Here’s what’s on the ballot in Ionia County this November – Sentinel-Standard

IONIA COUNTY Voters in Ionia County will have a lot to consider in the Nov. 8 general election. Ballots include statewide, congressional, municipal and school board positions, along with a handful of statewide proposals.

Heres a rundown of candidates and topics on the ballot in the Ionia County area Tuesday, Nov. 8. To view your sample ballot, visit michigan.gov/sos/elections.

Statewide and Congressional

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, is seeking a second term. She faces Republican Tudor Dixon, who emerged from acrowded primary in August. Third party candidates include Mary Buzema (Libertarian), Donna Brandenburg (U.S. Taxpayers), Kevin Hogan (Green) and Daryl Simpson (Natural Law).

Democrat Dana Nessel is seeking reelection as attorney general against Republican Matthew DePerno. Joseph McHugh Jr. (Libertarian) and Gerald Van Sickle (U.S. Taxpayers) are running as well.

Candidates for secretary of state are Democrat Jocelyn Benson, Republican Kristina Karamo, Libertarian Gregory Stempfle, Christine Schwartz of U.S. Taxpayers and Larry Hutchinson Jr. from the Green Party.

Ionia County will vote in Michigans newly drawn 2nd Congressional District. Republican John Moolenaar, who currently represents the states 5th Congressional District, is running against Democrat Jerry Hilliard and Libertarian Nathan Hewer.

Three statewide proposals to amend the states constitution will also be decided in November.

Proposal 22-1aims to change the states term limits. If adopted, the proposal will limit state legislators to 12 years of service, which can be served entirely in either the state house or senate, or in a combination of both. The proposal also adds financial disclosure requirements for legislators, the governor, secretary of state, attorney general and lieutenant governor.

Proposal 22-2deals with voting laws. If approved, the constitutional amendment would add nine days of in-person early voting, allow voters to verify their identity with photo ID or a signed statement, allow voters to use a single application to vote absentee in all elections, require state-funded absentee-ballot drop boxes and postage for absentee applications and ballots, make it so post-election audits may only be conducted by election officials, require military or overseas ballots to be counted if postmarked by election day and more.

The final proposal,Proposal 22-3, deals with reproductive rights. It would add a constitutional amendment to establish new individual right to reproductive freedom for all decisions about pregnancy including childbirth, abortion, postpartum care, contraception, prenatal care and infertility. It would also invalidate state laws conflicting with the amendment.

Voters will also choose two members of the state board of education, two regents of the University of Michigan, two trustees for Michigan State University and two governors of Wayne State University.

Michigan Legislature

In Michigans 18th Senate District, Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, will face Kai Degraaf, D-Ada. The district covers the western and southern portions of Ionia County including the villages of Saranac, Clarksville and Lake Odessa. Albert currently is the representative of the 86th House District.

The rest of the county will vote for Michigans 33rd Senate District. Incumbent Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes, Mark Bignell, D-Greenville, and Jay Gillotte, L-Lyons, are running for the seat.

State House races in Ionia County are in districts 78, 91 and 93.

District 78 will see Gina Johnsen, R-Lake Odessa, against Leah Groves, D-Lowell. District 78 covers the majority of Ionia County, including the Palo, Ionia, Portland, Saranac, Clarksville, Lake Odessa areas.

District 91 has Pat Outman, R-Six Lakes, facingTammy DeVries, D-Cedar Springs. District 91 comprises the Belding, Orleans and Smyrna areas in northwest Ionia County. Outman currently represents the 70th House District.

District 93 will see incumbent Graham Filler, R-St. Johns, face Jeffrey Lockwood, D-Saginaw. Voters in the Lyons, Muir, Pewamo and Hubbardston areas in northeast Ionia County will vote in the district.

Ionia County

In District One, voters will decide between incumbent Republican David Hodges and Democrat Michael Baker for the Ionia County Board of Commissioners. Hodges currently serves as board chair.

In District Three, voters will choose between Larry Tiejema and Democrat Michelle McCord. Tiejema currently serves as District Two commissioner and board vice chair.

In District Four, Republican Phillip Hesche will face Democrat Judith Transue.

Democrat Ally Cook and Republican Gordon Kelley will face each other for the countys District Five seat. Cook is the current District Four commissioner and Kelley serves as a First Ward council member on the Ionia City Council.

