By Douglas P. Marsh
dmarsh@cherryroad.com
Readers helpfully informed The Herald that our election “first look” stories in the May 30 edition contained errors and omissions. Here is an Aug. 6 primary election second look focused strictly on candidates with updated information. Errors and omissions are noted.
Incumbents have filed to run in the Aug. 6 primary for all of Ogemaw County’s 13 official positions up for election this November. Incumbents who filed are commissioners Jenny David (district 1), Roger Mayhew (district 2), Charles F. Wiltse (district 3), Brenda Simmons (district 4), and Craig Scott (district 5). Only Simmons has a primary challenger, Mark D. Surbrook of West Branch.
All the candidates for commissioner as well as Breck L. Gildner (clerk), Caren Piglowski (treasurer), Denise Simmons (file of deeds), Klint J. Marshall (road commissioner), and Brian D. Gilbert (sheriff) filed seeking Republican Party nomination for office.
Incumbent prosecuting attorney LaDonna A. Schultz and drain commissioner Michael DeMatio filed seeking Democratic Party nomination for office. DeMatio was reported to have filed for Republican Party nomination in last week’s article based on information received from the Ogemaw County Clerk. Incumbent probate court judge Scott M. Williams’ office is non-party-affiliated and so no candidates for this office will appear on the Aug. 6 primary ballot.
Incumbent township supervisor Mike Babcock did not file for the Aug. 6 primary election and is reportedly ready to pass the reins to his deputy supervisor, Kenneth A. Schnautz of Prescott. Schnautz filed seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for the role and said he has been attending township board meetings for over a year.
The township’s remaining incumbent officials have all filed seeking Republican Party nominations as well. These are clerk Lynn Kavalunas, treasurer Linda Miller, and trustees Janice K. Quigley and Larry W. Lauria. All filed as residents of West Branch.
Churchill Township voters are in Ogemaw County District 1 and will also see incumbent commissioner Jenny David on their Aug. 6 ballots.
Incumbent treasurer Shari Denstedt has filed seeking Republican Party nomination for treasurer as a write-in candidate in the Aug. 6 primary. Last week’s issue mistakenly identified Foster Township Clerk Colleen Van Goethem as having experienced complications filing for the primary election when in fact it was Denstedt. Teena Chapman of Lupton has filed for treasurer in Cumming Township.
Danny Morrison of West Branch is challenging incumbent township supervisor Ron Quackenbush. Incumbents Janice A. Fritz (clerk), Fred Rosebrugh and Jan Thompson (trustees) are running unopposed in the Aug. 6 primary. All are seeking the Republican Party’s nomination to run as candidates in the November general election.
Voters in Cumming Township will also see candidates seeking party nominations for Ogemaw County office. All county-level candidates who filed for the Aug. 6 primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Cumming Township is in district 2, where incumbent commissioner Roger Mayhew filed to run unopposed.
Incumbents Robert Kowalksi (township supervisor) of Gladwin, and Korey Kripli (clerk) and Eileen Fournier (treasurer) of West Branch are running unopposed in the Aug. 6 primary election.
Incumbent trustee Daniel Zettel filed for the Aug. 6 primary and was omitted from last week’s article. Incumbent trustee Todd Johnson did not file for the Aug. 6 primary. West Branch resident George J. Bodin III filed for the primary election seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for trustee.
Voters in Edwards Township will also see candidates seeking party nominations for Ogemaw County office. All county-level candidates in the primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4.
Township supervisor Sandra Miller and township clerk Karen McIntyre, both incumbents, did not file for the Aug. 6 primary election. Four people filed as candidates seeking nomination for the supervisor position, one as a Democrat, Joe Bell, and three as Republicans, Daniel T. Domzalski, Daryl DuPage, and Dean Coleman. Nicole Cooper filed seeking the Republican Party nomination for the clerk seat and was omitted from last week’s article.
Incumbent treasurer Colleen Van Goethem did not file to run in the primary election. Last week’s article incorrectly stated that Van Goethem experienced complications filing.
Incumbent trustees Kathleen E. Shirey and Steven J. Brenner both filed for the primary election seeking nominations from the Democratic Party. Robert Kaseman filed as a Republican candidate for trustee. Everyone filed as residents of West Branch.
