Write-in candidates can change the dynamics of local elections | News, Sports, Vacancies

ALPENA — A group of write-in candidates who filed to run in Tuesday’s election could change the dynamics of some local races that were previously unopposed.

The deadline for candidates to file was Friday, and there were many more applications than in a normal election cycle.

In Alpena County, three people are running as candidates for seats on the Alpena County Board of Commissioners.

The District 3 commissioner seat will be filled by Lucille Bray, who filed as an independent candidate and was appointed to the board after former Commissioner Robin LaLonde resigned. After learning Bray was running unopposed, Republican Joanne Pinkerton said she thought it was important to give voters another choice.

Bray worked in Alpena’s clerk’s office for many years. She said she would like to run for commissioner to remain involved in local government and assist the council in its efforts to stabilize the county’s budget. She said that since her appointment, she has felt she did the right thing by running for office and enjoys the work she is doing for the people of the district.

“I have the extra time and I feel like with my background in finance, I can hit the ground running and start helping,” Bray said. “Ever since I did this, it has strengthened my confidence that I am ready to serve. “I love Alpena and I think my 25 years of experience in local government can help.”

Pinkerton said she understands that current commissioners are not to blame for the county’s current financial situation and that the money taxpayers pay to the county doesn’t go as far as it used to. However, she said, like some families in the area, the district needs to prioritize where it can best spend its funds.

“As a single parent of three boys, raising them with little or no support, I had to learn how to manage my finances,” she said. “I also had to conserve my resources and prioritize the needs of my family. If it could wait, it waited. Balance and prioritization are key to managing your finances. It is very important to weigh what is the greatest need for the greatest number of citizens.”

In District 1, Stephanie Wojtaszek is running for commissioner and will need to get more votes than incumbent Republican Bill LaHaye and independent Jeff Welch.

Wojtaszek could not be reached for comment about her candidacy or why she decided to run.

The race for District 4 Commissioner is between incumbent Republican Bill Peterson and challenger Brian Perry. Several messages were left asking Perry for an interview.

Carol Bobolts is running as a candidate in an attempt to defeat incumbent Brenda Fournier, a Republican who represents District 5. Both candidates were polled earlier in the election cycle.

Bobolts said she decided to run for commissioner because of an ongoing problem with children’s books at the Alpena County Library that some people believe contain sexually explicit images.

Bobolts said she believes books should stay where they are in the library, and she opposes the commissioners’ decision earlier this year to replace the entire library board. She also believes she can help reduce the largest budget deficit facing the district.

Fournier said she wants to run for re-election because she has unfinished business and doesn’t want to leave it unresolved.

Fournier said the number one issue facing the district is its budget and its more than $1 million deficit.

She said the difficulties the district now faces could have been avoided if the board had had the courage to make cuts years ago, and she pushed for the cuts then. Fournier said she intends to work hard to solve the district’s financial problems.

In Alpena Public Schools, four names will appear on the ballot for three open seats on the district’s Board of Trustees, but voters will be given five names to choose from.

Incumbents Gordon Snow and Eric Lawson will appear on the ballot, as will newcomers Sarah Costain and Monica Dziesinski. Renee Nicole Fisher has filed to run for office.

Fischer was unable to be interviewed by The News’ deadline for this story.

In previous interviews, Snow, Lawson, Costain, and Dziesinski cited improving student achievement as their top goal.

Hillman Community Schools voters will also be able to choose a candidate for the Board of Education.

The district has four open seats on the board and four candidates active on the campaign trail: incumbent Roxanne LaFleche and newcomers George Kerns and David Pickelhaupt II are on the ballot, as well as write-in candidate Laurie Nugent.

However, incumbent Jack Mathias, who recently passed away, will also appear on the ballot as ballots have already been printed. Voters can still vote for Mathias on Tuesday, and the hundreds of absentee ballots already turned in may include votes for Mathias.

To qualify for the seat, Nugent will have to receive more write-in votes than Mathias or at least one of the other names on the ballot.

If Mathias and everyone else on the ballot win, the Hillman School Board will have to appoint a replacement for Mathias. Hillman Superintendent Pamela Rader said Friday that a current trustee who had planned to resign from the board has agreed to stay.

Elsewhere in Alpena County, Kendall Sumericks has filed for a seat on the Green Township Board of Supervisors. There are two open seats on this council and only one candidate will appear on the ballot, meaning Sumerix is ​​almost guaranteed to win a seat.

In Alcona County, William Thompson filed to run against Republican incumbent Craig Johnston, who defeated Thompson in the August primary.

In Presque Isle Township, Presque Isle County, write-in candidate Larry Fields is vying for a seat on the township board, which has a pair of seats. Fields will try to defeat Democrat Mary O’Neill or independent candidate Lyn Lougheed to win the seat.

In Posen, Bryan Adams is running against John Ataman for village president.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or [email protected]. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.

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