Scott Wirtz (District Two), Jack Shattuck (District Six) and Terence Frewen (District Seven) each won their respective August primary elections and face no opposition in November. They will begin their terms on the county board on Jan. 1.

More:2 Ionia County commissioners keep seats in August primary election, 1 voted out

Municipal

Voters in Belding willelect three candidates to the City Council. Mayor Pro Tem Jorel Davis will look to retain his seat. Shelley Gladding, John R. LaClear and Jeannine Hughes Leary are also on the ballot.

Lake Odessa area voters will choose three candidates to serve four-year terms on the Village Council. Current trustees Michael Brighton and Jennifer Hickey are eying another term while Charles Jaquays and Mary Yoder are also seeking spots on the council.

Proposals

Voters in the Lowell Area Schools District will consider a Headlee Override to return its operating millage to the full 18 mills. Rollbacks have reduced the millage to 17.0241 mills. If approved, the districts operating millage will be restored to 18 mills for 2023-2028.

Voters in the Lakewood Public Schools District will consider a bonding proposal. The district is placing a $64 million bond proposal on the November ballot while maintaining the previously approved 7-mill debt millage. The district is hoping to improve its facilities, including safety and security upgrades, and create spaces to improve student achievement and instruction.

The Ionia Community Library is asking voters in its district to approve a levy of 0.98 mills for 18 years, from 2022 to 2039, to renovate, operate and maintain a new library building. The millage will generate $426,000 in its first year if approved.

The ICL hopes to move from the Hall-Fowler Home at 126 E. Main St. to the National Bank Building at 302 W. Main St. The Hall-Fowler Home would then become a museum. A millage proposal for 20 years failed by 36 votes in the August election.

More:Ionia Community Library millage proposal fails by 36 votes

More:Ionia Community Library to place another millage proposal on ballot this November

School Board

Ionia, Portland, Belding, Lakewood, Saranac and Pewamo-Westphalia all have school board positions on the ballot next month.

Incumbent Ken Baker and Dayna Ellis will be elected to six-year terms on the Ionia Public Schools Board of Education. Incumbent Robin Marhofer and challenger Ray Shippey are running for a partial term on the Ionia school board ending in 2024. Tim Montgomery will be elected to a partial term ending in 2026.

Five candidates are vying for two seats on the Portland Public Schools Board of Education. Incumbents Linda Hoxie-Green and Douglas Logel Jr. are running againstSusan Moyer, Joe Polasek and Kurt Sandborn.

Three spots are up for grabs on the Belding Area Schools Board of Education. Incumbent Terry Boni is running against Keven Krieger, Jennifer Lien, Lary Richmond and Nichole VandenHout.

Four candidates are running for two seats on the Lakewood Public Schools Board of Education. Incumbent Wendy Behrenwald is running against Kay Jones, Paige OMara and Micah Steed. Trustee Jami Manszewski will be elected to a partial term ending in 2024.

There are four candidates running for three four-year terms on the Saranac Community Schools Board of Education. Incumbents President Sarah Doll, Treasurer David Price and Trustee Ted VanKuiken are running against Diana Naylor.

Several candidates are running for three open spots on the Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools Board of Education. Candidates are incumbent President Jason Hafner, Evan Fedewa, Nicholas Martin, Lori Pung, Luke Thelen, Brad Weber and Tony Wirth, who is running as a write-in candidate.

Judicial Races

Two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court are up for election, with incumbents Richard Bernstein and Brian Zahra facing Kyra Bolden of Southfield, Paul Hudson of Kalamazoo and Kerry Lee Morgan of Redford.

Kathleen Feeney of Rockford and Raymond Voet of Ionia are vying for a six-year, non-incumbent position with the 3rd District Court of Appeals.

Judge Ronald Schafer will be re-elected to a six-year term in the Eighth Circuit Court for Ionia and Montcalm counties. Schafer is running unopposed.

Contact reporter Evan Sasiela atesasiela@sentinel-standard.com. Follow him on Twitter@SalsaEvan. Sentinel reporter Mitchell Boatman contributed to this report.

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Here's what's on the ballot in Ionia County this November - Sentinel-Standard