buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; purchasing school buses; and equipping, developing, and improving playgrounds, athletic fields and facilities, parking areas, driveways, and sites?

  • The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2027 is 1.04 mills ($1.04 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 0 mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty (20) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.03 mills (1.03 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

  • (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

Fork Township Road Maintenance Renewal

Fork TWP

• Shall the previous voted increase in the tax limitations imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Fork Township of 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) be renewed and levied at up to .9739 mill ( $0.9739 per $1,000 of taxable value) for four (4) years, 2028 through 2031 inclusive, for the Purpose of providing funds for the maintenance and repair of roads within Fork Township boundaries, raising an estimated $71,723 in the first year the millage is levied?

Reed City Area Public School District Bond Proposal

Grant TWP, Green TWP

• Shall Reed City Area Public Schools, Osceola, Mecosta, Newaygo and Lake Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Ten Million Seven Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($10,780,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of: 

• Remodeling and re-equipping school buildings and facilities; and preparing, developing, improving and equipping structures, sites and lighting at the high school athletic field? 

• The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2027 is 0.20 mill ($0.20 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is nine (9) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.83 mills ($1.83 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). 

• The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $2,260,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. 

• (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)