Although voters will be asked to select two trustees in the Aug. 6 primary election, voting for a Democrat and a Republican will spoil the partisan portion of a ballot. Votes on non-partisan ballot measures would still be counted.
Foster Township voters will also see candidates seeking party nominations for Ogemaw County office on the Aug. 6 ballot. All county-level candidates in the Aug. 6 primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Incumbent commissioner Craig Scott is running unopposed in district 5, which contains Foster Township.
All incumbent Goodar Township officials filed seeking Republican Party nominations in the Aug. 6 primary election. These were Thomas J. Czerniak (supervisor), Cindy Weingartz (treasurer), Jay D. Baughman and Richard L. Gulvas (trustees), all of South Branch, and Larry James McNenly (clerk) of Lupton.
All county-level candidates in the primary election are also incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Goodar Township is in district 2, where incumbent commissioner Roger Mayhew filed to run unopposed.
Incumbent township supervisor Rob Reid is running unopposed in the Aug. 6 primary election seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination. Incumbent clerk Carol Gillman did not file and Lorie Williams filed as Democrat seeking the position. Incumbent treasurer Ellen Scott filed seeking Republican Party nomination for the November general election. All reside in Lupton.
Incumbent trustee Sally J. Reid of Lupton filed for the primary as a Democrat whereas incumbent David Mayhew declined to file. Dale Bortle and Melissa Bortle of Hale have filed to run as Republicans in the primary election to nominate candidates for two trustee seats in the general election in November.
Although voters will be asked to select two trustees in the Aug. 6 primary election, voting for a Democrat and a Republican will spoil the partisan portion of a ballot. Votes on non-partisan ballot measures would still be counted.
All county-level candidates who filed for the Aug. 6 primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Hill Township is in district 1, where incumbent commissioner Jenny Davis has filed unopposed.
Incumbents Karen Michael (township supervisor) and Mark Lehman Jr. (trustee) of West Branch, Karen Howard (clerk) and Paige Lynn Reinhardt (treasurer) of Alger filed for the Aug. 6 primary election seeking Republican Party nominations for office in Horton Township. Incumbent trustee Erma Lurvey of Alger filed for the Aug. 6 primary as a Democrat.
Voters in Horton Township will also see candidates seeking party nominations for Ogemaw County office. All county-level candidates in the primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging incumbent Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4.
Incumbent township supervisor Debra A. Thomas of Rose City filed seeking the Democratic Party nomination in the Aug. 6 primary election, while incumbents Vondola M. Schmitt (clerk) of Rose City and Carrie Reetz (treasurer) of West Branch filed as Republicans.
Incumbent trustees Gerald Weiss and Tamara Hickey did not file for the primary election. Lucretia DeRoso of West Branch filed seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for the position of trustee. Candidates seeking to occupy the other trustee seat will need to file as a write-in for Aug. 6 or the November general election, or file unaffiliated for the November general election.
Candidates for Ogemaw County office will also appear on Aug. 6 primary election ballots. All county-level candidates in the primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Klacking Township is in district 2, where incumbent commissioner Roger Mayhew filed to run unopposed.
Incumbent township supervisor Karen Maxwell did not file for the primary election Aug. 6. and has stated intentions to step down. Kathy David and current township trustee Patricia Sciotti have filed seeking nomination for the position of township supervisor and incumbent treasurer Shirley Parent has filed for the position of treasurer.
Incumbent Tonya Schagel and challenger Nicholas Clark filed for the position of township clerk. Both were omitted from last week’s article.
Incumbent Mike Mier as well as Brad Wren, Caroline Clough, Michael Kennedy, and Tonya Belden have all filed seeking nominations to run for two trustee seats. All candidates are seeking Republican Party nominations and all filed as residents of Prescott except Belden, who filed as a resident of Hale.
All county-level candidates who filed for the Aug. 6 primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination to be candidate for county commissioner in district 4 in the November general election. Logan Township is in district 1, where incumbent commissioner Jenny Davis has filed unopposed.
Incumbent township supervisor Dave Ryan has not filed for the Aug. 6 primary election and is reportedly not seeking reelection. Bruce A. Beach Jr. and Kevin Yorton of Alger and Lance H. Vervoort and Max A. Wilkins of Prescott have filed seeking nomination for the position.
Incumbent township treasurer Mary Moore of Alger filed to run in the primary. Incumbent clerk April Schils did not file to run in the primary election and Karen Tracy of Prescott has filed to run for the position. Incumbent trustees Brenda Eymer and Lisa Elkins Cotton both filed to run for trustee, as have two challengers, April Harkey Mason and Denise Heater. All those seeking trustee seats reside in Prescott. All those seeking Mills Township office filed for Republican Party nomination.
Mills Township voters will also see candidates for Ogemaw County office. All county-level candidates in the primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Mills Township is in district 3, where incumbent commissioner Charles Wiltse has filed unopposed.
Incumbents Denis Stephens (township supervisor) and Renee Ryland (township treasurer) have not filed for the Aug. 6 primary election and Stephens has stated his intention to step down. Bruce Tyree has filed as a candidate for supervisor in the primary election and Nancy G. Tyree for treasurer.
Stephens said incumbent clerk Tracy Turner, who has not filed for the Aug. 6 primary election, intends to run for the position unaffiliated in the November general election. The Ogemaw County Clerk confirmed that Turner has filed accordingly.
Incumbent trustees Ronald Dantzer and Sandra Hodgins did not file for the Aug. 6 primary, while Gary R. Klacking and Gerlinde Selinski did file to seek nominations for trustee positions. All candidates filed as Republicans and West Branch residents.
Candidates seeking party nominations for Ogemaw County office will also appear on the Aug. 6 primary election ballot. All county-level candidates in the primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Ogemaw Township is in district 5, where incumbent commissioner Craig Scott is running unopposed.
All incumbent township officials in Richland Township have filed to run in the Aug. 6 primary and no challengers have filed. Supervisor Dale Bronson, clerk Dawn A. Johnson, treasurer Russell Perrin, and trustees Lee W. Brown and William Cliff all filed as Republicans and residents of Prescott.
Richland Township voters will also see candidates for Ogemaw County office on their Aug. 6 ballots. All county-level candidates in the primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Richland Township is in district 1, where incumbent commissioner Jenny Davis has filed unopposed.
Incumbents Dannie Lyn Maleski (township supervisor) and Pamela McQuarrie (township treasurer) of Rose City filed seeking Republican Party nominations in the Aug. 6 primary.
Incumbent clerk Kelli Collins did not file for the primary election and April Kangas of Lupton has filed as a candidate for the position. Incumbent trustees Clifford Esmond and Crystal Harbin did not file for the primary and Matthew Lawrency and Terry Collins of Rose City have filed as candidates for the position. All candidates are seeking Republican Party nominations.
Voters in Rose Township will also see candidates seeking party nominations for Ogemaw County office. All county-level candidates in the primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Rose Township is in district 2, where incumbent commissioner Roger Mayhew filed to run unopposed.
Incumbents Jeremy Hickmott (township clerk) and Diane Philbrick (township treasurer) did not file for the Aug. 6 primary election and neither have any challengers. Hickmott said he and Philbrick will run for reelection unaffiliated in the November general election.
Incumbent township supervisor James Lee Morris has filed seeking the Republican nomination for supervisor candidacy. Two incumbent trustees, Michael Durfee and Michael Selinski, and one challenger, Steve Simmons are seeking Republican nominations for two trustee seats. All filed as residents of West Branch.
West Branch Township voters will also see candidates seeking party nominations for Ogemaw County office on their Aug. 6 ballots. All county-level candidates in the primary election are incumbents except for Mark D. Surbrook, who is challenging Brenda Simmons for the Republican Party nomination for county commissioner in district 4. Some West Branch voters reside in district 4 while others are in district 2, where incumbent commissioner Roger Mayhew has filed to run unopposed.
This article was edited from the print edition, which omitted Craig Scott from the Ogemaw County section, misspelled Nicole Cooper’s name, and erroneously claimed the race for treasurer in Foster Township to be competitive.
